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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
07:32
Synthesis of Hydrogels with Antifouling Properties As Membranes for Water Purification
Published on: April 7, 2017
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Hemocompatible polyethersulfone/polyurethane composite membrane for high-performance antifouling and antithrombotic
Zehua Yin1, Chong Cheng, Hui Qin
1College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, People's Republic of China.
Summary
Blending polyurethane (PU) with polyethersulfone (PES) creates advanced hemodialysis membranes. These composite membranes show improved blood compatibility, antifouling, and antithrombotic properties for better blood purification.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Medical Device Engineering
Background:
- Blood purification technologies like hemodialysis require advanced artificial membranes with integrated antifouling and antithrombotic properties.
- Current membranes face challenges with blood compatibility, protein adsorption, and platelet adhesion, limiting dialyzer performance and lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop high-performance hemodialysis membranes with enhanced blood compatibility by physically blending triblock polyurethane (PU) and polyethersulfone (PES).
- To investigate the impact of PU/PES blending on membrane surface properties, structure, porosity, permeability, and hemocompatibility.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of polyethersulfone/polyurethane (PES/PU) composite membranes via physical blending.
- Surface characterization using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle, and surface ζ-potentials.
- Structural analysis using scanning electron microscopy and evaluation of ultrafiltration performance and blood compatibility.
Main Results:
- The PES/PU composite membranes exhibited a hydrophilic surface layer due to PU segment migration, enhancing hemocompatibility.
- Membrane structure transformed from finger-like to sponge-like, indicating tunable porosity and increased permeability.
- Composite membranes demonstrated reduced protein adsorption, suppressed platelet adhesion, and prolonged plasma recalcification time compared to pristine PES membranes.
Conclusions:
- Physical blending of triblock PU and PES is a viable strategy for creating advanced hemodialysis membranes with superior antifouling and antithrombotic properties.
- The enhanced hemocompatibility and tunable structure of PES/PU composite membranes offer significant potential for clinical blood dialysis applications.
- This approach facilitates the fabrication of blood-compatible composite membranes using miscible functional polymers for improved blood purification.
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