Synthetic methods available for improving the haemocompatibility of polymer surfaces are outlined. The present paper is concerned mainly with ”passivation“ techniques and some of the chemical routes by which they may be effected. Uses of isocyanatoethyl methacrylate as a functionalising reagent and for grafting to polymers are discussed with examples of its applications in the syntheses of (a) monomers from α‐amino acids and peptides, and the amino‐sugars D‐glucamine and D‐glucosamine, and (b) macromers from poly(ether urethanes) and from the hydroxylic macromolecules poly(ethylene glycol), poly(tetrahydrofuran), poly (vinyl alcohol) and dextran. Grafting of monomers and macromers to functionalised polymers is considered. A series of grafts to polyurethane elastomers have been synthesised and tested for blood‐platelet adhesion (a measure of passivation) by a simple procedure which is outlined. All the graft copolymers tested show significantly reduced platelet adhesion compared to the base polyurethane. In particular, a Pellethane‐poly D‐glucamine graft is probably the most inert material towards platelets which we have examined.
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Bamford et al. (1990) studied this question.