Perspectives and Problems of Blood Compatible Polymers

The application of various polymers, both synthetic and natural, for biomedical purposes has made such tremendous progress during the last two decades that a wide variety of biomaterials and blood-contacting devices are currently being used in cardiovascular, orthopaedic, and dental applications throughout the world. Implantation of heart valves, catheters, etc. has become more or less a routine affair in cardiovascular surgery. Most of these devices are being fabricated from polymers, and the basic requirements for developing such a biocompatible polymer are very rigid. It has to be sterilizable, nontoxic, easily fabricable, highly resistant to mechanical strains, should not produce allergy or hypersensitivity, not incite any inflammatory response, and also should not degrade chemically [1].