Bioinspired Zwitterionic Lubrication Coating with Bridge Architecture for Anticoagulation and Endothelialization of Blood-Contacting Implants via Interfacial Force Regulation

A combination of excellent anticoagulation and endothelium-friendly properties is highly imperative for blood-contacting implants in clinics. Herein, bioinspired by cell membrane and catecholamine chemistry, a zwitterionic lubrication copolymer with bridge architecture was designed and synthesized for fabricating a versatile and stable platform to construct an antithrombotic/endothelium-friendly surface, which was prepared by a facile and flexible dip-coating method. Importantly, the zwitterionic coating greatly improved the lubrication and antithrombotic performances based on the tenacious hydration layer surrounding the N⁺(CH₃)₃ and PO₄^- charges in the phosphorylcholine groups. Notably, the effectiveness of the copolymer in anticoagulation and endothelialization performances was authenticated via the animal tests including both an intravascular stent (rabbit model) and a mechanical heart valve (sheep model), which not only mitigated foreign body response but also prevented thrombus formation in vivo. Furthermore, the interfacial forces between the copolymer and endothelial cells, red blood cells, and platelets demonstrated that the zwitterionic coating achieved anticoagulation and endothelialization based on interfacial force regulation of biomolecules/cells-materials interactions. Consequently, this study provides an insight into guide the surface design of blood-contacting implants for synergistic anticoagulation and endothelialization.