Experimental nonsuture microvascular anastomosis using a soluble pva tube and plastic adhesive

This article describes a new nonsuture method for microvascular anastomoses that uses plastic adhesives and soluble tube stents made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Three soluble tubes were studied: one tube with a monolayered wall and two bilayered tubes of different thicknesses. The layers of the bilayered tubes consisted of PVA of different degrees of solubility. As plastic adhesives, ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, isopropyl 2-cyanoacrylate, isobutyl 2-cyanoacrylate, and methyl 2-cyanoacrylate were employed; methyl 2-cyanoacrylate was by far the least effective. Anastomoses were performed on the common carotid artery of rats, and macroscopic, angiographic, and histologic investigations were carried out at intervals ranging from seven days to six months. The patency rates were 81% for the monolayered tube, and 92% and 98% for the bilayered tubes. The principal advantage of this method is that blood flow can be reestablished through the anastomosed site immediately after release of the hemostatic clamps.

Grafting of proteins onto polymer surfaces with the use of oxidized starch

A study has been carried out on the coupling of proteins onto crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membranes and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer(EVA) films previously grafted with oxidized starches having many pendant aldehyde groups. The coupling reaction of proteins is based on the Schiff's base formation between the amino groups of proteins and the aldehyde groups of the oxidized starches which have been grafted onto the substrate membrane or film through acetalization of the aldehyde of starch with hydroxyl groups of the substrate polymers. The grafting of oxidized starches onto the EVA films seems to be restricted to the film surface, since no detectable change is observed in the weight and the attenuated total reflection infrared spectrum of the grafted films. The amount of grafted protein, determined by the ninhydrin method, reveals that, at least, plasma proteins such as serum albumin and fibrinogen are grafted to the film surface in a monomolecular layer without undergoing a marked denaturation. The alpha-amylase grafted onto the EVA film showed a distinct enzymatic activity in hydrolysis of amylose and starch, but the activity was very low compared with that of the ungrafted, soluble alpha-amylase.