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Correlative Light And Electron Microscopy Of Platelet Adhesion And Fibrinogen Receptor Expression Using Colloidal-Gold Labeling, Steven L. Goodman, Ralph M. Albrecht

Scanning Microscopy

Differences in the shape change responses of platelets to various polymers may determine the thrombotic potential of these materials. Substrate-dependent variation in the expression and motility of the platelet fibrinogen receptor may underlie these differences due to this ligand's essential role in platelet aggregation. In this study we examine platelet activation on polyetherurethaneureas (PEUUs) presently being evaulated for vascular prosthetic applications. These polymers are prepared as 50-100nm thin films suitable as substrates for consecutive light microscopy, high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM), and SEM. 18nm colloidal gold coupled to fibrinogen permits visualization of that receptor's motility in living cells by video-enhanced …