Short fluorocarbon chains containing hydrophobic nanofibrous membranes with improved hemocompatibility, anticoagulation and anti-fouling performance.

Thromboembolic diseases have become one of the most hazardous and mortal diseases to human life. In this paper, a highly hydrophobic nanofibrous membrane was prepared via electrospinning of PCL-b-PHFBA (polycaprolactone -b- poly (heptafluoro butyl acrylate)) block copolymers. The nanofibrous membranes showed high hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of ˜136° due to their rough nanofibrous surface morphology and contained small portion of short fluorocarbon chain polymer PHFBA. According to the results of whole blood clotting time (CT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), plasma re-calcification time test (PRT), platelets adhesion and the ultra-low hemolysis rate of 1.13% to red blood cells (RBCs), the membranes exhibited interesting anticoagulant and decreased-platelet adhesion performance. PCL-b-PHFBA nanofibrous membranes showed mild anti-fouling activity, reduced Bovine Serum albumin (BSA) protein absorption and bacterial adhesion compared with PCL nanofibrous membranes. The introduction of PHFBA component did not lead to any obvious cytotoxicity according to the cytocompatibility and cell adhesion study, suggesting that the PCL-b-PHFBA nanofibrous membranes are promising for blood related applications by minimizing the coagulation, hemolysis, BSA protein adsorption, bacterial attachment and platelet adhesion.