Improvement of blood compatibility on cellulose dialysis membrane I. Grafting of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine on to a cellulose membrane surface

A methacrylate with a phospholipid polar group, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), was grafted on cellulose membrane for haemodialysis in an aqueous medium using cerium ion (Ce4+) as an initiator. The effects of the concentrations of MPC and Ce4+, and degassing of feed solution on the grafting of MPC on the surface and the membrane properties such as permeability and mechanical strength were examined. The grafted MPC composition depended on the concentrations of both the monomer and initiator in the feed solution. When the grafted MPC distribution was controlled by the monomer concentration, the permeability of the membrane decreased with an increase in grafted MPC distribution. On the other hand, the permeability was not changed from the original membrane's value when the MPC distribution was regulated by Ce4+ concentration. The tensile strength of the membrane did not change during the grafting of MPC and this indicated that the grafting had taken place in the amorphous region of the cellulose. These results suggested that this method is a promising way to improve the blood compatibility of a cellulose membrane without having an adverse effect on the haemodialysis membrane.