Lysine-PEG-modified polyurethane as a fibrinolytic surface: Effect of PEG chain length on protein interactions, platelet interactions and clot lysis

Fibrinolytic polyurethane surfaces were prepared by conjugating lysine to the distal terminus of surface-grafted poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Conjugation was through the alpha-amino group leaving the epsilon-amino group free. Lysine in this form is expected to adsorb both plasminogen and t-PA specifically from blood. It was shown in previous work that the PEG spacer, while effectively resisting nonspecific protein adsorption, was a deterrent to …