COLLAGEN-BASED BIOARTIFICIAL MATERIALS - EVALUATION AS MEMBRANES FOR EXTRACORPOREAL BLOOD PURIFICATION

The preparation of films from blends of collagen and poly(vinyl alcoho l) is described and the transport properties of these films are evalua ted. Different crosslinking procedures, dehydrothermal crosslinking an d crosslinking by glutaraldehyde, have been used. The transport proper ties of these films have been studied using model solutes such as sodi um chloride, vitamin B12 and bovine albumin. The results are compared with those obtained using commercial products such as Cuprophan(R) and poly(acrylonitrile) dialysis membranes. The aim of our study was to a nalyse the effects of different crosslinking methods and the effects o f blending with poly(vinyl alcohol) upon the permeation characteristic s of collagen-based membranes.