EVALUATION AND REGULATION OF HEPARIN RELEASE RATE FROM SMALL CALIBER CONNECTIVE TISSUE GRAFT

Abstract

We previously reported rapid and simple method to give antithrombogenicity for small caliber connective tissue graft impregnated with heparin/protamine conjugate. In this study, we evaluate the amount of immobilized heparin and its in vitro release rate at various conditions of heparinization. The amount of immobilized heparin increases with a increase of protamine concentration. The release rate increases as heparin loading is increased at a fixed protamine concentration and as protamine concentration is reduced at a fixed heparin loading.