ABSTRACT:In order to develop blood compatible membranes with controlled porosity, we have fabricated and examined the properties of physical interpenetrating network (PIN) of chitosan and poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO/PPO/ PEO) triblock copolymers (Pluronics ). Degree of equilibrium swelling, scanning electron microscopy, and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) were used to characterize the bulk and surface properties. Vitamin B 12 and human serum albumin were used as permeability markers. Platelet adhesion and activation were used to determine the blood-interaction properties of the PIN membranes. Unlike chitosan membranes that were nonporous, the chitosan-Pluronic PIN membranes were highly porous with the pore size, depending on the type of incorporated Pluronic polyol. ESCA results showed a significant increase in the OCOOO signal of C1s spectra on the PIN membranes that correlates with the presence of PEO chains on the surface. The permeability coefficients of vitamin B 12 and albumin were higher in the chitosan-Pluronic PIN membranes than in the control. The number of adherent platelets and the extent of activation were significantly reduced on the chitosan-Pluronic PIN membranes. The decrease in platelet adhesion and activation correlated positively with the PEO chain length of the incorporated Pluronic polyols. The results of this study show that chitosan-Pluronic PIN membranes offer a blood-compatible alternative with a higher-molecular-weight cutoff for use in hemodialysis and related applications.
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