A zwitterionic zP(4VP-r-ODA) copolymer for providing polypropylene membranes with improved hemocompatibility

• Synthesis of novel amphiphilic random copolymers.
• Self-assembling modification of PP membranes with novel copolymers.
• The zwitterionic zP(4VP-r-ODA) copolymer importantly mitigates biofouling.
• zP(4VP-r-ODA) copolymer significantly increases hemocompatibility of membranes.

This work lays the focus on the use of a novel random zwitterionic copolymer, zP(4VP-r-ODA), obtained by polymerization reaction between 4-vinylpyrrolidone and octadecyl acrylate, and by the subsequent action of iodopropionic acid, in order to modify polypropylene (PP) membranes and provide them with antifouling and hemocompatible properties. Once the results of polymer characterization presented, we move onto the physico-chemical characterization of polypropylene (PP) membranes modified with zP(4VP-r-ODA) by self-assembling thermal evaporation process. Membranes are shown to efficiently resist to the adhesion of bovine-serum-albumin and lysozyme proteins, Escherichia coli and blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, whole blood). Along this manuscript, performances of membranes self-assembled with random copolymer before zwitterionization-P(4VP-r-ODA)-are systematically compared to those obtained with membranes modified with zP(4VP-r-ODA). Overall, this study unveils that these novel modified PP membranes hold promise as an alternate material for blood filtration.

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