Influence of Adsorbed Proteins and Glow Discharge on Adhesion and Stability of Blood Cells with Polymers

The adhesion of certain blood cells like red blood cells (RBC), and platelets onto a series of polymers with varying wettability was studied in protein-containing (albumin, γ-globulin or fibrinogen) and protein-free mediums. The attachment and stability studies of these cells on, glow discharge treated (GDT) substrates, under various shear rates, to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and Chitosan (CM), in presence and absence of serum proteins were also attempted. It appears the adhesion, of these cells is promoted by preadsorption of y-globulin and fibrinogen variably, onto the polymers and the GDT further increases the cell attachment. A significant amount of cell detachment is observed with the bare and the proteinated substrates under various shear conditions. However, the cell detachment did not occur until a critical value of shear stress was exceeded. It is also evident that the GDT immobilized cells are highly stable, when compared with the untreated cases, under the shear rates upto 300 rpm to all proteinated or bare substrates. Albumination of the substrates does not significantly alter the cell-surface attachment, however, GDT enhances the cell adhesion and their stability. Hence, it is possible to generate an optimum tissue/blood interface by suitably selecting and attaching the cells via GDT to proteinated substrates.