Project Summary
This project aims to develop a universal and scalable platform technology to reduce calcification and blood clots in blood-contacting devices.
What is the issue for NSW?
Blood clot formation and calcification are two major causes of failure in blood-contacting medical devices such as coronary stents, heart valve replacements, or left ventricular assist devices.
Despite progress made in the field of biomaterials, blood clots and calcification remain problems that still necessitate administration of antiplatelet drugs and/or anticoagulants to patients which may also cause adverse effects such as bleeding.
In severe cases, replacement of implants is needed to battle the short- and long-term complications associated with blood clots and calcification. As a result, the patient will undergo multiple reoperations during their life. Although effective, having multiple operations increases the risk of mortality and morbidity, imposes considerable financial cost to patients, their family, and the health system, and can result in long-lasting psychological harms.
The health, societal, and financial problems associated with the failure of cardiovascular devices due to blood clots and calcification disproportionately affect the indigenous population, children, and women in all settings.
What does the research aim to do and how?
This research will develop a scalable platform technology that will prevent blood clots and calcification on the blood-contacting medical devices via a surface treatment which can be incorporated into existing manufacturing processes. This will be achieved by attaching specifically designed molecules to the surface of medical devices to block the adsorption of blood proteins. By preventing the blood protein adsorption, blood clotting and calcification cannot be initiated.
This research aims to:
- Prevent of blood clotting and calcification on modified surfaces in vitro.
- Produce histology of subcutaneous tissue surrounding the implanted surface-modified samples.
- Permanently attach engineered polymers to the surface of polymeric substrates.
Collaborating Organisations:
The University of Sydney
The University of New South Wales
Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research at Westmead Hospital
Anzac Research Institute at Concord Hospital
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute