Blood-contacting properties of polydimethylsiloxane polyurea-urethanes

A series of polyurethanes was synthesized from amino-terminated polydimethylsiloxane oligomers of two molecular weights. The oligomers had been extended with hexane diisocyanate to give internal urea linkages in the soft segment. These polymers have been shown to have higher tensile properties over similar polymers without the internal urea linkages due to the greater phase mixing and interfacial bonding between the hard and soft segment microdomains. The surface properties of these materials were evaluated by dynamic contact angle measurements and the blood compatibility by a canine ex vivo series shunt. The silicone-urea polyurethanes had favourable blood-contacting properties compared to a polyetherurethane. The polymers composed of the higher molecular weight silicone oligomers had the least platelet and fibrinogen deposition.