Modification of polyethersulfone membrane by blending semi-interpenetrating network polymeric nanoparticles

The present methodology provides a simple approach to prepare semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) polymeric nanoparticles for the modification of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. The PES/poly (N-vinyl pyrrolidinone) (PVP) semi-IPN nanoparticles were synthesized by cross-linking VP on PES chains via solution polymerization; the size of the nanoparticles ranged from 38 to 820 nm determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The polymeric nanoparticles could be directly used to prepare membranes, and the membranes were characterized by SEM, elemental analysis etc. The water contact angles of the PES membranes decreased from 74° to 53°, and the adsorbed protein amount decreased from 9.5 μg/cm2 to 0.7 μg/cm2; meanwhile the water flux and protein anti-fouling property of the membranes increased significantly. The activated partial thrombin time (APTT) of the modified membrane was prolonged. All these results indicated the hydrophilicity and the blood compatibility of the modified PES membranes were improved.

Research highlights▶ An ease method for the fabrication of semi-IPN polymeric nanoparticles was reported. ▶ The nanoparticles could be directly used for the modification of PES membranes. ▶ The hydrophilicity and the blood compatibility of the membranes were improved. ▶ The method employed in this study can also be used to modify other type of membranes.