THE EFFECT OF MICROPHASE-SEPARATED STRUCTURES ON THE BLOOD CONTACTING PROPERTIES OF A SERIES OF LINEAR SEGMENTED POLY(ETHERURETHANEUREA) ELASTOMERS

A series of poly(etherurethaneurea) elastomers were synthesised under identical experimental conditions. The total weight percent hard segment content was varied in such a way as to give poly(etherurethaneurea) elastomers with varying levels of microphase separated structures. Films of the polymers were solvent cast under normal conditions, and, following chemical and physical characterisation, were exposed to platelet rich plasma (PRP) for a fixed time. Assessment of the level and nature of adhered blood platelets indicated that the polymer containing a total hard segment content of 30% w/w, of which approximately 60% was present as microphase separated domains, had a notably greater affinity for blood platelets than that polymer containing a total hard segment content of 17% w/w, of which only about 32-34% were microphase separated. Furthermore, platelets were activated on the more hydrophylic surface while no evidence of activation was apparent on the more hydrophobic surface.