Enhancing polyurethane blood compatibility

Ishihara, Y. Liu, Y. Inoue The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Corresponding author ishihara mpc.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp 

Segmented polyurethanes (SPUs) are widely used as biomedical materials because of their excellent mechanical properties, stability in the biological environment, and their ease of process [7-11]. The SPU consists of alternating hard and soft segments. The segments are thermodynamically incompatible and generally, the phases are separated into distinct domains, with a typical domain size in the order of 3-10 nm. 

The bulk, surface, and blood compatibility properties of a series of SPUs based on PEO (molecular weight (MW)=1450), poly(tetramelhylene oxide) (PTMO) (MW = 1000), and mixed PEO/PTMO soft segments were evaluated [25,26], Two polymer blends prepared from a PTMO-based and a PEO-based SPU were also 

Protein adsorption Platelet adhesion/activation Hemolysis 

Immobilization of the enzyme urokinase has also been utilized [35-37], Urokinase is used chnically as a thrombolytic agent in the treatment of severe or deep venous thrombosis and occluded intravenous cannulas made with SPUs. 

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