Perm‐selective dialysis membranes. I. Films based on dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymers

New synthetic polymer membranes prepared from copolymers of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate are reported. Membrane transport characteristics are compared with those of standard cellulose films currently used in hemodialysis. The membranes are obtained as films by casting solutions of vinyl copolymers prepared by emulsion polymerization techniques. The new membranes show selectivity towards certain blood components under the test conditions used. The clinical procedure for ethylene oxide sterilization has been adapted to give chemical modification of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate tertiary amine groups. With acrylonitrile as comonomer, polymer membranes which are both watersensitive and insoluble are obtained. The permeability of such films is controlled by varying processing time. Infrared spectra of processed and unprocessed films are discussed and reasons put forward for the change in membrane properties brought about by processing. Membrane behavior when acrylonitrile is replaced by methacrylonitrile or methyl methacrylate indicates the probable necessity of having a strongly electron‐attracting comonomer for successful modification.