Tethering hydrophilic macromolecules onto inorganic nanoparticles via RAFT toward biocompatible polyethersulfone membrane

Mohammed Kamal Hadi; Liru Su; Yuan Li; Abdalazeez Ismail; Sambasivam Sangaraju; Fen Ran

Advanced Membranes (Jan 2023)

Tethering hydrophilic macromolecules onto inorganic nanoparticles via RAFT toward biocompatible polyethersulfone membrane

Mohammed Kamal Hadi,
Liru Su,
Yuan Li,
Abdalazeez Ismail,
Sambasivam Sangaraju,
Fen Ran

Affiliations

Mohammed Kamal Hadi: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Non-ferrous Metals, Department of Polymeric Materials Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, PR China
Liru Su: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Non-ferrous Metals, Department of Polymeric Materials Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, PR China
Yuan Li: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Non-ferrous Metals, Department of Polymeric Materials Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, PR China
Abdalazeez Ismail: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Non-ferrous Metals, Department of Polymeric Materials Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, PR China
Sambasivam Sangaraju: National Water and Energy center, United Arab Emirates university, Al Ain - 15551, UAE
Fen Ran: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Non-ferrous Metals, Department of Polymeric Materials Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, PR China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3
p. 100074

Abstract

Read online

Polyethersulfone (PES) polymers are useful for a variety of membranes' bio-related applications. However, due to its failure to satisfy certain performance and biocompatibility standards, PES requires further surface modification. Herein, we report a facile and flexible method of PES membrane modification by combining the synthesis of silicon oxide nanoparticles grafted with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as hydrophilic macromolecules via reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT) and aminated polyethersulfone. The blending of polyethersulfone-modified membranes with SiO2@PVP and aminated polyethersulfone results in a robust, hydrophilic, and biocompatible surface. This research work uniquely uses this strategy to stabilize the existence of the hydrophilic modifiers (SiO2@PVP and aminated polyethersulfone) within the membrane matrix. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to analyze the prepared polymer brush and the modified membranes. The modified membranes demonstrate high pure water flux at 345 L m−2 h−1 and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection at 98 %. The prepared membranes also show favorable hydrophilicity with a contact angle of 46.8° compared with pristine polyethersulfone at 79°. Furthermore, the modified membranes demonstrate an acceptable degree of blood biocompatibility according to partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), and fibrinogen (FIB) concentration analysis. Based on inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), the silicon nanoparticle leaching in permeate is in a safe range. Accordingly, the modified polyethersulfone membrane is safe and suitable for hemodialysis and bio-related applications.

Published in Advanced Membranes

ISSN: 2772-8234 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Chemical engineering
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/advanced-membranes/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords