Ann Z. Okkema

Bulk, surface, and blood-contacting properties of polyetherurethanes modified with polyethylene oxide

The bulk, surface, and blood-contacting properties of a series of polyether polyurethanes based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) (MW = 1450), polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO) (MW = 1000), and mixed PEO/PTMO soft segments were evaluated. The effect of varying the weight percentage of PEO, and thus the overall polarity of the mixed soft segment phase, was investigated. Two polymer blends prepared from a PTMO-based and a PEO-based polyurethane were also studied. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that the polyurethanes based on either the PEO or the PTMO soft segments are relatively phase mixed. The degree of phase mixing in the polymers increased with increasing weight fraction of PEO. As expected, water absorption and the hydrophilicity of the polymer increased with increasing PEO soft segment content. In vacuum, the PEO-rich polymers have a lower concentration of soft segment at the surface, possibly due to the migration of the polar PEO segments away from the polymer/vacuum interface. The blood-contacting results indicated that the higher PEO-containing polymers were more thrombogenic than the pure PTMO-based polyurethane. A threshold concentration of PEO in the polyurethane appeared to be required before the blood-contacting properties were significantly affected.

Physical and blood contacting characteristics of propyl sulphonate grafted Biomer

Propyl sulphonate groups were grafted on to the backbone of Biomer, a polyetherurethaneurea, in an attempt to improve its blood-contacting properties. The bulk, surface and blood-contacting properties of this series of sulphonated polymers were evaluated. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that propyl sulphonate incorporation increased the microphase separation of the polymers. The ultimate tensile strength was also increased with sulphonation at the expense of the polymers extensibility. Dynamic contact angle analysis showed that, in water, the sulphonated Biomer surfaces were more polar than the Biomer sample indicating the propyl sulphonate groups were enriched at the surface. Canine ex vivo blood-contacting results showed that the incorporation of propyl sulphonate groups dramatically reduced the number and activation of platelets adherent to the polymer surface. In addition, fibrinogen deposition increased with increasing sulphonate content, despite the low level of platelet activation.

Effect of carboxylate and/or sulphonate ion incorporation on the physical and blood-contacting properties of a polyetherurethane

Propyl sulphonate and ethyl carboxylate groups were grafted on to the backbone of a polytetramethylene oxide-based polyurethane (PEU). The effects of ion type and ion content on the polymers bulk, surface, and blood-contacting properties were evaluated. Ion incorporation disrupted the packing of the hard segment but had little effect on the overall microphase separation of the polymers. The mechanical properties of the ionomers were improved relative to the base PEU, although the carboxylate-containing ionomers were weaker than the sulphonate-containing polymers. As expected, the polymers water absorption and surface polarity increased with increasing ion content. Dynamic and static contact angle analysis indicated that the propyl sulphonate-containing polymers were more polar than the ethyl carboxylate-containing polymers at the same ion content which is attributed to the higher ionic strength of the sulphonate ion. The carboxylate-containing polymers had no statistically significant effect on the polymers canine ex vivo blood-contacting response. At the same ion content, propyl sulphonate incorporation significantly reduced platelet deposition for very short blood-contacting times. When both ion types were present in the polymer, the propyl sulphonate group appeared to be the primary factor determining the polymers blood-contacting response. The polymer containing 20 mol% propyl sulphonate groups significantly reduced platelet deposition and activation while also exhibiting enhanced fibrinogen deposition.

Bulk, surface and blood-contacting properties of polyether polyurethanes modified with polydimetnylsiloxane macroglycols

The bulk, surface and blood-contacting properties of a series of polyether polyurethanes, modified with three different polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) macroglycol segments, were evaluated. The PDMS oligomers were terminated with hydroxy-tipped end groups of varying polarity. The effect of substituting the polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO) soft segment of a base polyurethane with 5 and 15 wt% of these PDMS-containing polyols was investigated. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break appeared to be the bulk properties most significantly affected by the addition of the PDMS-containing polyols. Underwater contact angle data indicate that the block copolymer surface became more hydrophilic with increasing PDMS content. In a vacuum, as determined from the ESCA data, the relatively non-polar PDMS soft segments preferentially oriented at the surface with increasing PDMS incorporation. Despite the variation in the surface properties, the blood compatibility of these polymers was not significantly affected by the addition of the PDMS-containing polyols.

Acute and chronic canine ex vivo blood interactions with NHLBI-DTB Primary Reference Materials

Thrombus deposition was measured on NHLBI-DTB Primary Reference Material polyethylene (PRM-PE) and polydimethylsiloxane (PRM-SR) and their commercially available counterparts, surgical grade Intramedic polyethylene and Dow Corning Silastic. Canine blood-contacting experiments evaluating short-term (up to 60 min) and longer-term (up to 24 h) thrombus deposition were used to quantitate adherent platelets on the lumenal surface of test materials ex vivo. A similar pattern of thrombus deposition and detachment was observed for all materials in both acute and chronic blood contact. Although differences in the wall shear rates affected the absolute numbers of adherent platelets, the relative levels of thrombus deposition showed similarities between the two experiments, with the polyethylene materials as a group showing slightly less deposition than the silicone rubber materials. The PRM-PE showed the least thrombus deposition at extended exposure to blood. The PRM-SR showed the most thrombus deposition in the acute term. The overall similarity in blood compatibility and surface properties indicates the need for the inclusion of less thromboresistant and more polar reference materials.

Ionic Polyurethanes: Surface and Blood-Contacting Properties

Sulfonated polyetherurethanes, synthesized by the substitution of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of the urethane nitrogens with propane sultone, were evaluated in this study. The water absorption properties are dramatically affected by the sulfonate content. The surface properties are also found to be influenced by the percentage of sulfonate incorporation. The blood-contacting properties, as determined by both an acute and chronic canine ex vivo experiment, show increased thromboresistance with increased propyl sulfonate incorporation. A unique characteristic of the highly sulfonated polymers is the negligible platelet activation and spreading observed using scanning electron microscopy.