title: Hydrophilic, semipermeable membranes fabricated with poly(ethylene oxide)-polysulfone block copolymer.
abstract: Semipermeable membranes may be fabricated from mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide)/polysulfone block copolymer (PEO-b-PSF) and polysulfone. Membranes fabricated with PEO-b-PSF possess a hydrophilic surface. PEO-b-PSF segregates to the membrane surface during phase inversion fabrication of the membrane rendering the surface hydrophilic. Changes in surface hydrophilicity were demonstrated by a dramatic reduction in the dynamic contact angle in water. With regard to the similar microporous hollow fiber membranes, a PEO-b-PSF membrane had a dynamic water contact angle of 33 degrees +/- 2 compared to a 111 degrees +/- 3 for a polysulfone membrane. Studies on porcine platelet-rich plasma in vitro demonstrated that the hydrophilic PEO-b-PSF membrane was resistant to platelet adhesion compared to a polysulfone membrane. An order of magnitude fewer adherent platelets were observed on a PEO-b-PSF membrane compared to a polysulfone membrane. The hydrophilicity of PEO-b-PSF makes it a unique material for the fabrication of membranes for medical devices.
authors.affiliation: Circe Biomedical Inc., Lexington, MA 02421, USA. hancock@circebio.com
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ziolo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D013450:Sulfones; D013499:Surface Properties; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013450:Sulfones; C406278:poly(ethylene oxide)-polysulfone block copolymer; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols