WO1997018265A1

WO1997018265A1 - Method for controlling surface concentration of a polymer additive

Info

Publication number: WO1997018265A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/018272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lloyd Forrestal; Marc Voorhees
Original assignee: Cobe Laboratories, Inc.
Priority date: 1995-11-15
Filing date: 1996-11-13
Publication date: 1997-05-22
Also published as: AU1159297A

Abstract

The surface free energy of a polymer blend where a base polymer contains an additive having a different surface free energy than that of the base polymer can be controlled over a wide range of additive surface concentrations by appropriate choice of the mold surface free energy during fabrication. A high surface concentration of additive relative to a low bulk concentration can be achieved, leading to improved biocompatibility without loss of optical clarity.

Description

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SURFACE CONCENTRATION OF A POLYMER ADDITIVE

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to polymeric materials and methods for improving their biocompatibility. More generally, the invention relates to controlling surface concentration of an additive within a polymeric matrix.

Background of the Invention

A basic problem in the construction of medical devices having components that must contact blood and other physiological fluids is that materials with good mechanical and structural properties have rather poor biocompatibility, while highly biocompatible materials have poor structural properties. Biocompatibility is itself a multi-faceted problem which has different aspects depending on the type of device, what tissues or fluids it contacts, and the length of contact time. In devices designed for hemodialysis or blood oxygenation, the materials are in contact with blood flowing through tubing, into containers, and over membranes. The blood returns to the patient's body. The primary elements of biocompatibility are therefore to prevent initiating processes which can subsequently injure the patient, such as activation of clotting mechanisms, activation of the complement system, and initiation of inflammatory reactions. Materials must not be soluble in blood or other body fluids to avoid being carried permanently into the patient's body.

Although certain types of polymers, such as silicones and siloxanes, are known to possess many attributes of biocompatibility, there are no reliable physical correlates which enable one to predict biocompatibility with any degree of certainty. Generally, hydrophobic surfaces are more biocompatible than hydrophilic surfaces. Zisman's critical surface tension [Zisman, .A. (1964) Adv. Chem. Ser. 43] has been used as a parameter to help assess potential biocompatibility. Materials with an optimum critical surface tension are frequently biocompatible, yet there are notable exceptions. For example, polyethylene and polypropylene have critical surface tensions well within the optimum range, but they are not biocompatible. Other factors are also important. Without a clear understanding of the nature of these factors, biocompatibility remains unpredictable.

Because of the attractive structural properties of polyolefins and polyurethanes, various blending and co¬ polymerization techniques have been developed to impart greater biocompatibility. U.S. Patent 4,872,867 discloses modifying a polyurethane with a water soluble polymer and crosslinking them iβ situ with a silane type coupling agent to form a cross-linked and intertwined polysiloxane network. U.S. 4,636,552 discloses a polydimethyl siloxane with polylactone side chains which are said to be useful for imparting biocompatibility when combined with a base polymer, or used to replace plasticizer. U.S. Patent 4,929,510 discloses a diblock copolymer having a more hydrophobic block and a less hydrophobic block. A solution of the diblock copolymer in a solvent which swells the matrix polymer is used to introduce the diblock into an article of matrix polymer. Thereafter, the article is transferred to water, to force orientation of the incorporated diblock copolymer such that the more hydrophobic block is embedded in the matrix and the less hydrophobic block is exposed on the surface of the article.

Examples of diblock copolymers included poly

(ethyleneoxide-propylene oxide) , N-vinyl-pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate and N-vinyl-pyrrolidone-styrene. U.S. Patents 4,663,413 and 4,675,361 disclose segmented block copolymers, in particular polysiloxane-polycaprolactone linear block copolymers. The latter were incorporated into base polymer materials to modify the surface properties thereof. Although initially blended in bulk into the base polymer, the copolymer migrates to the surface to form an exceptionally thin, possibly a monolayer film which imparts the desired surface characteristic, specifically, biocompatibility.

U.S. Patent 4,963,595 discloses block copolymers having polycaprolactone blocks and polysiloxane blocks useful as additives to modify a base polymer, such as nylon, and to modify the surface properties thereof. Triblock copolymers having a polysiloxane block flanked by polycaprolactone blocks are commercially available, for example from Thoratec Laboratories, Berkeley, CA. The abbreviation LSL is used herein to designate triblock copolymers of polylactone-polydimethylsiloxane-polylactone type, generally, and the abbreviation PDMS is used to designate the polydimethylsiloxane block, generally.

Thoratec Laboratories provides a series of such polymers designated "SMA" in which the siloxane is dimethyl siloxane and the lactone is caprolactone. The nominal molecular weights (number average) of the polysiloxane blocks suitable for use herein range from about 1000 to about

5000, while the nominal molecular weights of the caprolactone blocks range from about 1000 to about 10,000.

A LSL triblock copolymer having polycaprolactone blocks of

1000 and polysiloxane blocks of 1000 (SMA-411) has been shown to be usable, as has a copolymer having polycaprolactone blocks of 10,000 and polysiloxane blocks of 5000 (SMA-4-10-5) .

U.S. Patent 3,686,355 disclosed that surface properties of wettability and surface friction could be reduced by addition of block copolymer additives of bisphenol-A and polydimethylsiloxane. It waε noted that the effective concentration of the surface-active block copolymer additive at the surface of a shaped polymer composition appeared to depend on the nature of the substrate against which the shaping was carried out, for example by solvent casting or molding. It was believed that a high energy surface substrate material such as glass, mica, metals or metal oxides, adsorbed the copolymer additive from the base polymer surface in contact with it, resulting in loss of copolymer from the polymer surface after separation from the substrate surface. The surface effects of decreased wettability and friction provided by addition of the copolymer additive were therefore maximized by annealing the shaped article or by a solvent application to soften the surface to allow copolymer additive to pass to the surface of the article.

LeGrand et al, (1970) Ara. Chem . Soc , Div. Polymer Chem . Preprints 11:442-446, reported studies using bisphenol-A polycarbonate base polymer mixed with an added alternating block copolymer of bisphenol-A carbonate and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) , measuring ethylene glycol contact angles and static friction coefficients to assess surface hydrophobicity presumably related to surface concentration of the additive. Contact angle on a sample having 1% additive was greater on sample molded between teflon-coated foils than on sample molded between mica sheets. Polycarbonate is a very useful base polymer for medical devices intended for blood contact, for example blood oxygenators, heat exchangers and dialyzers used in heart surgery, transplant surgery, kidney dialysis and the like. Polycarbonate is advantageous for such applications for a variety of reasons, notably for purposes of the invention herein, because it can be fabricated by molding to achieve complex shapes, and because the devices made of polycarbonate are essentially transparent. The latter is an important consideration for medical personnel using the devices, permitting them to see at a glance whether blood is flowing properly. LSL triblock copolymers are attractive candidates for bulk additives to improve the biocompatibility of polycarbonate surfaces. A problem is encountered when a polycarbonate base polymer is molded with an LSL copolymer. At concentrations greater than about 0.2% of LSL copolymer by weight, optical clarity of the blended material is degraded or lost, the blend becoming cloudy or opaque, possibly due to phase separation of the LSL copolymer. In consequence, the benefits of improved biocompatibility by the addition of an LSL copolymer are compromised by the loss of transparency when sufficient LSL is incorporated to provide adequate biocompatibility.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides methods and operating principles for controlling the concentration of LSL within a loA layer at the surface of the base polymer. Using the method, the concentration of LSL, measured as concentration of the polysiloxane block in the first loA of polymer surface can be varied from about 5% by weight to about 60% where bulk composition is only 0.2% LSL. No annealing is required. The surface concentration haε been found to be influenced by the interfacial surface free energy of the mold surface in contact with the base polymer-LSL blend during the molding process. At bulk concentrations of LSL up to 0.2%, a polycarbonate base polymer retains its transparency. Adequate biocompatibility is found where surface concentration of PDMS is 20% (w/w) or greater. Therefore the method of the invention makes it possible to achieve a biocompatible surface without sacrificing transparency. In general, where a certain surface free energy is desired for a polymer blend having an additive with a different surface free energy than the base polymer, a wide range of additive surface concentrations can be achieved by appropriate choice of the mold surface free energy during fabrication.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Figure 1 is a 3-axis graph showing the effect of mold surface free energy on PDMS surface concentration, expressed as weight per cent. Samples were unannealed. Data from Table 1.

Figure 2 iε a 3-axiε bar graph showing the effect of annealing on duplicate samples to those shown in Figure 1. Data from Table 1.

Figure 3 is a 3-axis bar graph showing a comparison of annealed and unannealed duplicate samples molded against teflon. Data from Table 1.

Figure 4 is a 3-axis bar graph showing a comparison of annealed and unannealed duplicate samples molded against steel. Data from Table 1.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Surface concentration of an LSL copolymer additive in a base polymer can be evaluated by measuring the concentration of the polysiloxane block, using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using an X-ray beam at a low take-off angle to the tested surface. The method of the invention can be applied with a number of rigid bulk polymers such as Tenite, a cellulose-based polymer, rigid polyvinyl chloride polymers, polyolefins and polycarbonates. Although described herein in the context of a hydrophobic additive used to make the surface of a relatively hydrophilic polymer more hydrophobic, the process can also be used in the situation where a hydrophilic additive is used to render the surface of a hydrophobic base polymer more hydrophilic. The base polymer and block copolymer additive can be blended or combined by any technique recognized in the art.

During the molding process, the base-additive mixture should be melted to a temperature sufficiently high to allow complete mixing and diffusion of mixture components, rather than mere surface fusion of polymer pellets. For polycarbonate mixtures, 400°F-600°F. is suitable for use in the invention, with temperatures in the upper half of the range preferred. It will be understood that normal precautionε εhould be taken to avoid thermal decompoεition, oxidation or other degradative proceεses.

In order to retain the normal transparency of polycarbonate, the bulk concentration of LSL additive should not exceed about 0.2% of LSL copolymer, by weight. The exact limit can vary slightly, depending on molecular weight and block length of each block. A preferred concentration is about 0.1%(w/w) of LSL copolymer. Suitable additive LSL copolymers include the Thoratec "SMA" polymers having caprolactone blocks ranging from about 1000 to about 10,000 nominal molecular weight, and siloxane blocks ranging from about 1000 to about 5000 nominal molecular weight. Preferred additives have caprolactone blocks of about 2000 nominal M.W. and siloxane blocks of about 3000-5000 nominal M.W. , e.g SMA-423 and SMA-425.

Optimal operation of the invention depends upon intimate contact between the surfaces of the mold and of the polymer being molded. Mold surfaces should be made as smooth as practical. Cleanliness is important, to avoid contaminating mold surfaces with materials that could affect the surface free energy of the mold. Injection molding and compression molding are the preferred methods for forming articles made of LSL-blended polymers because presεure tendε to maximize the surface area of contact between polymer and mold surfaces.

Experiments were conducted using a polycarbonate base polymer mixed with 0.2%(w/w) LSL copolymer (either SMA-425 or SMA-423) compresεion molded against either teflon (a low surface free energy surface) or against stainless steel (a high surface free energy material. The surface concentration of the LSL additive, expressed as per cent by weight of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block) in the loA layer at the surface of the molded article was measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroεcopy (XPS) (Briggs, D. and Seah, M.P., (1983) Practical Surface Analysis. Chapter 4, John Wiley & Sons) . The polycaprolactone blocks are considered to be buried in the base polymer to a depth greater than 10A, so that the surface concentrations determined by XPS reflect the surface concentration of PDMS but not of the entire triblock copolymer. Various melt temperatures were tested. Duplicate samples were annealed subεequently at 135°F. before meaεuring surface concentration. The results are shown graphically in figures 1-4, which are three-dimensional graphs of the surface concentration of additive copolymer (labeled as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) concentration, weight percent) as a function of melt temperature and time (mold surface contact time at the stated temperature) . In order to compare PDMS concentrationε obtained by XPS analyεis and bulk concentrations of SMA-423 or SMA-425, the following relationship was employed. For SMA 423, the weight percent of the PDMS block is 41.23%; for SMA 425, the weight percent of the PDMS block if 51.80%. Therefore a bulk concentration of 0.2% SMA 423 is equivalent to 0.082% PDMS and 0.2% SMA 425 is equivalent to 0.10% PDMS. Unannealed samples molded against steel displayed low surface concentrations of additive, ranging from 7%-20%(w/w) of PDMS. Unannealed samples molded against teflon displayed εtrikingly higher surface concentrations of additive ranging from 45%-59% w/w) of PDMS. Annealed samples molded against steel displayed significantly increased surface concentrations of additive, 24%-47%(w/w) of PDMS compared to unannealed steel-molded samples. In contrast, annealed sampleε molded againεt teflon displayed little, if any, change compared to unannealed, teflon-molded samples, 56%- 62%(w/w) of PDMS. A massive increase in additive concentration, as measured by an approximately 600-fold increase in PDMS concentration at the polymer surface over bulk concentration was achieved by molding against teflon, without resort to annealing. By proper selection of the mold material, surface concentration was controlled over a 3-4 fold range, again without reεort to annealing. Even higher εurface concentrationε and concentration ranges can be achieved by optimization of molding conditions, including time, temperature, mold surface treatment, contact-enhancing additiveε, micro-enlargement of contact surface area and the like.

In general, surface concentration of a low surface free energy additive blended into a higher surface free energy base polymer can be increased by molding the blend against a surface having low surface free energy, and decreased by molding against a surface having high surface free energy. Application of the foregoing principle of the invention has the potential for achieving subtle variations of surface properties of a polymer blend. Such variations can be effected within area domains on the same surface. Since annealing is unnecessary, fine structural features can be incorporated on the polymer surface without being degraded by subsequent annealing. It is also evident to those skilled in the art that the principles of the invention apply in reverse. For example a low εurface free energy baεe polymer can be εurface-modified by blending a higher εurface free energy additive therewith and molding the blend in contact with a high surface free energy mold to maximize surface concentration of the additive and increase the surface free energy of the blend.

EXAMPLE 1 - Samples of polycarbonate 2508 [Bayer] were blended with SMA-423 (samples 1-8) or SMA-425 (sampleε 9- 16) to a bulk concentration of 0.2%(w/w) by using a compounding extruder. Samples were heated to the indicated temperature, then pressed between sheets of the indicated material for the indicated time to form small tiles of molded polymer. Surface concentration of additive was measured by low angle (10°) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The analytical results were expressed as weight percent PDMS, as described, supra. The results are tabulated below and represented graphically in figs. 1-4.

EXAMPLE 2 - To test the hypothesiε advanced by LeGrand et al., supra. and in U.S. 3,686,355 that high energy surfaces such as glass or mica would effectively strip off a surface layer of block copolymer from the base polymer, the following experiment was conducted.

Two films each of unmodified 2508 polycarbonate (control samples) and the same resin modified by blending 0.2% SMA 423 (test samples) were cast on microscope slides from methylene chloride solutions. The contact angles (CAs) of the air side, the glaεs side and the glass surface after stripping were then measured. The CA of clean glass slides was also measured. The results are summarized in the following table. CONTACT ANGLES OF CAST FILMS

2508 2508 2508 + 2508 + Control 1 Control 2 0.2% 0.2%

SMA 423-1 SMA 423-2

Air side 81.3°±0.8 83.6°±1.5 96.4°±0.9 95.1°±1.5

Glass Side 74.1°±1.4 76.3°±1.3 77.1°±2.4 81.5°±1.3

Stripped Glass 14.8°±1.7 16.5°±1.9 29.1°±1.8 36.0°±1.1

Bare Glass - before coating 13.0°±1.2

Observations:

1. Comparing air side control and test samples it was seen that test samples had a much higher contact angle

(82° vs. 96°) indicating a high surface concentration of PDMS.

2. A similar difference was not seen between glass side control and test samples (75° vs. 79°) indicating that there waε not a high concentration of PDMS on the glass side of the test samples.

3. There was little or no difference in the contact angles of bare uncoated glass and the stripped glass surfaces of the control samples (13° vs. 16°) . There was a small but significant difference between bare uncoated glass and the stripped glass surfaces of test samples (13° vs. 33°) . If the contact angle of the glass side of the test samples (79°) were the result of a low energy (high contact angle) surface being transferred to the glass, one would expect intuitively that the stripped glass surface would show a contact angle closer to that of the air surface test εampleε. In fact, whatever the nature of the contaminant on the stripped glasε εurface, it appeared to be only partially covering the εurface. Assuming that the high contact angle component of the SMA had been partially transferred to the test sample glass surface, it is then possible to eεtimate the εurface fraction εo covered by employing the εo-called "cosine model" (see A.W. Adamson, Physical Chemistry of Surfaces, 3rd Edition: John Wiley; page 346) .

Cos#- = .cosøy + f₂cosθ₂

where θ_c = CA of the composite surface θi = CA component 1

Θ₂ = CA component 2 fi = Surface fraction of component 1 f₂ = Surface fraction of component 2

In the present example θ_c = CA stripped glass = 32.6° θi = CA SMA surface = 95.8° θ₂ = CA of bare glass = 13.0 fi = Surface fraction of SMA f₂ = Surface fraction of glass

Making appropriate substitutionε 0.8425 = (l-f₂) (-0.1011)+f₂0.9744 f₂ = 0.8774

Thuε, the εtripped glaεε εurface of the teεt sample is 88% glass and only 12% polymer.

The analysis can be taken one step further. Assuming that the glass side surface is initially (when cast) as PDMS enriched as the air side and that the lower CA measured on the glass side of the test sample is the result of some of the enriched SMA being transferred from the surface during demolding, then, knowing the surface fraction of the material transferred from the glass εide it is posεible to eεtimate the expected CA of the glass side surface of the test sample.

In this case θ_c = Expected CA of the glass side surface θi = CA of unenriched glass side sample, i.e., glass side CA of control, 75.0° θ₂ = CA of SMA enriched surface, i.e., air side CA of test sample 95.8° f₁ = surface fraction tranεferred material, 0.12 f = surface fraction of material not transferred, 0.88

Cθsθ_c = 0.12 Coε 75.0° + 0.88 Cos 95.8° θ_c = 93.5°

This is the expected CA of the glasε εide teεt εample if the stripping mechanism were correct.

Since the measured glasε εide εurface CA waε significantly less (79°) , it is unlikely that the difference in CAε between the air side and the glass side of the film resulted from a mechanism of stripping material from the glass side surface as suggested by LeGrand and Gaines. To the contrary, the evidence supports the conclusion that the observed differences result from differences in the free energy of the surfaces against which each side of the film is molded. This result is surprising because it suggests that surface concentration of the additive may be controlled, whereas prior art suggests that the additive is either present on the surface or removed. The present invention allows the bulk concentration of the additive to be predetermined, as well as its surface concentration, by preselecting the surface against which the polymer and additive are molded.

Table 1 Surface Concentration of PDMS Percent by Weight

Melt 600°F 550°F 550°F 400°F Temperature

Mold Time 3 min 3 min 1 min 3 min

Teflon — not 58 45 59 49 annealed

Teflon — 61 55 56 62 annealed

Steel — not 20 7 14 — annealed

Steel - 24 47 37 annealed

Claims

1. Method of controlling εurface concentration of an LSL copolymer additive in a base polymer article comprising molding the article in a mold composed of a material having a given surface free energy whereby the lower the surface free energy of the mold material, the greater the surface concentration of LSL in the resulting molded article.

2. Method of claim 1 wherein the base polymer is polycarbonate and the bulk concentration of LSL copolymer additive is less than 0.2 percent by weight.

3. Method of making a polymeric article, said article being composed of a polymer mix including a polycarbonate base polymer containing a maximum of 0.2% by weight bulk concentration of an LSL copolymer additive, said bulk concentration corresponding to 0.08% to 0.1% by weight of polydimethylsiloxane in the LSL copolymer, and having at least 20% by weight surface concentration of the PDMS component of said additive, comprising the step of melt-molding said polymer mix in a mold having a low surface free energy mold surface.

4. Method of claim 3 wherein the mold surface is teflon.

5. Method of enhancing the biocompatibility of a polycarbonate polymeric article without degrading transparency thereof comprising mixing up to 0.2% by weight LSL copolymer in a mold, said bulk concentration corresponding to 0.08% to 0.1% by weight of polydimethylsiloxane in the LSL copolymer at leaεt a part of the mold surface composed of a mold material having a low surface free energy whereby the lower the surface free energy of the mold material, the greater the surface concentration of the PDMS block of the copolymer in the resulting molded article whereby the surface concentration of LSL on a surface of said article molded in contact with the low surface free energy part of the mold haε a concentration of at least 20% by weight of the PDMS (polydimethylεiloxane) component of the LSL copolymer in a layer within loA of itε εurface.

6. A molded article compriεing:

(a) an ABA copolymer wherein A is a high surface energy monomer block and B is a low surface energy monomer block, said copolymer comprising a low free energy block having a nominal molecular weight of 1000 to 10,000 and a high free energy block having a nominal molecular weight of 1000 to 5000,

(b) a transparent base polymer,

wherein said base polymer and said high surface energy monomer block are compatible, and the copolymer is concentrated at a surface of the base polymer and is present in a concentration sufficiently low to maintain the transparency of the base polymer.

7. The article of claim 6, wherein the concentration of the copolymer at the base polymer surface is sufficient to confer biocompatibility.

8. The article of claim 6, wherein the concentration of the copolymer in the base polymer is between about 0.05 and about 1%.

9. The article of claim 6, wherein the concentration of the copolymer in the base polymer iε about 0.2%.

10. The article of claim 6, wherein the high free energy block haε a nominal molecular weight of 2000 and the low free energy block haε a nominal molecular weight of 2000-3000.

11. The article of claim 6 wherein the low surface energy monomer block comprises polysiloxane.

12. The article of claim 11 wherein the polysiloxane is polydimethy1siloxane.

13. The article of claim 6, wherein the high surface energy monomer block is selected from the group consisting of polycaprolactone, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyimide, etc.

14. The article of claim 5 wherein the base polymer has a Tg greater than room temperature.

15. The article of claim 6 wherein the base polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) , polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) , etc.

16. A method of molding a surface modified polymer composition comprising the steps of: (a) adding a ABA block copolymer wherein A is a high free energy monomer block having a nominal molecular weight of 1000 to 5000, and B is a low free energy monomer block having a nominal molecular weight of 1000 to 10,000, to a transparent base polymer, wherein the high free energy block and the base polymer are compatible, said copolymer being added to the base polymer in a quantity sufficiently low to maintain base polymer transparency, and

(b) molding the copolymer and base polymer using a low free energy surface to produce an article having the low free energy component of the copolymer concentrated at a surface of the article.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the concentration of the low free energy component of the copolymer at the base polymer surface is sufficient to confer biocompatibility.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the concentration of the copolymer in the base polymer is between about 0.05 and about 0.5%.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the concentration of the copolymer in the base polymer is about 0.2%.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the high free energy block has a nominal molecular weight of 2000 and the low free energy block has a nominal molecular weight of 2000-3000.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the low surface energy monomer block compriseε polysiloxane.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the polysiloxane is polydimethylsiloxane.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the high surface energy monomer block is selected from the group consiεting of polycaprolactone, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyimide, etc.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the base polymer has a Tg greater than room temperature.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the base polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) , polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) , etc.

26. A method for controlling surface concentration of a copolymer additive in a base polymer, comprising:

predetermining a surface concentration range of the copolymer additive;

preselecting a mold composed of a material having a predetermined surface free energy; and

molding the article in the preselected mold whereby the surface concentration of the copolymer additive is within the predetermined range.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising predetermining a bulk copolymer additive concentration.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising reducing the bulk copolymer additive concentration required to achieve the predetermined surface concentration range by preselecting a mold having a low surface free energy.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

selecting a transparent base polymer; and

predetermining a bulk concentration of the copolymer additive that retains a normal transparency of the base copolymer.