CHANGES IN POLYURETHANE CALCIFICATION DUE TO ANTIBIOTICS

To develop artificial materials for prolonged use in the vascular syst em, the complicated process of surface-induced calcification must be b etter understood. Calcification was examined on porous polyurethane in cubated in metastable solutions of calcium phosphate, and the role of certain antibiotics in the medium was evaluated. It seems that certain aminoglycoside antibiotics can modify polyurethane surfaces and, subs equently, their mineralization process. In addition, these antibiotics may alter the calcium transport through polyurethanes. Therefore, it is conceivable that certain antibiotics can, in addition to producing their antibacterial effect, modulate surface calcium binding by changi ng the calcium mobilization and crystallization. Additional studies ar e needed to develop applications.