Novel photoreactive surface process technology for fabricated devices

Summary

A novel surface process technology was developed especially for improvement of the biocompatibility of fabricated devices such as artificial blood pumps. The principle of the technology developed is based on photochemistry of the phenyl azide group, which is capable of covalently binding a synthetic polymer or protein to substrate surfaces upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The photoreactive copolymers or proteins which were grafted or modified with phenyl azide groups were prepared and successfully fixed chemically to surfaces. Photoreactive, hydrophilic copolymers such as poly (dimethyl acrylamide) and albumin, both of which were chemically fixed on surfaces, were found to be effective for blood-compatible surfaces, whereas a fibronectin-bound surface was suited for providing tissue-compatibility. The quartz optical fiberguided UV irradiation system provided the desired biocompatibility at any given part of a fabricated device.