Surface Characterization of Quaternized Polysulfone Films and Biocompatibility Studies

A novel quaternized polysulfone with N-dimethyloctylammonium groups was investigated with respect to its surface properties, hydrophobicity, interactions with blood, and morphology. The history of the films formed from N, N-dimethylformamide/methanol and N, N-dimethylformamide/water solutions and the compositions of the solvent/nonsolvent mixtures influenced the surface morphology. Thus, atomic force microscopy investigations of the films showed pores and nodules of different sizes and intensities, which depended on the content of methanol or water in the solvent mixtures. Hydrophilicity modification, evidenced by the apolar components and the electron-acceptor and electron-donor parameters of the polar components of the surface tension parameters, was correlated with atomic force microscopy data. Surface wettability trends were analyzed on the basis of the free energy of hydration between the prepared films and water and the work of adhesion. The adhesion of red blood cells to the modified polysulfone showed the influence of the hydrophobic properties. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 127-137, 2011