Study on Antifouling and Blood Compatibility Properties of Carboxyl and Sulfonic Acid Groups Modified Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane

In this study, a highly efficient, convenient, and universal protocol of in situ cross-linking copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and sodium p-styrenesulfonate in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) solution was presented to prepare blood-contacting material with good blood compatibility. The modified PVDF membranes were prepared by liquid–liquid-phase inversion technology, which could induce the enrichment of hydrophilic groups including sulfonic acid and hydroxyl groups on the surface of the modified PVDF membranes. The hydrophobic-fluorinated PVDF surfaces with hydrophilic sulphonic acid and hydroxyl groups exhibited high performance with prolonged clotting time (activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time) and low activation of blood components (platelets, coagulation cascade, and complements) when they contacted blood. On the other hand, the ultrafiltration experiment results revealed the improvement in the antifouling properties of the modified PVDF membranes after the introduction of hydrophilic groups on the membranes surface. The results indicate that the blood-compatible PVDF membranes may have potential to be used in the field of blood purification, and can be used as long-term blood-contacting materials as well.