Surface modification of polysulfone hollow fiber membrane for extracorporeal membrane oxygenator using low‐temperature plasma treatment

The surface of polysulfone (PSF) hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) was modified to improve the hemocompatibility of pristine PSF membrane for use in extracorporeal membrane oxygenators using low‐temperature plasma treatment. Acrylic acid (AA) with heparin, 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), and collagen were grafted on the PSF surface to prepare PSF‐AA‐Hep, PSF‐MPC, and PSF‐Col membranes, respectively. The surface‐modified membranes were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV‐visible spectrophotometry (UVS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), critical water permeability pressure (CWPP), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Protein adsorption and platelet adhesion experiments showed that the hemocompatibility of surface‐modified PSF membranes was significantly improved. Additionally, O2 and CO2 gas permeation experiments indicated that the excellent gas transmission properties of PSF membrane had been preserved. Thus, the modified membrane materials can meet the requirement for commercial respiratory assist devices. Acrylic acid with heparin, 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, and collagen are grafted on PSF membranes surface by plasma technology, respectively. The characterization results prove the successful grafting on PSF membrane surface. Hemocompatibility evaluation results shows that surface hemocompatibility of the modified PSF membranes has been significantly improved, which proves the plasma grafting can produce more stable and biocompatible biomedical materials. O2 and CO2 gas permeation experiments indicated that the excellent gas transmission properties of PSF membrane has been preserved. The above modified membrane materials can meet the demand of commercial respiratory assist device.