Fabrication, Characterization, and Hemocompatibility Investigation of Polysulfone Grafted With Polyethylene Glycol and Heparin Used in Membrane Oxygenators

Abstract

Polysulfone (PSF) was grafted chemically with polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights (400, 2000, 10 000, and 20 000) and heparin to prepare PSF-PEG-Hep membranes (labeled as PSF-PEG400-Hep, PSF-PEG2000-Hep, PSF-PEG10 000-Hep, and PSF-PEG20 000-Hep). These membranes were synthesized via the following steps: (i) PSF chloromethylation; (ii) PEGylation; and (iii) heparin immobilization process. Water contact angle, critical water permeation pressure, ATR-FTIR, H NMR, UV-visible spectrophotometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were conducted to prove grafting success and to fix the optimal reaction parameters during chemical modification processes. To further evaluate the application potential of the PSF-PEG-Hep membrane in a membrane oxygenator, we conducted pure CO and O gas permeation tests and measured the gas exchange rates of CO and O through a membrane oxygenator using fresh porcine blood. Meanwhile, the hemocompatibility of the membrane was analyzed and compared by protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and blood coagulation tests. Results of pure gas permeation experiments indicated that the excellent gas transmission properties through PSF membrane were preserved after modification. Blood oxygenation experiments through the PSF-PEG10 000-Hep membrane showed that when the flow rate of porcine blood was 1.5 L/min, CO and O exchange rates reached 102 and 110 mL/min, respectively, which could basically satisfy the gas exchange potential of commercial membrane oxygenators. Besides, the PSF-PEG-Hep membrane has demonstrated more prominent blood compatibility than PSF.

Polyethyleneimine-assisted co-deposition of polydopamine coating with enhanced stability and efficient secondary modification

“…23,24 The immobilization of heparin on various materials could improve blood compatibility and reduce the amount of heparin injected, 25,26 in which the graing density and activity of heparin play key roles. [27][28][29] PEI with rich amino groups could enhance the graing amount of heparin. Liu et al 13 used PEI (1300 Da) co-deposited with catechol (CA) to obtain a CA/PEI coating with rich amino groups for heparin modication.…”

Superhemophobic titania nanotube array surfaces for blood contacting medical devices

“…[18][19][20][21] It is a common blood thinning medication and has been shown to improve the hemocompatibility of stents by reducing the activation of thrombin, an enzyme that begins clot formation. 19,22 However, because of its dense negative charge, it is also thought to initiate the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. 23 Polymers modied with surface coatings, such as polyethylene terephthalate coated with polydopamine, have been investigated in attempts to enhance hemocompatibility.…”

Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal requirements for ultraprotective mechanical ventilation: Mathematical model predictions

“…These devices have generally been categorized as lower or higher CO 2 extraction devices with the former containing relatively small membrane surface area using blood flow rates ≤500 mL/min and the latter containing relatively large membrane surface area using blood flow rates >500 mL/min. Improvement in ECCO 2 R technologies has great potential as such devices can be integrated into a continuous renal replacement extracorporeal circuit and their efficacy for CO 2 removal may be increased by using physical principles other than diffusion such as electrodialysis or novel membrane fabrication techniques . However, the ECCO 2 R requirements for achieving adequate blood gas chemistry or normocapnia in lung‐protective strategies have not been quantitatively evaluated except in preclinical studies …”