Gas transfer and in vitro and in vivo blood compatibility of a fluorinated polyimide membrane with an ultrathin skin layer.

The authors have synthesized fluorinated polyimides to develop a novel membrane oxygenator combining excellent gas transfer and blood compatibility. Gas exchange membranes of fluorinated polyimides prepared by a dry/wet process showed an asymmetric structure and consisted of an ultrathin and defect-free skin layer supported by a porous substructure. The asymmetric polyimide membranes never incurred plasma leakage because of the defect-free skin layer of the membrane surface. The calculated, apparent defect-free skin layer thickness of the asymmetric membrane was approximately 20 nm. Carbon dioxide and oxygen transfer rates through the membranes were dramatically enhanced because of the ultrathin skin layer and were 96 and 64 times larger than those determined in currently available oxygenator polymer membranes, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). For the evaluation of in vitro blood compatibility, platelet adhesion and plasma protein adsorption on the polyimide membranes were measured by using scanning electron microscopic examination and an amino acid analyzer. Deformation and aggregation of platelets adherent to the membranes were not observed, and the number of platelets was 1.6 micrograms/cm2, which was one-sixth less than the value measured in PDMS. For in vivo evaluation, the polymer tubes were implanted in the femoral vein of a mongrel dog for 7 days. Thrombus formation and fibrin were found on the surface of PDMS. However, thrombus formation was not observed on the polyimide. These results indicate that the fluorinated polyimides show excellent blood compatibility and are a promising membrane material for an oxygenator.