Creation of New Si-containing Block Copolymer Membrane with Both High Gas Permeability and Blood compatibility

Abstract

Multiphase separated polymers are of great interest owing to unique characteristics such as high mechanical strengths, surface functionality and blood compatibility. It was well known that surface consisting of poly(styrene-b-HEMA) showed an excellent blood compatibility [1]. While, it was found that poly[4-{bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl}styrene](BSMS) membrane had fairly high oxygen permeability among vinyl polymers owing to its high Si-content and fairly high free space in the membrane [2]. So, we synthesized new silicon-containg block copolymer based on BSMS with HEMA, possessing the hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments. The block copolymer membranes were prepared by the different two methods. Thus obtained block copolymer surface showed microphase separated structures in spite of membrane preparation methods. However, the membranes obtained by the deprotection in matrix was found numerous pores. On the other hand, no pore was shown in the membrane prepared by another method. Moreover, even in the membrane having pores on the surface, a significant degree of platelets adhesion and deformation was surpressed. In this paper, we report on synthesis of poly(BSMS- b-HEMA) and their properties.