| Theme |
Recent evaluation and characteristics for dialysis membranes from biocompatible viewpoints |
| Title |
Design concept of biocompatible materials |
| Author |
Masaru Tanaka |
Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Shingo Kobayashi |
Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Daiki Murakami |
Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Fumihiro Aratsu |
Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Takashi Hoshiba |
Frontier Center for Organic Materials, Yamagata University |
| Author |
Kazuki Fukushima |
Frontier Center for Organic Materials, Yamagata University |
| [ Summary ] |
The mechanisms responsible for the biocompatibility of polymers at the molecular level have not been clearly demonstrated despite the many theoretical and experimental efforts that have been made to understand these mechanisms. Previous studies have recognized water interactions as fundamental to the biological response to contact with polymers. In this study, we proposed the "intermediate water" concept, and hypothesized that intermediate water, which prevents the proteins and blood cells from directly contacting the polymer surface, or non-freezing water on the polymer surface, plays an important role in the compatibility of blood with polymers. We will provide an overview of the recent experimental progress of biocompatible polymers by thermal, spectroscopic, and surface force measurements. |