Alkylated cellulosic membranes with enhanced albumin affinity: influence of competing proteins.

4-Vinyl pyridine was grafted to the surface of the cellulosic membrane Cuprophan, and subsequently alkylated with both non-fatty acid-like C10 (GVP-C10) and fatty acid-like C16 (GVP-C16) aliphatic chains. In vitro albumin adsorption studies from single and binary protein solutions, as well as from dilute plasma demonstrated a significant enhancement (1.4-3.89 times) of albumin binding to both the GVP-C10 and GVP-C16 surfaces, relative to unmodified Cuprophan. It is speculated that enhanced albumin adsorption to a surface may improve surface thromboresistance. Further, these results suggest that there is no difference between the enhanced albumin adsorption of the fatty acid and nonfatty like alkyl chains, C10 and C16.