Physical and blood-contacting properties of polyurethanes based on a sulfonic acid-containing diol chain extender

Polyurethanes chain extended with N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid (BES) were synthesized. The effect of the sulfonic acid group on the polymers' bulk, surface, and blood-contacting properties was evaluated by comparing the BES-based polymers with polyurethanes based on N-ethyldiethanolamine (EDEA). In addition, the effect of soft-segment polarity was addressed by comparing polyurethanes based on polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO) (MW = 1000) with polymers based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) (MW = 1000). The EDEA control samples had physical properties similar to a viscous fluid. The presence of the sulfonic acid group dramatically enhanced the degree of microphase separation and the mechanical strength of all the polymers. The more polar PEO soft segment resulted in polymers which were more phase mixed than the PTMO-based polyurethanes. Surface characterization studies revealed that in vacuum, all the surfaces were enriched in the polyether soft-segment phase. After 24-h equilibration in water, all the surfaces had similar surface polarities independent of the SO3H content. The canine ex vivo blood-contacting results showed that the sulfonic acid group in the PTMO-based polymers significantly reduced the number and activation of the adherent platelets. Fibrinogen deposition, however, increased with increasing sulfonic acid content. In contrast, platelet and fibrinogen deposition on the sulfonic acid-containing PEO-based polymers was greatly enhanced.