# Does Biocompatibility Contribute to Transfusion-Related Adverse Effects?

> **NIH NIH R01** · CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2022 · $677,394

## Abstract

Project Summary
Nearly 15 million transfusions are performed in the United States each year, with approximately 425,000 units
transfused to pediatric patients alone. Despite the frequency – transfusion procedures are not without risk. Blood
transfusion complications may be attributed to heavy exposure to plastic devices, which are fabricated with
chemicals that exert endocrine disrupting properties. The proposal's main hypothesis is that plastic devices are
not universally biocompatible – and that local and systemic reactions to chemical contaminants contribute to
transfusion-related complications. The proposal's objective is to assess whether medical device biocompatibility
and chemical exposures are underlying contributors to cardiovascular and autonomic dysfunction. The proposal
also aims to identify safer biomaterials, chemicals and/or surface coatings for transfusion devices and blood
banking. In this proposal, we will build upon our preliminary studies to address three specific aims: 1) To define
the extent to which biomaterial leaching and chemical exposure alters cardiovascular and autonomic function,
using in vivo and whole heart models. 2) To determine if biocompatibility and incidental chemical exposures are
correlated with cardiovascular and autonomic abnormalities in transfused pediatric patients. 3) To compare and
contrast alternative biomaterials, chemicals and fabrication techniques in order to identify safer replacements for
transfusion-related devices. The proposed application will quantify the role of biocompatibility and chemical
leaching on cardiovascular and autonomic function – two targets that are highly susceptible to xenobiotic toxicity.
If adverse outcomes are observed in the proposed study, it will pinpoint additional variables to monitor in future
clinical investigations and epidemiological studies. Finally, this proposal aims to provide the foundation for
objective decision making regarding the use of chemical additives with endocrine disrupting properties in medical
device manufacturing by scientific, medical and regulatory communities. Results of the proposed studies can
incentivize and accelerate the development and clinical adoption of alternative biomaterials, additives and/or
fabrication techniques to improve transfusion patient safety.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10321632
- **Project number:** 5R01HL139472-05
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Nikki Gillum Posnack
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $677,394
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-15 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10321632

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10321632, Does Biocompatibility Contribute to Transfusion-Related Adverse Effects? (5R01HL139472-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10321632. Licensed CC0.

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