Modification of polysulfone with phospholipid polymer for improvement of the blood compatibility. Part 1. Surface characterization

To improve the surface blood compatibility of polysulfone (PSf) membranes, we prepared novel polymeric additives which have suitable blood compatibili ty. They were polymers with a phosphorylcholine group, a 2-methacryloyloxye thyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) unit. The MPC polymer could be blended with po lysulfone by a solvent evaporation method during membrane processing, and a transparent membrane could be obtained. The mechanical properties of the b lend membrane were similar to that of the original PSf membrane. Surface an alysis of the blend membrane by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and dynami c contact angle measurement revealed that the MPC unit in the polymeric add itive was concentrated on the surface of the membrane. The blend membrane s ignificantly reduced plasma protein adsorption compared with that of the PS f membrane. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.