The blood compatibility of chitosan and N-acylchitosans.

A segment of silk polyfilament suture [No. 2-0(USP)], ca. 10 cm long, was coated with a thin membrane (2-6 micron) of chitosan, N-acetylchitosan, or N-hexanoylchitosan. The suture was directly inserted into the lumen of dog's peripheral veins. The in vivo blood compatibility of these membranes was macroscopically determined from the blood coagulum formed on the membrane surface at 2 h. An intense thick blood coagulum formed on the chitosan membrane surface and a thin blood coagulum formed on N-acetylchitosan membrane surface, but no blood coagulum formed on N-hexanoylchitosan membrane surface.