Construction of an Antithrombotic and Anti-Inflammatory Polyethersulfone Membrane.

In addition to being the core factor in thrombosis, thrombin is involved in various inflammatory disease responses, but few studies have examined whether and how it is involved in membrane-related inflammation. In this study, we used the thrombin inhibitor dabigatran to modify a polyethersulfone dialysis membrane. The modified membrane showed good hydrophilic properties and dialysis performance. It reduced the thrombin level in a targeted manner, thereby significantly inhibiting coagulation factor activation (based on the prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time) and reducing the fibrinogen level and platelet adhesion. On thromboelastography, it showed excellent dynamic antithrombotic capacity. The modified membrane inhibited membrane-related inflammation by inhibiting the production of the inflammatory mediators C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β via the thrombin/complement C5a pathway. Moreover, it was found to be safe in an in-vivo study. Thus, the dabigatran-modified polyethersulfone membrane may reduce dialysis-related complications through its dual antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.