Formation and blood compatibility of thin layers of hyperbranched polymers on polyurethane films

Abstract

Two kinds of hyperbranched polymers, star-shaped poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-bound polyamidoamine dendrimer, were immobilized on polyurethane (PU) films using photoreactive azidophenyl groups. Immobilization of the hyperbranched polymers was verified by ATR FT-IR observations and contact angle measurements. Using photoreactive molecules, this study shows a unique method to modify polymer films without functional groups easily through immobilization of other polymers on the film surface. PU surfaces modified with immobilized hyperbranched polymer showed significantly reduced platelet adhesion, i.e. increased blood compatibility, as measured via UV spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy.