Platelet attachment and spreading on polystyrene surfaces: dependence on fibronectin and plasma concentration.

Fibronectin promoted platelet attachment and spreading on polystyrene surfaces but was not essential if the surfaces were coated with plasma. The dependence of platelet adhesion on plasma concentration was complex. The extent of attachment and spreading was increased on surfaces treated with up to 1.0% plasma and decreased at higher plasma concentrations. The results support the hypothesis that protein adsorption is not directly related to protein concentration when surfaces are exposed to complex protein mixtures.