{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T01:27:22Z","timestamp":1790731642653,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,13]],"date-time":"2017-12-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1513123200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Human platelets play a vital role in haemostasis, pathological bleeding and thrombosis. The haemostatic mechanism is concerned with the control of bleeding from injured blood vessels, whereby platelets interact with the damaged inner vessel wall to form a clot (thrombus) at the site of injury. This adhesion of platelets and their subsequent aggregation is dependent on the presence of the blood protein von Willebrand Factor (vWF). It is proposed here that the entrapment of vWF on a substrate surface offers the opportunity to assess an individual\u2019s platelet function in a clinical diagnostic context. Spin coating from demixed solutions of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) onto glass slides has been shown previously to support platelet adhesion but the mechanism by which this interaction occurs, including the role of vWF, is not fully understood. In this work, we report a study of the interaction of platelets in whole blood with surfaces produced by spin coating from a solution of a weight\/weight mixture of a 25% PS and 75% PMMA (25PS\/75PMMA) in chloroform in the context of the properties required for their use as a Dynamic Platelet Function Assay (DPFA) substrate. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) indicates the presence of topographical features on the polymer demixed surfaces in the sub-micron to nanometer range. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirms that the uppermost surface chemistry of the coatings is solely that of PMMA. The deliberate addition of various amounts of 50 \u03bcm diameter PS microspheres to the 25PS\/75PMMA system has been shown to maintain the PMMA chemistry, but to significantly change the surface topography and to subsequently effect the scale of the resultant platelet interactions. By blocking specific platelet binding sites, it has been shown that their interaction with these surfaces is a consequence of the entrapment and build-up of vWF from the same whole blood sample.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym9120700","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,14]],"date-time":"2017-12-14T04:30:55Z","timestamp":1513225855000},"page":"700","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Entrapment of Autologous von Willebrand Factor on Polystyrene\/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Demixed Surfaces"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Joanna","family":"Ward","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), Ulster University, Jordanstown BT37 0QB, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9862-1398","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eimear","family":"Dunne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St. Stephen\u2019s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Bishop","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), Ulster University, Jordanstown BT37 0QB, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4932-4770","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adrian","family":"Boyd","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), Ulster University, Jordanstown BT37 0QB, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dermot","family":"Kenny","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St. Stephen\u2019s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brian","family":"Meenan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), Ulster University, Jordanstown BT37 0QB, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1507","DOI":"10.1111\/jth.13368","article-title":"A diagnostic approach to mild bleeding disorders","volume":"14","author":"Boender","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Thromb. Haemost."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Colman, R.W., Marder, V., Clowes, A., George, J., and Goldhaber, S. (2005). Structure and function of von Willebrand Factor. Hemostasis and Thrombosis\u2014Basic Principles and Clinical Practice, Lippincott, Williams, Wilkens."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1412","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2014-05-378638","article-title":"Von Willebrand Factor, Jedi Knight of the bloodstream","volume":"124","author":"Springer","year":"2014","journal-title":"Blood"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1702","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1538-7836.2005.01369.x","article-title":"Von Willebrand factor: Two sides of a coin","volume":"3","author":"Sadler","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Thromb. Haemost."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2067","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMra1601561","article-title":"Von Willebrand\u2019s Disease","volume":"375","author":"Leebeek","year":"2016","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"454","DOI":"10.1182\/blood.V69.2.454.454","article-title":"Epidemiological investigation of the prevalence of von Willebrand\u2019s Disease","volume":"69","author":"Rodeghiero","year":"1987","journal-title":"Blood"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"453","DOI":"10.1111\/bjh.13064","article-title":"The diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease: A United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organization guideline approved by the British Committee for Standards in Haematology","volume":"167","author":"Laffan","year":"2014","journal-title":"Br. J. Haematol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.2147\/VHRM.S44469","article-title":"Platelet function tests: A comparative review","volume":"11","author":"Paniccia","year":"2015","journal-title":"Vasc. Health Risk Manag."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1425","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1538-7836.2012.04747.x","article-title":"Comparison of type I, type III and type VI collagen binding assays in diagnosis of von Willebrand disease","volume":"10","author":"Flood","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Thromb. Haemost."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ranucci, M., and Simioni, P. (2016). General Aspects of Platelet Function Tests. Point-of-Care Tests for Severe Hemorrhage, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-24795-3"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1832","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1538-7836.2009.03594.x","article-title":"Limitations of the ristocetin cofactor assay in measurement of von Willebrand factor function","volume":"7","author":"Flood","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Thromb. Haemost."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1016\/j.thromres.2015.05.012","article-title":"Microfluidic technology as an emerging clinical tool to evaluate thrombosis and hemostasis","volume":"136","author":"Branchford","year":"2015","journal-title":"Thromb. Res."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"55351","article-title":"A Microfluidic Flow Chamber Model for Platelet Transfusion and Hemostasis Measures Platelet Deposition and Fibrin Formation in Real-time","volume":"120","author":"Six","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Vis. Exp."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ab.2010.05.030","article-title":"Integrated system investigating shear-mediated platelet interactions with von Willebrand factor using microliters of whole blood","volume":"405","author":"Lincoln","year":"2010","journal-title":"Anal. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"6","article-title":"Platelets from premature neonates have increased platelet affinity for von Willebrand factor (VWF) under arterial shear compared to platelets from term neonates","volume":"12","author":"Cowman","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Thromb. Haemost."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"826","DOI":"10.1109\/TBME.2010.2090659","article-title":"Shear-mediated platelet adhesion analysis in less than 100 \u03bcL of blood: Toward a POC platelet diagnostic","volume":"58","author":"Kent","year":"2011","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12235","DOI":"10.1038\/srep12235","article-title":"Age-related changes in platelet function are more profound in women than in men","volume":"5","author":"Cowman","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"987","DOI":"10.1007\/s10544-010-9453-y","article-title":"Microfluidic device to study arterial shear-mediated platelet-surface interactions in whole blood: Reduced sample volumes and well-characterised protein surfaces","volume":"12","author":"Kent","year":"2010","journal-title":"Biomed. Microdevices"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1186\/1477-3155-6-3","article-title":"A micro-fluidic study of whole blood behaviour on PMMA topographical nanostructures","volume":"6","author":"Minelli","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Nanobiotechnol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Minelli, C., Kikuta, A., and Yamamoto, A. (2006, January 9\u201312). A micro-fluidic technique for the evaluation of the blood compatibility of nanostructured polymer surfaces. Proceedings of the 2006 International Conference on Microtechnologies in Medicine and Biology, Okinawa, Japan.","DOI":"10.1109\/MMB.2006.251539"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2965","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tsf.2006.08.049","article-title":"Phase separation and surface morphology of spin-coated films of polyetherimide\/polycaprolactone immiscible polymer blends","volume":"515","author":"Liu","year":"2007","journal-title":"Thin Solid Films"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14920","DOI":"10.1021\/acsami.5b08073","article-title":"Human fetal osteoblast response on poly(methyl methacrylate)\/polystyrene demixed thin film blends: Surface chemistry vs topography effects","volume":"8","author":"Raj","year":"2016","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymer.2003.10.012","article-title":"Surface morphology control of immiscible polymer-blend thin films","volume":"44","author":"Li","year":"2003","journal-title":"Polymer"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4995","DOI":"10.1021\/ma9619288","article-title":"Structure formation via polymer demixing in spin-cast films","volume":"30","author":"Walheim","year":"1997","journal-title":"Macromolecules"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3746","DOI":"10.1021\/ma971247s","article-title":"Surface segregation of the higher surface free energy component in symmetric polymer blend films","volume":"31","author":"Kajiyama","year":"1998","journal-title":"Macromolecules"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"934","DOI":"10.1021\/ma00108a021","article-title":"Ultra-thinning-induced surface phase separation of polystyrene\/poly(vinyl methyl ether) blend film","volume":"28","author":"Tanaka","year":"1995","journal-title":"Macromolecules"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1533","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2009.11.022","article-title":"The effect of topography of polymer surfaces on platelet adhesion","volume":"31","author":"Koh","year":"2010","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1121","DOI":"10.1016\/S0032-3861(00)00448-1","article-title":"XPS and AFM surface studies of solvent-cast PS\/PMMA blends","volume":"42","author":"Shard","year":"2001","journal-title":"Polymer"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4973","DOI":"10.1016\/S0032-3861(02)00333-6","article-title":"Surface feature size of spin cast PS\/PMMA blends","volume":"43","author":"Shard","year":"2002","journal-title":"Polymer"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3307","DOI":"10.1021\/ma0257043","article-title":"Surface morphology of annealed polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) thin film blends and bilayers","volume":"36","author":"Harris","year":"2003","journal-title":"Macromolecules"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"562","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2014-07-589507","article-title":"Identification of a juxtamembrane mechanosensitive domain in the platelet mechanosensor glycoprotein Ib-IX complex","volume":"125","author":"Zhang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Blood"}],"container-title":["Polymers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/9\/12\/700\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T18:53:47Z","timestamp":1760208827000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/9\/12\/700"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,13]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,12]]}},"alternative-id":["polym9120700"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/polym9120700","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4360"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4360","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,13]]}}}