Surface and Hemocompatibility Studies of Bi-Soft Segment Polyurethane Membranes

Overview of Membrane Science and Technology in Portugal

Membrane research in Portugal is aligned with global concerns and expectations for sustainable social development, thus progressively focusing on the use of natural resources and renewable energy. This review begins by addressing the pioneer work on membrane science and technology in Portugal by the research groups of Instituto Superior Técnico—Universidade de Lisboa (IST), NOVA School of Science and Technology—Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT NOVA) and Faculdade de Engenharia—Universidade do Porto (FEUP) aiming to provide an historical perspective on the topic. Then, an overview of the trends and challenges in membrane processes and materials, mostly in the last five years, involving Portuguese researchers, is presented as a contribution to a more sustainable water–energy–material–food nexus.

Sorption/Diffusion Contributions to the Gas Permeation Properties of Bi-Soft Segment Polyurethane/Polycaprolactone Membranes for Membrane Blood Oxygenators

Due to their high hemocompatibility and gas permeation capacity, bi-soft segment polyurethane/polycaprolactone (PU/PCL) polymers are promising materials for use in membrane blood oxygenators. In this work, both nonporous symmetric and integral asymmetric PU/PCL membranes were synthesized, and the permeation properties of the atmospheric gases N₂, O₂, and CO₂ through these membranes were experimentally determined using a new custom-built gas permeation apparatus. Permeate pressure vs. time curves were obtained at 37.0 °C and gas feed pressures up to 5 bar. Fluxes, permeances, and permeability coefficients were determined from the steady-state part of the curves, and the diffusion and sorption coefficients were estimated from the analysis of the transient state using the time-lag method. Independent measurements of the sorption coefficients of the three gases were performed, under equilibrium conditions, in order to validate the new setup and procedure. This work shows that the gas sorption in the PU/PCL polymers is the dominant factor for the permeation properties of the atmospheric gases in these membranes.

Surface Characterization of Asymmetric Bi-Soft Segment Poly(ester urethane urea) Membranes for Blood-Oxygenation Medical Devices

Asymmetric bi-soft segment poly(ester urethane urea) (PEUU) membranes containing polycaprolactone (PCL) as a second soft segment are synthesized with PCL-diol ranging from 0% to 15% (w/w). Bulk and surface characteristics of the PEUU membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), static water contact angles, and surface streaming potentials and were correlated to hemocompatibility properties, namely, hemolysis and thrombosis degrees. SEM analysis reveals PEUU membranes with asymmetric cross-sections and top dense surfaces with distinct morphologies. The increase in PCL-diol content yields PEUU membranes with blood-contacting surfaces that are smoother, more hydrophilic, and with higher maximum zeta potentials. The results obtained in this work give no evidence of a correlation between hydrophilicity/zeta potentials and the hemolysis/thrombosis degree of blood-contacting surfaces of the PEUU membranes. In contrast, other hemocompatibility aspects reveal that the more hydrophilic membranes are associated with lower platelet deposition and inhibition of extreme states of platelet activation.