Hemocompatibility of Promising for ECMO High Permeable Polyacetylenes

A comprehensive study of hemocompatibility and gas permeability of 1,2-disubstituted polyacetylenes, namely poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) and poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne), was carried out. The polymers were synthesized started from 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne and 4-methyl-2-pentynemonomers on the catalytic systems NbCl₅ and NbCl₅/n-Bu₄Sn to form homopolymers containing 50 and 55% cis-units, respectively. The comparison of the obtained polyacetylenes and the thermoplastic polyolefin, poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) that currently is widely used as a thin-film coating of hollow fiber membranes for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation of blood (ECMO), was performed. The investigated polymers are highly hemocompatible as shown by morphofunctional status of blood cells analysis and mesenchymal multipotent stromal bone marrow cells culture of tissue donors. In terms of hemocompatibility, poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) was superior to poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) and was comparable to poly(4-methyl-1-pentene). The studied polyacetylenes were shown to be significantly more permeable on oxygen and carbon dioxide than poly(4-methyl-1-pentene): poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) is more permeable in 320 and 400 times, whereas poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) is more permeable in 60 and 90 times, respectively. These parameters can significantly reduce the contact area of membranes with blood and reduce the size of oxygenators. Since poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) has the high gas permeability in combination with the hemocompatibility comparable to poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), this polymer can be recommended as a promising material of a selective membrane layer for ECMO technology.