Preparation and surface characterization of PEO-grafted and heparin-immobilized polyurethanes

Surfaces of commercial polyurethanes (PUs) were modified by poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) grafting and/or heparin immobilization for long-term biomedical applications. PU surfaces were treated with diisocyanate and then reacted with PEO or heparin. The heparin immobilized by various methods on the PU surface was very stable, with concentrations of 1.45-1.84 micrograms/cm2. Surface structure and characteristics of each modified PU were examined by performing the following surface analyses: attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic contact angle measurements. The reaction scheme and surface chemical structure of modified PUs were confirmed by ATR-IR and ESCA, respectively. SEM results showed that the PU-PEO surface was very smooth and that the smoothness of the heparinized PU surfaces varied, depending upon the solvent and coupling agent used in the process. The hydrophilicity of the surface was significantly increased after PEO grafting or heparin immobilization. Increase in the chain length of the grafted PEO resulted in significant increases in hydrophilicity and surface mobility.