Enhancement of the blood compatibility of dialyzer membranes by the physical adsorption of human thrombomodulin (ART-123)

ART-123 is a recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (hTM) with excellent anticoagulant activity. We focused on improving the blood compatibility of the polysulfone - polyvinylpyrrolidone dialyzer surface by the physical adsorption of ART-123 onto the surface. The blood compatibility of the dialyzer with the hTM adsorbed membrane was evaluated by measuring the differential pressure between the arterial and the venous pressures and by blood parameters during blood circulation. The hTM adsorbed dialyzer membrane inhibited blood clot formation without heparin administration due to the anticoagulant activity of hTM for over 4 h. The physically adsorbed hTM was stable during blood circulation, and it did not affect activated clotting time, which is significant drawback of heparin administration, and blood cell counts of RBC, WBC, or platelets. The physical adsorption of hTM onto the dialyzer membrane will be a simple and safe method to prevent blood coagulation during dialysis instead of heparin administration. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010