Investigation on clotting and hemolysis characteristics of heparin‐immobilized polyether sulfones biomembrane

In this study, a novel heparin‐immobilized polyethersulfone (PES) was synthesized. PES was initially sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid and then 1,6‐hexanediamine was grafted to the SO 3 H groups of sulfonated PES, which subsequently reacted with heparin through a covalent bond by using (1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC) as catalyst. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic property was characterized by measuring the water contact angle. The data shows decline from 62.29° ± 1.2° to 47.86° ± 0.3° for water and 86.79° ± 0.8° to 68.34° ± 1.0° for glycerol, which indicates an enhancement of hydrophilicity. Plasma hemolysis assay shows a comparatively low hemolysis ratio of 1.04%, which is below permissible limit of 5%. A higher content of dissociated blood cells and Ca 2+ concentration was found in red blood cell counting and coagulation factor IV test in heparinized PES. Plasma recalcification time of 360 s also offers positive evidence that heparinized PES seems to have a good anticoagulation property. This new heparin‐immobilized PES biomaterials may have the potential for biomedical applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008