Reversibility of granulocyte adhesion using polyamine-grafted nylon-6 as a new column substrate for granulocyte...

Reversibility of leucocytes adhered onto the surface of polyamine-grafted nylon-6 was investigated to estimate its feasibility as a new column substrate for granulocyte separation from whole blood. Polyamine-grafted nylon-6 was synthesized by a radical polymerization of 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate monomer onto nylon-6. The surfaces of these graft copolymers were found to show a microphase-separated structure composed of island-like phases of cationic polyamine and continuous phases of nonionic nylon-6. Interaction between leucocytes and these copolymer surfaces was studied by passing rabbit heparinized blood through a column packed with glass beads precoated with these copolymers. Columns of these copolymers showed a selective adhesion of granulocytes among leucocyte populations. Also, the adhering granulocytes were able to be recovered from the column by a gentle elution procedure. From these results, it was concluded that polyamine-grafted nylon-6 having a microphase-separated structure is suitable for use as a column substrate in granulocyte separation from whole blood.