Reduced platelet adhesion to titanium metal coated with apatite, albumin-apatite composite or laminin-apatite composite

Titanium metal coated with apatite (HA-Ti), albumin-apatite composite (AA-Ti) or laminin-apatite composite (LA-Ti) was prepared by the immersion of NaOH- and heat-treated titanium metal in a calcium phosphate solution, or one supplemented with albumin or laminin. Platelet adhesion to the obtained materials under flow conditions was investigated in real time using a cone- and plate-type viscometer and fluorescence labeled platelets. Adhesion and activation of the platelets on the HA-Ti, AA-Ti and LA-Ti were definitely suppressed as compared with those on untreated titanium metal with a mirror surface. Furthermore, the numbers of platelets adhered to AA-Ti and LA-Ti are smaller than those adhered to HA-Ti, although the differences were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that HA-Ti, AA-Ti and LA-Ti, especially AA-Ti and LA-Ti, would exhibit thromboresistance that is superior to commercially pure titanium metal in terms of platelet adhesion. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.