Effect of molecular structure of sulphonated polyimide membranes on water sorption.

Water sorption in sulphonated polyimides with or without ionic block structure was analysed with Feng's new dual mode model. The effect of their molecular structure that determines the chain organisation in the solid materials was analysed by using the model parameters. The model parameters Cp and A' correspond to the sorbed water molecules on the first layer close to the ionic groups and on the subsequent layers, respectively.

Elaboration, characterization and application of polysulfone and polyacrylic acid blends as ultrafiltration membranes for removal of some heavy metals from water.

Polysulfone (PSf)/polyacrylic acid ultrafiltration (PSf/PAA) membranes were prepared from a polymer blend in dimethylformamide by coagulation in water according to the wet phase inversion method. Immobilization of water-soluble PAA within the non-soluble PSf matrix was proven by the increase of ion exchange capacity and the intensity of the carboxyl groups' peak with the increase of PAA content as shown by Fourier transform infrared spectra. These results lead to consider that PSf and PAA form a semi-interpenetrating polymer networks.

Evaluation of adhesion, proliferation, and functional differentiation of dermal fibroblasts on glycosaminoglycan-coated polysulfone membranes.

It may be hypothesized that wound healing will benefit from polymer membranes coated with extracellular matrix macromolecules. Here we describe the behavior of dermal fibroblasts on polysulfone (PSU) membranes, and PSU membranes covered with chitosan (Ch), chondroitin sulfate (CS), or hyaluronan, using an additional intermediary ionic charge modification with poly-(acrylonitrile-co-methallyl sulfonate) (AN69), which allows binding of the polysaccharidic macromolecules. Cell adhesion, proliferation, cell signaling, and collagen gene expression were investigated.