PVC-Based Ion-Selective Electrodes with Enhanced Biocompatibility by Surface Modification with Click Chemistry

We report here on plasticized ion-selective poly(vinyl chloride) membranes with increased biocompatibility by means of a copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (click chemistry') on the surface of finished membranes. We aimed for increasing the hydrophilicity of the surface and the application of NO releasing molecules. Employing the first principle, sodium selective membranes based on azide-substituted PVC were modified with different length poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains. For the second, cysteine groups were used as a nitrous oxide releasing substance. Surface modification was confirmed by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Potentiometric measurements in undiluted whole blood showed an increased sensor stability in comparison to unmodified PVC. Membrane surfaces after 18h contact with blood were analyzed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and revealed a reduced level of blood cell adsorption on membranes modified with tetraethylene glycol (TEG) and PEGs. In contrast, cysteine modified membranes did not exhibit improved fouling resistance, suggesting that nitric oxide release by itself is not a sufficiently efficient mechanism.