FVII Dependent Coagulation Activation in Citrated Plasma by Polymer Hydrogels

Polymer hydrogels containing positively charged functional groups were used to investigate the critical material and biological components of FVII activation and subsequent fibrin formation in citrated plasma. A FVIIa ELISA confirmed the ability of the polymer to induce FVII activation and provided insight into the material parameters which were influential in this activation. Experiments utilizing coagulation factor depleted and inhibited plasmas indicated that FVII, FX, FII, and FI are all vital to the process outlining the general mechanism of fibrin formation from the onset of FVII activation. Dynamic mechanical analysis and swelling experiments were used to establish a critical correlation between polymer microstructure and FVII activation.