Abstract
Segmented polyurethanes (SPUs) are widely used in biomedical devices owing to their superior mechanical properties. However, their applicability in blood-contacting devices such as small-diameter vascular prostheses is severely limited owing to their thrombogenicity. Thus, it is necessary to develop an SPU material that has a surface with low thrombogenicity. In this study, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-block-2-ethylhexyl methacrylate) (B-PMEH) was synthesized as a well-defined diblock copolymer by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. B-PMEH was hybridized with SPU by the integration of the polymer layers to prepare an SPU/B-PMEH polymer alloy membrane (SB membrane). The MPC units in the B-PMEH phase separated on the immersion of the SB membrane in water, producing a surface that drastically lowered the amount of the absorbed fibrinogen and platelet adhesion as compared to the SPU. Importantly, it was demonstrated that the bulk mechanical properties of the SPU were not affected by the addition of B-PMEH.
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