The biostability of poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinyl chloride) (P(AN/VC)) h
ollow fibre membranes was assessed in the rat peritoneal cavity over a
12 month period. The mechanical and chemical stabilities of the hollo
w fibre membrane (HFM) were characterized by measuring its tensile str
ength and molecular weight (by gel permeation chromatography) pre-impl
antation and post-explantation. The stability of the HFM transport pro
perties was determined by molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) and hydrauli
c permeability (HP). Explanted HFMs were treated with 4 M NaOH to remo
ve adsorbed protein before measuring mechanical, chemical and transpor
t properties. The HFM was stable in vivo for at least 12 months: (i) w
eight average molecular weight (M(W)) at t = 0 was 143 000 g mol(-1) (
with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 2.3) and at t = 12 months it was
128 000 g mol(-1) (with a PDI of 2.8); and (ii) tensile strength at t
= 0, 52 +/- 2 mdyne, did not change significantly over time and was 46
+/- 7 mdyne at t = 15 months (P > 0.05 by a two-tailed Student's t-te
st); and (iii) no significant differences, with respect to standard de
viation, were observed in the transport properties: HP was 7.4 +/- 1.5
ml min(-1) m(-2) mmHg(-1) at t = 0 and 7.5 +/- 1.5 mi min(-1) m(-2) m
mHg(-1) at t = 12 months, while MWCO (at 90% rejection) was initially
40 000 +/- 8000 g mol(-1) and then 54 000 +/- 10 000 g mol(-1) at t =
12 months.