The University of Sydney has developed a dual charge ion coa

Heart valve disease is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease and death worldwide. According to the "China Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report 2023", as many as 1.882 million patients with valvular heart disease were admitted in 2022. Medical devices such as heart valves and stents play a crucial role in saving lives, however, proteins in the blood can easily adhere to the surface of medical implants and accumulate over time to form blood clots. Once this situation occurs, invasive surgery is often required to remove or replace the implant.

Recently, researchers from the University of Sydney have brought new hope as they are developing a double charged ion coating material that has the potential to solve the problem of blood clot formation on medical devices, thereby extending the lifespan of implants. The research team recently published a review in the journal Cell Biomaterials, delving into the potential of double charged ions in the biomedical field and providing a detailed blueprint for surface coating technology design.

Medical implants require continuous pressure in the human body. For example, heart valves need to withstand high pressure to pump blood, opening and closing billions of times within 10 years, "said Dr. Sina Nafcy, leader of the research and development team and from the School of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Sydney." The average lifespan of existing heart valve implants is less than 10 years, and there is always a risk of degradation or complications. We hope to use double charged ion coating materials to reduce the risk of thrombosis and prolong the use of heart valves and other medical implants

In nature, the world is filled with positively and negatively charged molecules, and their interactions drive the chemical processes of life. Double charged ions are a unique type of molecule that carry both positive and negative charges, and are generally neutral. It is worth mentioning that double charged ions already exist in our cells, are part of the cell membrane, and can form a thin layer of water film on the cell membrane, ensuring smooth flow of blood and other proteins in the heart and other organs without adhering to other surfaces.

Inspired by this, Dr. Nafich and his team focused on the chemical neutrality and hydrophilicity of double charged ions, striving to simulate this characteristic and design materials that can extend the service life of medical implants. At present, the research team has successfully created a double charged ion coating with a thickness of only a few nanometers, which can form a water film on the surface of the material, like a strong armor covering the material to protect its surface. Compared to materials without coatings, water will be repelled on their surface and diffuse beyond the material boundaries.

Dr. Sepehr Talebian from the School of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Sydney said, "We are currently exploring new formulations with the goal of enabling dual ion coatings to adhere to any type of implant surface, whether made of tissue, metal, plastic, or rubber, reducing their interaction with blood

However, scientists are currently facing a major challenge in determining the optimal use of double charged ions, including determining the ideal thickness and concentration of the coating. We cannot simply immerse artificial heart valves in double charged ionic substances, we must study the optimal conditions. Excessive dosage may exacerbate thrombosis, while insufficient dosage cannot effectively reduce the risk of thrombosis, "said Dr. Talebian.

He further explained that the research team is working hard to find the best conditions for this macromolecule to fully unleash its potential, including studying how to "fix" double charged ions on the material surface and exploring the optimal environment for double charged ions, such as finding the optimal concentration of salt in the solution. Because excessive salt can cause double charged ions to aggregate together, researchers expect them to be evenly distributed on the surface.

If this research result from the University of Sydney can be successfully applied, it will bring good news to many patients around the world who need medical implants. It will not only reduce the pain of patients undergoing secondary surgery due to implant problems, but also lower medical costs. In the future, the research team will continue to conduct in-depth research, strive to overcome difficulties, and promote the early practical application of double charged ion coating materials.