INTERFACIAL FREE ENERGIES, ZETA POTENTIALS AND THROMBORESI STANCE IN BOVINE AND OVINE CAROTID ARTERIES

ABSTRACT

The physical properties of the intimal surfaces of both natural and artificial arteries are important In the prevention of thrombosis and clotting. It Is expected thati a) the interface between the blood plasma and the intima should be highly negatively charged, to repel negatively charged platelets and other blood constituents, and b) the interfacial free energy at the plasma-intima interface should be as low as possible, to prevent adhesion If the charge barrier is breached. Few measurements of either the zeta potential or the interfacial free energy at the intimal surface can be found in the literature. Zeta potentials of natural and cross-linked bovine carotid intima, and of an expanded Teflon prosthesis were determined by a streaming potential method in 0.9% (w/v) NaC1. Interfacial free energies of both bovine and ovine carotid intima, and of an expanded Teflon prosthesis were also determined by a contact-angle method using water immiscible liquid drops on the intimal surface Immersed in 0.9% (w/v) NaC1.