Photo-immobilization of pseudozwitterionic polymers with balanced electrical charge for developing anti-coagulation surfaces

This study aims to develop an economical coating agent that can easily impart excellent anti-coagulative property onto polymer surfaces. To this end, photo-reactable pseudozwitterionic polymer comprising cationic ammonium, anionic carboxylic acid, and photo-reactable phenyl azide group was synthesized via free-radical polymerization. Hydrophilicity, surface charge, surface elemental analysis, and anti-biofouling properties of the coated substrates were evaluated after photo-immobilizing the pseudozwitterionic polymer on the PET substrate. The pseudozwitterionic polymer was successfully immobilized; the coated substrate showed excellent anti-biofouling properties. Photo-immobilization of the pseudozwitterionic polymer was also confirmed to be effective in imparting anti-biofouling property onto the fibrous filtration membrane. The immobilized pseudozwitterionic polymer effectively prevented membrane blockage and safely filtered platelets from blood plasma.