Excellent biocompatible polymeric membranes prepared via layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly

Excellent biocompatible polymeric membranes were prepared by combining the antifouling property of poly(ethylene gly- col) methyl ether (mPEG) and the anticoagulant property of poly(sodium p-styrene sulfonate) (PSS). Block copolymers of poly(ethyl- ene glycol) methyl ether-b-poly(sodium p-styrene sulfonate) (mPEG-b-PSS) with different chain lengths were synthesized by ATRP using mPEG macroinitiator. The copolymers were then used to modify polyethersulfone (PES) membrane via layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technology. The chemical compositions, surface morphologies and hydrophilicity of the modified membranes were char- acterized, indicating that the mPEG-b-PSS copolymers were successfully deposited on the membranes surfaces. Then, the blood com- patibility and cytocompatibility of the modified membranes were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the mPEG-b- PSS copolymers could improve the hydrophilicity and the resistance to protein adsorption, and had great effect on suppressing plate- let adhesion, prolonging clotting times, and improving cytocompatibility. V C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41245.