Dual functionalized poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane with acryloylmorpholine and argatroban to improve antifouling and hemocompatibility

The present work aims to improve the antifouling properties and anticoagulation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane by dual modification. An amphiphilic copolymer of PVDF-g-(polyacryloylmorpholine-(polyacrylic acid)) [PVDF-g-(PACMO-PAA)] was first prepared by the free radical copolymerization. Then argatroban, a commonly used anticoagulant, was successfully grafted to PVDF-g-(PACMO-PAA). Finally the obtained copolymer was casted into a flat membrane via immersion phase inversion. The as-prepared copolymer membranes show improved hydrophilicity, higher water flux and lower protein adsorption. Moreover, the hemolysis and coagulation tests for the dual functionalized PVDF membrane exhibit decreased hemolysis ratio, with prolonged plasma recalcification time, activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time. PVDF membrane incorporating PACMO and AG reveals an improved hemocompatibility, which has a good potential to be used in blood purification. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 178-188, 2017.