Hemostasis under physiological and pathophysiological conditions is well understood and the relative influence of plasmatic and cellular factors are well defined. Much more speculation is on initial steps of coagulation and other hemocompatibility aspects of blood in contact with foreign materials.

Basic activation patterns of blood coagulation like the relevance of contact activation or Tissue factor pathway as well as the relevance of certain protein adsorption patterns for hemocompatibility reactions deserve more detailed research.

The underlying phenomena of protein adsorption are strongly dependent on surface functional groups determining surface charge and hydrophilicity characteristics. A correlation of physical-chemical interface characteristics with activation processes is needed. We are currently working on a DFG project using self assembled monolayer with varying thiol functionalization trying to draw some clearer conclusions on the interaction between activation pattern and surface characteristics.

The adhesion of leucocytes is influenced by complement activation and protein adsorption which is governed by surface characteristics like the existence of hydrophilic groups. The relative relevance of these reactions was experimentally defined using model substrates based on maleic anhydride copolymers.

The results of these projects will help to design biomaterials using molecular patterning.