Properties of heparin--poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers. II.

A heparin--poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer in which heparin has been covalently bound was studied. This copolymer showed no release of heparin but presented heparin-like anticoagulant activity when suspended in plasma. After contact with plasma, the copolymer lost part of its antithrombin activity which could be restored by a high ionic-strength medium. Because of its solid form, this copolymer offers new possibilities for producing interesting anticoagulant surfaces.