Polyethylene Oxide Chain Density and Uremic Toxin Effects on Plasma Protein Adsorption

• Author / Creator

  Pawar, Aishwarya Shrikrishna

• Protein adsorption to implanted biomaterials can direct host responses and lead to health
  complications and device failure. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) is the gold standard film for reducing
  non-specific protein adsorption. Although polymer chain density is an important factor in
  determining PEO’s protein-resistant behavior, limited studies have related PEO chain density
  changes to the adsorption of plasma proteins. Besides, existing literature on protein adsorption
  primarily offers insights from the use of blood from healthy donors, neglecting changes in the
  blood that occur in unhealthy patients. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), uremic toxins (UTXs)
  accumulate in the blood compartment and significantly alter the blood composition. For the
  advancement of low-fouling surfaces for blood-contacting biomaterials and in the quest for
  personalized dialysis, addressing this knowledge gap is necessary. To examine this, PEO films
  with variable chain densities and two different end groups, methoxy (-OCH3) and hydroxy (-OH),
  were prepared and characterized using dynamic contact angle, ellipsometry, and X-ray
  photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to confirm the successful deposition of PEO. Protein
  adsorption experiments were conducted using human plasma with and without UTXsto investigate
  their effect on protein adsorption. It was observed that fibrinogen, albumin, factor XI, complement
  C3, and IgG were the major proteins detected on both methoxy and hydroxy-PEO-modified films.
  The addition of UTXs substantially increased protein adsorption to methoxy-terminated PEO
  films, whereas no specific trend was observed for hydroxy-PEO films. The effect of chain densities
  did not exhibit a consistent pattern but significantly affected the adsorption of many proteins. This
  knowledge is integral to developing the standard protein adsorption profile and subsequent
  advancement of surface technologies that enable personalized treatment strategies for patients with
  kidney failure.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Protein adsorption to implanted biomaterials
  • Polyethylene oxide
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • Low fouling polymers

• Graduation date

  Fall 2024

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-gk4c-p765

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.