Ionic charges of glass surfaces and other materials, and their possible role in the coagulation of blood

¹ National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

Some observations on the physicochemical role played by glass surfaces in accelerating the ‘normal’ coagulation rate of blood have been made, in light of the nonmigratable negative ionic charge which appears on leached glass surfaces and the orientation of the positively charged calcium ions of the blood at the fluid-glass interface. Numerous other materials, including artificial arteries, heart valves, bandages and ‘live’ skin, have been in-investigated with respect to the ionic nature of their surfaces and their effect on blood coagulation. An effort was made to establish the ionic charge of the endothelial layer of the circulatory system; however, the procedure used in this investigation does not lend itself to in vivo or even convincingly to in vitro determinations. The ionic nature of the materials was determined from the uneven distribution of Ag(NH₃)₂⁺ and Br^– ions in full-strength aqueous ammonia, caused by the nonmigratable ionic charge characteristic of the surfaces. Such data appear to be qualitatively acceptable provided the material does not form any compound with either Ag(NH₃)₂⁺ or Br^– ions which is more insoluble than AgBr, or does not have an isoelectric point between pH 7 and pH 13.3.

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