Abstract
We investigated the antithrombogenicity of magnetite (Fe3O4) by comparison with both segmented polyurethane (SPU) and glass. 1) Eight non-porous SPU tubes were made from 10% SPU solution by dipping an 8-mm glass rod 6 times into the solution. Each tube was then divided transversely in two. The inner surface of one part was covered with magnetite and the other part remained untreated. 2) Seven of 14 glass tubes were also covered with magnetite, and the others remained untreated. 3) Antithrombogenicity was evaluated from the clotting time of blood contained in each tube. The clotting time was determined with a damped oscillation-type rheometer. Magnetite-coated tubes and their respective non-coated counterparts were tested simultane-ously using the same blood. The clotting times in the magnetite-coated and non-coated SPU tubes were 39.9 ± 13.1 and 26.9 ± 8.9 min, respectively (p= 0.036). The clotting times in the magnetite-coated and non-coated glass tubes were 28.5 ± 6.9 and 2.7 ± 0.2 min, respectively (p= 0.018). A magnetite coating converted glass from a potent thrombogenic material to an antithrombogenic one, and also provided the surface even of SPU with significantly better antithrombogenicity. These results suggest that magnetite is antithrombogenic.
