Blood protein adsorption onto macroporous semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and assessment of in vitro blood compatibility

This work reports a study of the adsorption of fibrinogen (Fgn) onto the surface of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA). The semi-IPNs were prepared by polymerizing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with a redox system and in the presence of PEG and crosslinker ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate. The proposed spongy IPNs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and environmental scanning electron microscopy methods, and network structural parameters, such as molecular weight between crosslinks and crosslink density, were calculated using swelling measurements. The adsorption of Fgn was carried out onto the spongy IPNs and kinetic constants of the adsorption process as well as isotherm constants were evaluated. The adsorption process was also studied under varying pH, ionic strengths, and chemical architecture of the IPNs. The anti-thrombogenic behaviour of the polymer matrices was judged using in vitro tests. (c) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.