Gas transfer and blood compatibility of fluorinated polyimide membranes

Fluorinated polyimide derived from 2,2'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy) phenyl]sulfone (APPS) was synthesized to develop a novel membrane oxygenator combining excellent gas transfer and blood compatibility. The asymmetric gas exchange membranes of 6FDA-APPS made by a dry/wet process consisted of an ultrathin and defect-free skin layer supported by a porous substructure. O2 transfer through the 6FDA-APPS membrane was extremely augmented as compared with that of the presently available membrane, poly(dimethylsiloxane), and the previously reported 6FDA-DDS membrane. Since CO2 transfer through the 6FDA-APPS membrane increased with a decrease in CO2 pressure according to dual-mode transport theory, CO2 from the membrane was selectively removed at low CO2 pressure. For the evaluation of in vitro blood compatibility, the platelet adhesion and the plasma protein adsorption on the surface of the 6FDA-APPS membrane were observed by using scanning electron microscopy and the amounts of platelet and plasma protein were determined by an amino acid analyzer. The results indicated that the fluorinated polyimide membranes showed excellent blood compatibility.