Blood cell separation using crosslinkable copolymers containing N,N‐dimethylacrylamide

Amphiphilic copolymers using hydrophilic N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA), hydrophobic methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a crosslinkable monomer, 3‐methacryloyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MTSi), were synthesized and evaluated as coating materials for leukocyte removal filters for whole blood. When filters composed of non‐woven fabrics were coated with crosslinked synthesized copolymers, the elution ratios of the copolymers to water were adequately low because of the crosslinking with trimethoxysilane groups of MTSi units in the copolymers. Filters coated with crosslinked poly(DMA‐co‐MTSi) having a 0.96 mole fraction of DMA units showed a 0.35 ± 0.44% platelet permeation ratio and a logarithmic reduction of 4.0 ± 0.68 for leukocytes. On the other hand, an increase in the content of MMA units in the DMA‐containing copolymers improved the permeation ratio of the platelets dramatically. Filters coated with crosslinked poly(DMA‐co‐MMA‐co‐MTSi) containing a 0.39 mole fraction of MMA units and a 0.58 mole fraction of DMA units showed an 86 ± 3.0% platelet permeation ratio and a logarithmic reduction of 2.1 ± 1.2 for leukocytes. This indicates that an adequate content of hydrophobic monomer units, such as MMA units, is necessary for effective platelet permeation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.