Biomembrane mimicry: natural lipid layer adsorbed on a copolymer surface

Implantable devices such as invasive biosensors suffer from poor compatibility with biological surrounding and this leads to a rapid deterioration in performance. It is therefore important to develop biocompatible surfaces for these devices. A copolymer having a polar head group 2-methacyloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) copolymerised with n-butyl methacrylate(BMA) (PMB) may provide a haemocompatible surface. Pure PMB membranes and compound membranes composed of PMB coated onto polyurethane(PU+PMB) and polyvinyl chloride(PVC+PMB) have been prepared. Fundamental studies on these membranes included the analysis of molecular distribution and orientation, the characterisation of surface physical properties, and the examination of blood-membrane interaction. Significant differences between membranes were found. Compound PVC+PMB and pure PMB membranes exhibited favourable surface properties for haemocompatibility and also showed low adhesion of blood components, whereas the other membranes displayed the contrary.