BloodSurf 2017: News From the Blood-biomaterial Frontier

From stents and large-diameter vascular grafts, to mechanical heart valves and blood pumps, blood-contacting devices are enjoying significant clinical success owing to the application of systemic antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapies. On the contrary, research into material and device hemocompatibility aimed at alleviating the need for systemic therapies has suffered a decline. This research area is undergoing a renaissance fueled by recent fundamental insights into coagulation and inflammation that are offering new avenues of investigation, the growing recognition of the limitations facing existing therapeutic approaches, and the severity of the cardiovascular disorders epidemic. This Opinion article discusses clinical needs for hemocompatible materials and the emerging research directions for fulfilling those needs. Based on the 2017 BloodSurf conference that brought together clinicians, scientists, and engineers from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies, its purpose is to draw the attention of the wider clinical and scientific community to stimulate further growth.