Adhesion of Blood Platelets in TiO2 Coatings

A requirement for materials used to build prosthesis in contact with blood is a good hemocompatibility. However, there is no standard method to measure it. The first interaction blood-material is the adsorption of plasma proteins which determines the adhesion and activation of platelets which in turn derives in blood clotting. This sequence shows that adhesion and activation of platelets are the key steps in the interaction blood-material. In the present report the adhesion of platelets on titanium dioxide coatings produced by anodic oxidation is evaluated in vitro (direct counting). Coatings were produced in a range of applied voltages and different heat treatments. The results show a direct relationship between roughness platelets adhesion.