Tween 20-modified poly(vinyl chloride) exhibits enhanced blood-compatibility

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) resin was modified by grafting the non-ionic surfactant poly(oxyethylene 20 sorbitan) monolaurate (Tween (R) 20) using isocyanate chemistry. PVC was aminated using ethylenediamine and coupled with hexamethylene diisocyanate. Tween 20 was then reacted with the polymer, resulting in the grafting of the surfactant. The polymer modification was confirmed using infrared and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy. Films of modified polymer were cast from a solution of tetrahydrofuran. The surface of films prepared from the modified polymer showed increased hydrophilicity as evidenced by contact-angle measurements. The solid/water free energy of the modified polymer surface was nearly a quarter of the energy of the bare PVC surface. Static platelet adhesion studies using platelet-rich plasma demonstrated significantly reduced adhesion onto a modified PVC surface compared with unmodified PVC. Data obtained demonstrate that modification of polymers with Tween 20 may be an interesting way of imparting protein- and cell-repelling characteristics to them, thereby improving their blood-compatibility. (c) 2005 Society of Chemical Industry.