Interfacial Fibrin Polymerization and Fibrillation Kinetics Is Influenced by Nanoscale Roughness and Fibrinogen-Fibrin Cleavage in Solution

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry. C Vol. 115; no. 28; pp. 13617 - 13623
• Main Authors: Dolatshahi-Pirouz, A, Foss, M, Besenbacher, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 21.07.2011
• Subjects: C: Nanops and Nanostructures
• ISSN: 1932-7447; 1932-7455
• DOI: 10.1021/jp202815h

We have studied the influence of nanoscale roughness on interfacial fibrin polymerization at different fibrinogen cleavage rates in solution by employing quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and high-resolution imaging techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Different fibrinogen cleavage rates were induced in solution by using a thrombin inhibitor. Our results show that the polymerization is sensitive toward thrombin inhibition and nanoscale roughness. The fibrin surface morphology was investigated by SEM and AFM, and the acquired images revealed different fibrin networks and fibrillation degrees on the surfaces, depending on the PPACK II concentration and surface type. By analyzing the SEM and AFM images, a correlation between the interfacial fibrin polymerization and the QCM-D response was also demonstrated. The results suggest that nanoscale roughness plays a more important role in regulating blood clotting and inflammatory processes than previously anticipated.