Abstract:
A medical material has a compound firmly immobilized on the surface thereof, which compound is capable of inhibiting both of the blood coagulation reactions in a primary hemostasis stage in which platelets are involved and in a coagulation thrombus formation stage in which blood coagulation factors are involved in a state retaining the anticoagulant activity. The present invention provides a medical material having a hydrophilic polymer compound immobilized on the surface thereof, in which a compound and a copolymer of monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, vinyl acetate, vinyl pyrrolidone, propylene glycol, vinyl alcohol and siloxane are bound.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to a medical material. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    A blood coagulation reaction required to coagulate blood is an extremely complicated reaction in which various blood coagulation factors are involved. It is thought that a primary hemostasis stage in which platelets are involved and a coagulation thrombus formation stage in which blood coagulation factors such as thrombin are involved to stabilize and strengthen fibrins are particularly important. 
         [0003]    The blood coagulation reaction is indispensable to lead bleeding due to injury or the like to the hemostasis. On the other hand, however, in cases where the blood coagulation reaction proceeds due to contact between the blood and a medical material, in hemodialysis or a procedure using a medical material such as catheter, stent or synthetic blood vessel, there is a risk that the formed blood clots or coagulation thrombus cause increased circulation pressure, impeded blood flow, or vascular occlusion. 
         [0004]    As a method of decreasing these risks, it is known to prevent blood coagulation by administering in advance heparin which is an anticoagulant to a patient who is to undergo hemodialysis. Yet, there are a number of problems in that excessive administration of heparin causes side effects, the control of administration dose is complicated, the method cannot be applied to a patient with hemorrhagic tendency or the like. Further, also in a procedure using a medical material such as catheter, thrombolytic agents such as heparin or urokinase are used as necessary. Yet, the use thereof may in some cases increases the hemorrhagic tendency of a patient. 
         [0005]    Recently, to avoid those problems, attempts to prevent blood coagulation during treatment by immobilizing a compound having an anticoagulant activity including heparin on the surface of medical materials such as blood circuits or the like have been reported (Japanese Translated PCT Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-507082, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-213984, Japanese Translated PCT Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-525888, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-291193, WO 08/032758, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-225824, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-082067, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-181691 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-181692). 
         [0006]    However, as it stands now, a medical material having a compound immobilized on its surface, which compound is capable of inhibiting both blood coagulation reactions in the primary hemostasis stage in which platelets are involved and in the coagulation thrombus formation stage in which blood coagulation factors are involved has not been developed yet. Further, in conventional medical materials having a conventional compound immobilized on its surface, which compound has an anticoagulant activity, the compounds are immobilized in a state retaining sufficient anticoagulant activity and there has been a problem in that the immobilized compound dissociates from the medical material during treatment and dissolves out into the blood. Furthermore, in cases where a plurality of compounds are used to inhibit both of the blood coagulation reactions in the primary hemostasis stage in which platelets are involved and in the coagulation thrombus formation stage in which blood coagulation factors are involved, it is necessary to control competitive adsorption between the compounds and to control the immobilization ratio and the operation of obtaining the medical material having those compounds immobilized on the surface thereof has been very cumbersome. 
         [0007]    In view of this, there is a need to provide a medical material having a compound firmly immobilized on the surface thereof, which compound is capable of inhibiting both of the blood coagulation reactions in the primary hemostasis stage in which platelets are involved and in the coagulation thrombus formation stage in which blood coagulation factors are involved in a state retaining the anticoagulant activity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    We discovered a medical material whose surface is immobilized a hydrophilic polymer compound in which a specific compound having an antithrombin activity and copolymer inhibiting the adhesion of platelets are bound exhibits a significant anticoagulant activity and the hydrophilic polymer compound is firmly immobilized to the surface of the medical material. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, we provide a medical material comprising a hydrophilic polymer compound immobilized on the surface thereof, said hydrophilic polymer compound in which a compound represented by formula (I) and a copolymer of monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, vinyl acetate, vinyl pyrrolidone, propylene glycol, vinyl alcohol and siloxane are bound: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0010]    wherein R 1  represents a (2R,4R)-4-alkyl-2-carboxypiperidino group; R 2  represents a phenyl group or a fused polycyclic compound group, the fused polycyclic compound group being optionally substituted with a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group or an amino group which is substituted with a lower alkyl group. 
         [0011]    The above copolymer is preferably a polyether-modified silicone. 
         [0012]    The above compound represented by the general formula (I) is preferably (2R,4R)-4-methyl-1-((2S)-2-[(3RS)-3-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-8-yl]sulfonyl amino-5-guanidinopentanoyl)piperidine-2-carboxylic acid. 
         [0013]    Examples of materials of the above medical material include cellulose, cellulose acetate, polycarbonate, polysulfone (hereinafter referred to as “PSf”), polyether sulfone, polymethacrylate such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (hereinafter referred to as “PMMA”), polyacrylate, polyamide, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, polyacrylonitrile, polyester, polyurethane, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene, polyimide and polytetrafluoroethylene. Preferred is polyester, polyurethane, polystyrene, PMMA, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, or PSf. 
         [0014]    Examples of the above medical material include implantable artificial organs, synthetic blood vessels, catheters, stents, blood bags, blood circuits, artificial lungs, artificial hearts and lungs, organ adhesion preventive films, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, surgical auxiliary instruments and separation membranes such as hollow fiber membranes or adsorbents that are built in modules for biological component separation or modules for hemocatharsis. Preferred are hollow fiber membranes. 
         [0015]    Further, we provide a module for hemocatharsis that is filled with a hollow fiber membrane comprising the above hydrophilic polymer compound immobilized on the surface thereof. 
         [0016]    A medical material having a hydrophilic polymer compound firmly immobilized on the surface thereof, which compound significantly inhibits both of the blood coagulation reactions in the primary hemostasis stage in which platelets are involved and in the coagulation thrombus formation stage in which blood coagulation factors are involved in a state retaining such an anticoagulant activity is thus provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a mini-module prepared in the examples. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing a closed circuit used in an in vitro blood circulation test. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing a human blood plasma circulation circuit used in measurement of the amount of hydrophilic polymer compound dissolved out. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a figure showing the results of in vitro blood circulation test using a PSf and PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module in conditions with no anticoagulants being added. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
       [0021]      1   a ,  1   b  Blood port;  2   a ,  2   b  Dialysate port;  3  Module case;  4  Hollow fiber membrane;  5  Potting agent;  6  Mini-module;  7   a ,  7   b  Silicone tube;  8  Peristaltic pump;  9  Inclusion part;  10  Polystyrene round tube 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Unless otherwise specified, the terms used herein have the following definitions: 
         [0023]    The term “hydrophilic” in the term “hydrophilic polymer compound” immobilized on the medical material herein means that a compound is water-soluble, or even if a compound is not water-soluble, the compound interacts with water molecules by electrostatic interaction or hydrogen bond. 
         [0024]    Examples of “copolymer of monomers selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol, vinyl acetate, vinyl pyrrolidone, propylene glycol, vinyl alcohol, and siloxane” (hereinafter referred to as “anti-platelet adhesion copolymer”) include polymeric compounds composed of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycol, polyether and polysiloxane or copolymers or graft materials of monomers of the polymeric compounds with other monomers. Preferred is a polymeric compound composed of highly hydrophilic polyether and polysiloxane or copolymer of partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol or vinyl pyrrolidone with vinyl acetate. 
         [0025]    Examples of “polymer compound composed of polyether and polysiloxane” include copolymers, polymer complexes or polymer blend products of polyether and polysiloxane. The copolymer of polyether and polysiloxane is composed of polyether units and polysiloxane units, and the copolymer form thereof may be any of random copolymer, block copolymer or graft copolymer. Among these, polyether-modified silicone which is highly hydrophilic is preferred. 
         [0026]    Examples of “polyether” include structures originated from polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide. “Polyether” herein refers to a structure represented by formula (II) (R 3  represents an alkyl group having 6 carbon atoms or less), and a “structure originated from polypropylene glycol” which is one of the examples of polyether refers to a structure represented by formula (III). 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0027]    The term “polyether-modified silicone” refers to a silicone in which polyether units are bound to side chains of the silicone chain, and may be a polyether-modified silicone that is further amino-modified or carboxy-modified. 
         [0028]    In cases where an anti-platelet adhesion copolymer is partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol, the degree of saponification thereof is preferably 50 to less than 100 mol % from the viewpoint of attaining suitable ease of handling or hydrophilicity, more preferably 74 to 99.9 mol %, and still more preferably 78 to 95 mol %. A “degree of saponification” herein refers to a numerical value calculated by Equation 1. 
         [0000]      Degree of saponification= m /( n+m )×100  (1)
 
         [0029]    m: the number of structures represented by the general formula (IV) in polyvinyl alcohol 
         [0030]    n: the number of structures represented by the general formula (V) in polyvinyl alcohol 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0031]    In cases where an anti-platelet adhesion copolymer is a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate, vinyl pyrrolidone units preferably account for 50 unit mol % or more, and more preferably 60 unit mol % or more, from the viewpoint of attaining suitable ease of handling or hydrophilicity. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of attaining a suitable amount of immobilization to a medical material, vinyl pyrrolidone units preferably account for less than 100 unit mol %. Note that the percentage of the vinyl pyrrolidone units in the copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate (unit mol %) can be calculated by subjecting the copolymer to  1 H-NMR measurement (solvent: CDCl 3 ). 
         [0032]    The amount of adsorption of an anti-platelet adhesion copolymer on the surface of a medical material is preferably 0.1 pg/mm 2  or more, more preferably 1 pg/mm 2  or more, and still more preferably 10 pg/mm 2  or more. 
         [0033]    The above amount of adsorption is measured by the following method: First, an untreated sensor chip (Sensor Chip Au; GE Healthcare) is pretreated (with distilled water at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 10 minutes) using a surface plasmon resonance system (hereinafter referred to as “SPR”) (BIACORE 3000; GE Healthcare), and a signal value thereof (RU: resonance unit) is measured. 
         [0034]    A material of medical material, that is, a material to be immobilized is dissolved in a solvent to prepare a 0.5% by weight solution of material to be immobilized. One drop of the solution of material to be immobilized is dropped onto the center of a gold film part of a pretreated sensor chip that has been installed in a spin coater and is immediately rotated at 3,000 rpm for 1 minute at room temperature to coat the sensor chip with the material to be immobilized. 
         [0035]    After confirming that no droplets are present on the sensor chip, the sensor chip is washed with distilled water using SPR (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 10 minutes), further washed three times with 0.025 wt % Triton-X100 solution (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 1 minute), and then the signal value at 10 minutes after completion of the washing is measured. 
         [0036]    Among the sensor chips obtained as described above, ones whose signal value difference before and after spin coat was within a range from 3,000 to 8,000 were selected, then washed with distilled water (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 10 minutes), and further washed three times with 0.025 wt % Triton-X100 solution (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 1 minute). 
         [0037]    Ten minutes after completion of the washing, an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic polymer compound to be adsorbed to a medical material (concentration: 100 μg/ml) is injected (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 1 minute), and washed with distilled water (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 3 minutes). The difference between the signal value immediately before the injection (hereinafter referred to as “signal value A”) and the signal value at 3 minutes after completion of the injection (hereinafter referred to as “signal value B”) is determined, which is converted as 1 RU=1 pg/mm 2 . 
         [0038]    Subsequently, the sensor chip is washed with distilled water (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 2 minutes), further washed three times with 0.025 wt % Triton-X100 solution (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 1 minute), and then the aqueous solution of the hydrophilic polymer compound to be adsorbed (concentration: 100 μg/ml) is again injected (at 25° C., at a flow rate of 20 μl/min, for 1 minute). Thereafter, the same operation is repeated to determine a signal difference (difference between signal value A and signal value B) for five times in total, and the mean value is regarded as the amount of adsorption of anti-platelet adhesion copolymer to the medical material. 
         [0039]    As a “compound represented by the general formula (I)” which is a compound having a compound having a guanidine structure, (2R,4R)-4-methyl-1-(2S)-2-{ [(3RS)-3-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-8-yl] sulfonyl } amino-5-guanidinopentanoyl)piperidine-2-carboxylic acid (hereinafter referred to as “argatroban”) is for example preferred. Argatroban synthesized in 1978 is a medicinal compound having a selective antithrombin activity of arginine derivatives. The phrase “having an antithrombin activity” herein means that a binding affinity to thrombin is high, and examples of indexes for evaluating the antithrombin activity of a compound include an inhibition constant (hereinafter referred to as “Ki”) which is calculated from Lineweaver-Burk plot based on the absorbance value of solution to be tested. Lower Ki indicates higher binding affinity to thrombin and higher antithrombin activity. Ki is preferably 10 μM or less, more preferably 1 μM or less, and still more preferably 500 nM or less. The compound having an antithrombin activity can be used solely or two or more thereof can be combined to use. 
         [0040]    Examples of a method of immobilizing the above hydrophilic polymer compound onto the surface of a medical material include a method comprising bringing a surface treatment agent containing the above hydrophilicity compound as a active component into contact with the medical material and irradiating thereto with radiation. Note that, as the type of the irradiating radiation, an electron beam or γ-ray is preferred. In cases where the method comprising irradiating the radiation is difficult, a method comprising spraying or spreading the above hydrophilicity compound dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent such as ethanol or methanol and onto the surface of the medical material and drying can be for example employed. 
       EXAMPLES 
       [0041]    Our medical materials will be now described in detail below by way of the examples. However, this disclosure is by no means limited thereto. 
       Example 1 
       [0042]    1. Binding between Amino-Polyether-Modified Silicone and Argatroban: 
         [0043]    Argatroban in an amount of 5 mmol was placed in a recovery flask, and 10 mL of anhydrous dimethylformamide (hereinafter referred to as “anhydrous DMF”) was added thereto to dissolve argatroban. Thereafter, 10 mL of 4N hydrochloric acid/1,4-dioxane (Toyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) was added dropwise while cooling the recovery flask and the resulting mixture was stirred for 1 hour. Next, the solvent was evaporated with a rotary evaporator and the resultant was further dried overnight in a vacuum dryer, and added with 25 mL of anhydrous DMF to obtain argatroban hydrochloride/anhydrous DMF solution. 
         [0044]    Argatroban hydrochloride/anhydrous DMF solution in an amount shown in Table 1 was placed in a two-necked flask, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (hereinafter referred to as “DCC”)/anhydrous DMF solution and 4-hydroxybenzotriazole (hereinafter referred to as “HOBt”)/anhydrous DMF solution were each added thereto with ice cooling and stirring. A polyether-modified silicone (X-22-3939A; Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) was further added and the resulting mixture was allowed to react at room temperature for 3 days. Next, the reaction solution was placed in a dialysis tube (Spectra/Por RC, Pore 6, MWCO=1,000), and dialyzed for 3 days against distilled water with a volume of more than 10 times while appropriately replacing the distilled water. The reaction solution after the dialysis was filtered, and the solvent in the filtrate was evaporated with a rotary evaporator, followed by drying the resultant overnight in a vacuum dryer to obtain a hydrophilic polymer compound (hereinafter referred to as “Example 1 compound”). 
       2. Measurement of Antithrombin Activity of Example 1 Compound 
       [0045]    ECA-T kit (HaemoSys) was used for the measurement. To 100 μL of the Example 1 compound, 900 μL of distilled water was added to prepare an aqueous Example 1 compound solution. The aqueous Example 1 compound solution in an amount of 30 μL was sampled and mixed with 100 μL of ECA prothrombin buffer and 25 μL of ECA-T substrate. After incubated at 37° C. for 60 seconds, the mixture was set in an apparatus (COATRON M1(code 80 800 000); Production); and 50 μL of ECA ecarin reagent was added thereto to then carry out the measurement. 
         [0046]    A mixture of 20 μL of argatroban solution prepared to an arbitrary concentration using an ethanol/hydrochloric acid (volume ratio: 4/1) mixed solvent and 80 μL of human blood plasma, or a mixture of 20 μL of blank distilled water and 80 μL of human blood plasma was each subjected to the measurement using the ECA-T kit in place of the above aqueous Example 1 compound solution, and a calibration curve was prepared from the results. The concentration of 1494.3 ppm by weight in terms of argatroban of the aqueous Example 1 compound solution calculated from the calibration curve was defined as a value indicating the antithrombin activity of the aqueous Example 1 compound solution. 
       3. Measurement of Thrombin Inhibition Constant of Example 1 Compound 
       [0047]    A bovine thrombin solution (Ito Life Sciences, Inc.) 10,000 U was dissolved in 1 mL of physiological saline to prepare an aqueous bovine thrombin solution. 
         [0048]    S-2238 stock solution (Sekisui Medical Co., Ltd.) 25 mg was dissolved in 40 mL of distilled water to prepare an aqueous S-2238 stock solution. 
         [0049]    The aqueous bovine thrombin solution, aqueous S-2238 stock solution and the above aqueous Example 1 compound solution were each diluted by using dilution buffer solution (0.05 M Tris, 0.1 M NaCl, mg/mL of bovine serum albumin (BSA), pH 7.4). 
         [0050]    To a 96-well plate, 100 μL of diluted solution of the aqueous S-2238 stock solution and 50 μL of diluted solution of the aqueous Example 1 compound solution were dispensed, sealed and then warmed in a thermostat dryer set at 37° C. for 30 minutes. Next, 50 μL of the diluted solution of the aqueous bovine thrombin solution which was heated at 37° C. for 30 minutes was further dispensed thereto, and absorbance of the resulting mixture was immediately measured with a microplate reader (measurement wavelength: 405 nm, reference wavelength: 595 nm). 
         [0051]    Immediately after completion of the first absorbance measurement, the second absorbance measurement was carried out. The third or later absorbance measurements were carried out at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 minutes, respectively, after the diluted solution of the aqueous bovine thrombin solution was dispensed. Ki was calculated from each of the obtained absorbance values by using Lineweaver-Burk plot. The Ki of the Example 1 compound was 11 nM. 
         [0052]    The Ki of the polyether-modified silicone (X-22-3939A) was also calculated in the same manner, but the Ki of the polyether-modified silicone without an antithrombin activity was the same as that of the blank, as expected. 
         [0053]    Further, Ki was also calculated for argatroban in the same manner, and the Ki thereof was 39 nM which was a three times or more higher value, as compared with the Ki of the Example 1 compound. 
         [0054]    From these results, it became apparent that the above hydrophilic polymer compound has an extremely high binding affinity to thrombin, and can give a prominent antithrombin activity that is much higher than argatroban, which is known to have an antithrombin activity, to medical materials including hollow fiber membranes. 
       Examples 2 to 13 
       [0055]    Examples 2 to 13 compounds were obtained, respectively, in the same manner as described in Example 1 except that the molar ratios of DCC, HOBt and polyether-modified silicone (X-22-3939A) to argatroban hydrochloride and the volume ratio of anhydrous DMF to polyether-modified silicone were altered and the antithrombin activity thereof was measured. The molar ratios of DCC, HOBt and polyether-modified silicone (X-22-3939A) to argatroban hydrochloride and the measurement results of the antithrombin activity of each of the Examples 2 to 13 compounds are shown in Table 1. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Molar ratio to 1.00 
                 Volume ratio 
                 Concentration 
               
               
                   
                 mol of argatroban 
                 of anhydrous 
                 in terms of 
               
               
                   
                 hydrochloride 
                 DMF to 1 volume 
                 argatroban 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 X-22- 
                 of polyether- 
                 (ppm by 
               
               
                 Compound 
                 DCC 
                 HOBt 
                 3939A 
                 modified silicone 
                 weight) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Example 1 
                 1.07 
                 1.06 
                 0.060 
                 — 
                 1494.3 
               
               
                 Example 2 
                 1.04 
                 1.04 
                 0.060 
                 — 
                 831.2 
               
               
                 Example 3 
                 0.20 
                 0.20 
                 0.060 
                 1.4 
                 6610.7 
               
               
                 Example 4 
                 0.20 
                 0.20 
                 0.030 
                 3.9 
                 8393.3 
               
               
                 Example 5 
                 1.29 
                 1.27 
                 0.493 
                 1.8 
                 505.3 
               
               
                 Example 6 
                 1.29 
                 1.27 
                 0.203 
                 4.3 
                 771.7 
               
               
                 Example 7 
                 1.29 
                 1.27 
                 0.101 
                 8.6 
                 606.7 
               
               
                 Example 8 
                 1.29 
                 1.27 
                 0.067 
                 13.0 
                 441.7 
               
               
                 Example 9 
                 1.29 
                 1.27 
                 0.049 
                 17.6 
                 436.7 
               
               
                 Example 10 
                 1.29 
                 1.27 
                 0.020 
                 42.9 
                 738.9 
               
               
                 Example 11 
                 1.29 
                 1.27 
                 0.010 
                 88.2 
                 895.0 
               
               
                 Example 12 
                 1.00 
                 1.00 
                 0.060 
                 — 
                 6000.0 
               
               
                 Example 13 
                 1.00 
                 1.00 
                 0.060 
                 40.0 
                 5999.4 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0056]    The antithrombin activity of the polyether-modified silicone (X-22-3939A) was also measured and the measured value was the same as that of the blank distilled water. It was confirmed that the polyether-modified silicone itself does not have the antithrombin activity. 
       Preparation of PMMA Hollow Fiber 
       [0057]    Five parts by weight of isotactic-PMMA and 20 parts by weight of syndiotactic-PMMA were added to 75 parts by weight of dimethylsulfoxide, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 110° C. for 8 hours to obtain a membrane-forming liquid. This membrane-forming liquid was extruded from an orifice type bicylindrical mouthpiece and passed 300 mm in air, and then the extruded material was introduced into a solidification bath containing 100% water to obtain PMMA hollow fibers having an inner diameter of 0.2 mm and a membrane thickness of 0.03 mm. Note that, as the gas injected into the inside of the fiber, dry nitrogen was used. 
       Preparation of PSf Hollow Fiber 
       [0058]    Eighteen parts by weight of PSf (Udel manufactured by Solvay (registered trademark) P-3500) and 9 parts by weight of PVP (K30 manufactured by BASF) were added to a mixed solvent of 72 parts by weight of DMAc and 1 part by weight of water, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 14 hours to obtain a membrane-forming liquid. Also, a core liquid composed of 58 parts by weight of DMAc and 42 parts by weight of water was prepared. Using an orifice type bicylindrical mouthpiece whose cyclic slit part had an outer diameter of 0.3 mm and an inner diameter of 0.2 mm, the membrane-forming liquid and core liquid were extruded from the outside tube and inside tube, respectively, and introduced into a solidification bath containing 100% water that was located 350 mm away from the mouthpiece to obtain PSf hollow fibers. 
       Preparation of PMMA Hollow Fiber Membrane Mini-Module 
       [0059]    A module case having an inner diameter of 10 mm and a length of 120 mm that, similarly to general hollow fiber-type dialyzers, had two ports communicating to the inside of the hollow fibers (blood port) and two ports communicating to the outside of the hollow fibers (dialysate port) was prepared. 
         [0060]    Fifty of the above PMMA hollow fibers were bundled to form a PMMA hollow fiber membrane, and both ends of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane were fixed to the above module case using an epoxy-based potting agent with attention not to clog the hollow portion of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane. Thereafter, the PMMA hollow fiber membrane and the inside of the module case were washed with distilled water to obtain the mini-module  6  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0061]    Bis-Tris (Dojindo Laboratories) and sodium chloride were dissolved in ultrapure water so as to attain a final concentration of 0.25M and 0.5M, respectively, and the pH of the resulting solution was adjusted to 5 by adding 6N hydrochloric acid dropwise to prepare Bis-Tris buffer solution having 5 times concentration. 
         [0062]    Distilled water remaining at the side contacting the blood (the inner side of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane) and the side not contacting the blood (the outer side of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane) of the prepared mini-module 6 was removed with compressed air. Next, the aqueous Example 1 compound solution of a concentration of 10,000 ppm by weight in terms of argatroban, propylene glycol, Bis-Tris buffer solution having 5 times concentration, and distilled water were mixed at a volume ratio of 4/3/2/1 to obtain a filling solution. 
         [0063]    The above filling solution (400 μL) was filled only at the side contacting the blood of the mini-module  6  using a syringe. Thereafter, the filling solution was removed with compressed air, and the mini-module  6  in which all of the blood ports  1   a  and  1   b  and the dialysate ports  2   a  and  2   b  were tightly capped was irradiated with y-ray at a absorbed dose of 25 kGy for about 3 hours. 
         [0064]    The PMMA hollow fiber membrane  4  and the inner side of the mini-module  6  were washed by passing 0.025% by weight aqueous poly(oxyethylene)octyl phenyl ether solution into the PMMA hollow fiber membranes  4  and the inner side of the mini-module  6  at a flow rate of 10 mL/min for 8 hours using the peristaltic pump  8 . Thereafter, distilled water and physiological saline were flown both at a flow rate of 10 mL/min for 30 minutes to carry out further washing to obtain a mini-module on which the Example 1 compound was immobilized (hereinafter referred to as “PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module  1 ”). 
         [0065]    The aqueous Example 1 compound solution of a concentration of 10,000 ppm by weight in terms of argatroban, propylene glycol, Bis-Tris buffer solution having 5 times concentration, and distilled water were mixed at a volume ratio shown in Table 2 to obtain each filling solution. Each of the mini-modules on which the Example 1 compound was immobilized (“PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module  2 ” to “PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module  4 ”) was prepared by carrying out the same procedure as described above except that each of the prepared filling solutions was used. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Aqueous Example 1 
                   
                 Bis-Tris 
                   
               
               
                   
                 compound solution 
                   
                 buffer 
               
               
                   
                 of a concentration 
                   
                 solution 
               
               
                   
                 of 10,000 ppm by 
                   
                 having 5 
               
               
                   
                 weight in terms 
                 Propylene 
                 times con- 
                 Distilled 
               
               
                 Mini-module 
                 of argatroban 
                 glycol 
                 centration 
                 water 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 PMMA 
                 1 
                 4 
                 3 
                 2 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 0.1 
                 3 
                 2 
                 4.9 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 1 
                 3 
                 2 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 5 
                 3 
                 2 
                 0 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Preparation of PSf Hollow Fiber Membrane Mini-Module 
       [0066]    A mini-modules on which the Example 1 compound was immobilized (hereinafter referred to as “PSf hollow fiber membrane mini-module  2 ”) was prepared by carrying out the same procedure as described above except that PMMA hollow fibers were replaced with PSf hollow fibers. 
         [0067]    Distilled water remaining at the side contacting the blood (the inner side of the PSf hollow fiber membrane) and the side not contacting the blood (the outer side of the PSf hollow fiber membrane) of the separately prepared mini-module  6  was removed with compressed air. Next, the aqueous Example 1 compound solution of a concentration of 10,000 ppm by weight in terms of argatroban, propylene glycol, Bis-Tris buffer solution having 5 times concentration, and distilled water were mixed at a volume ratio of 4/3/2/1 to obtain a filling solution. 
         [0068]    The above filling solution (400 μL) was filled only at the side contacting the blood of the mini-module  6  using a syringe. Thereafter, the filling solution was removed with compressed air, and the mini-module  6  in which all of the blood ports  1   a  and  1   b  and the dialysate ports  2   a  and  2   b  were tightly capped was irradiated with y-ray at a absorbed dose of 25 kGy for about 3 hours. 
         [0069]    The PSf hollow fiber membrane  4  and the inner side of the mini-module  6  were washed by passing 0.025% by weight aqueous poly(oxyethylene)octyl phenyl ether solution into the PSf hollow fiber membranes  4  and the inner side of the mini-module  6  at a flow rate of 10 mL/min for 8 hours using the peristaltic pump  8 . Thereafter, distilled water and physiological saline were flown both at a flow rate of 10 mL/min for 30 minutes to carry out further washing to obtain a mini-module on which the Example 1 compound was immobilized (hereinafter referred to as “PSf hollow fiber membrane mini-module  1 ”). 
         [0070]    The aqueous Example 1 compound solution in a concentration of 10,000 ppm by weight in terms of argatroban, propylene glycol, and Bis-Tris buffer solution having 5 times concentration were mixed at a volume ratio shown in Table 3 to obtain each filling solution. Each of the mini-modules on which the Example 1 compound was immobilized (“PSf hollow fiber membrane mini-module  2 ” to “PSf hollow fiber membrane mini-module  5 ”) was prepared by carrying out the same procedure as described above except that each of the prepared filling solutions was used. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Aqueous Example 1 
                   
                 Bis-Tris 
                   
               
               
                   
                 compound solution 
                   
                 buffer 
               
               
                   
                 of a concentration 
                   
                 solution 
               
               
                   
                 of 10,000 ppm by 
                   
                 having 5 
               
               
                   
                 weight in terms 
                 Propylene 
                 times con- 
                 Distilled 
               
               
                 Mini-module 
                 of argatroban 
                 glycol 
                 centration 
                 water 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 PSf 
                 1 
                 4 
                 3 
                 2 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 0.1 
                 3 
                 2 
                 4.9 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 1 
                 3 
                 2 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 2 
                 3 
                 2 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 5 
                 3 
                 2 
                 0 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0071]    A mini-module in which polyether-modified silicone was immobilized (hereinafter referred to as “Comparative Example 1 mini-module”) was obtained by carrying out the same procedure as described above except that polyether-modified silicone (X-22-3939A) was used in place of the aqueous Example 1 compound solution of a concentration of 10,000 ppm by weight in terms of argatroban. 
       In Vitro Blood Circulation Test 
       [0072]    Blood provided by a volunteer and citric acid was mixed at a volume ratio of 9/1 to obtain blood supplemented with citric acid. Calcicol in an amount of 43.6 μL was added, as a procoagulant, to 1 mL of the blood supplemented with citric acid to obtain a test blood. 
         [0073]    Silicone tubes  7   a  and  7   b  were connected to the PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module  1  and the peristaltic pump  8  was placed in the middle of the silicone tube  7   b . The test blood was passed at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min for 5 seconds from the silicone tube  7   a  connected to the blood port  1   a , and the test blood flown out from the blood port  1   b  was discarded from the silicone tube  7   b  to remove bubbles in the inner side of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane. Subsequently, the silicone tubes  7   a  and  7   b  were connected at the inclusion part  9  to form a closed circuit shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0074]    The circulation of the test blood was started at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min to measure duration time of circulation until the silicone tubes  7   a  or  7   b  came off the inclusion part  9  due to an increased inner pressure in the circuit caused by coagulation thrombus formed in the circuit. The duration time of circulation in the case of using the PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module  1  was 35 minutes. Further when evaluated under the same condition, the duration time of circulation in the case of using the PSf hollow fiber membrane mini-module  1  was 41 minutes. 
         [0075]      FIG. 4  shows the results of the in vitro blood circulation test that was carried out as described above using, in place of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module  1 , each of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-modules  2  to  4  and PSf hollow fiber membrane mini-modules  2  to  5 . In the PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module, the duration time of circulation reached a plateau once the volume ratio of the Example 1 compound solution in the filling solution exceeded a certain value. In contrast, this tendency was not observed in the PSf hollow fiber membrane mini-module and the duration time of circulation could be continuously extended as appropriate. 
         [0076]    The mini-module  6  in which no compounds were immobilized on the PMMA hollow fiber membrane (hereinafter referred to as “Comparative Example 2 mini-module”) was prepared to carry out the same blood circulation test as described above. The duration time of circulation in this case was 20 minutes which was half or less than that in the case of using the PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module or PSf hollow fiber membrane mini-module. From these results, it became apparent that the above hydrophilic polymer compound exhibited an excellent anticoagulant activity for the medical material immobilized therewith. 
         [0077]    Note that, when the same blood circulation test was carried out as described above using the Comparative Example 1 mini-module, the duration time of circulation was 20 minutes, which was the same as the duration of circulation in the case of using the Comparative Example 2 mini-module in which no compounds were immobilized on the PMMA hollow fiber membrane. 
       Measurement of Amount of Example 1 Compound Dissolved Out 
       [0078]    The silicone tube  7   b  having an inner diameter of 0.8 mm and a length of 520 mm was connected to the blood port  1   b  of the separately prepared Example 1 mini-module, and the peristaltic pump  8  was placed in the middle of the silicone tube  7   b . The silicone tube  7   a  having an inner diameter of 0.8 mm and a length of 160 mm was connected to the blood port  1   a . Thereafter, the other end of each of the silicone tubes  7   a  and  7   b  was inserted in the polystyrene round tube (Code: 352054; BECTON DICKINSON)  10  containing 5 mL of human plasma to prepare a circulating circuit shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0079]    Human plasma was circulated at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min for 4 hours using the peristaltic pump  8 , the concentration of the Example 1 compound in human plasma in the polystyrene round tube  10  was measured using ECA-T kit. However, the concentration of the Example 1 compound in human plasma after the circulation was below the limit of detection of ECA-T kit, and it was not confirmed that the Example 1 compound dissolved out from the PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module. This result shows that the above hydrophilic polymer compound can be firmly immobilized to medical materials including a hollow fiber membrane. 
       Evaluation of Adsorption Amount of Anti-Platelet Adhesion Copolymer 
       [0080]    As a copolymer between vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate (hereinafter referred to as “VA copolymer”), which copolymer composes the above hydrophilic polymer compound and was one of the anti-platelet adhesion copolymers, PVP (K-90), VA73, VA64, VA55 and VA37 (all of which were from BASF) were provided. Similarly, as a partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol which was one of the anti-platelet adhesion copolymers, PVA217, PVA417 and PVA205c (all of which were from Kuraray Co., Ltd.) were provided. Further, as a polyether-modified silicone, F114, F244, F303, F3031, F348, F350s, F502, F506 and X-22-3939A (all of which were from Shin-Etsu Silicone) were provided. Note that the provided VA copolymer, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol and polyether-modified silicone were all diluted with distilled water to prepare an aqueous solution of 10,000 ppm by weight. 
         [0081]    Meanwhile, as a polymer compound composing the above hydrophilic polymer compound, which was not included in the anti-platelet adhesion copolymer, PEG2000, PEG4000, PEG6000 and PEG20000 (all of which were from Nacalai Tesque, Inc.), and PEG methyl ether (PEG-em) and PEG dimethyl ether (PEG-dm) (both were from Sigma-Aldrich) were provided for comparison. Note that the provided polymer compounds were all diluted with distilled water to prepare an aqueous solution of 10,000 ppm by weight. 
         [0082]    As a 0.5% by weight solution of a material to be immobilized for immobilizing an anti-platelet adhesion copolymer, PMMA (weight average molecular weight: 93000, Sigma-Aldrich)/toluene solution, polyurethane/dimethylacetamide solution, PSf (Udel manufactured by Solvay (registered trademark) P-3500)/dimethylacetamide solution, polyvinyl chloride (weight average molecular weight: 80,000; Sigma-Aldrich)/tetrahydrofuran solution, polystyrene (Wako)/chloroform solution and polycarbonate (weight average molecular weight: 20,000; Teijin Limited)/chloroform solution were each prepared. 
         [0083]    The adsorption amount of various anti-platelet adhesion copolymers for each of the materials to be immobilized was measured. The results are shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Signal value B - Signal value A [pg/mm 2 ] 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Adsorbent Material 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Poly- 
                 Polyvinyl 
                 Poly- 
                 Poly- 
               
               
                   
                 PMMA 
                 PSf 
                 urethane 
                 chloride 
                 styrene 
                 carbonate 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Anti- 
                 PVPK 
                 789 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 platelet 
                 90 
               
               
                 adhesion 
                 VA37 
                 2760 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 copolymer 
                 VA55 
                 472 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 VA64 
                 920 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 VA73 
                 426 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 PVA 
                 2529 
                 2886 
                 1635 
                 2468 
                 2777 
                 2356 
               
               
                   
                 217 
               
               
                   
                 PVA 
                 2475 
                 2742 
                 1911 
                 2330 
                 2662 
                 2346 
               
               
                   
                 417 
               
               
                   
                 PVA 
                 2223 
                 2130 
                 1411 
                 1796 
                 1989 
                 1819 
               
               
                   
                 205c 
               
               
                   
                 F114 
                 1003 
                 844 
                 514 
                 739 
                 621 
                 756 
               
               
                   
                 F244 
                 1639 
                 1272 
                 1144 
                 1118 
                 1052 
                 1243 
               
               
                   
                 F303 
                 1268 
                 1156 
                 1604 
                 1037 
                 — 
                 1374 
               
               
                   
                 F3031 
                 947 
                 559 
                 614 
                 418 
                 339 
                 536 
               
               
                   
                 F348 
                 875 
                 784 
                 756 
                 608 
                 283 
                 800 
               
               
                   
                 F350s 
                 751 
                 657 
                 674 
                 544 
                 275 
                 591 
               
               
                   
                 F502 
                 827 
                 657 
                 696 
                 385 
                 197 
                 482 
               
               
                   
                 F506 
                 691 
                 308 
                 437 
                 167 
                 43 
                 279 
               
               
                   
                 X-22- 
                 1182 
                 910 
                 1204 
                 695 
                 924 
                 1424 
               
               
                   
                 3939A 
               
               
                   
                 PEG 
                 2 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 2000 
               
               
                   
                 PEG 
                 2 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 4000 
               
               
                   
                 PEG 
                 5 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 6000 
               
               
                   
                 PEG 
                 113 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 20000 
               
               
                   
                 PEG-me 
                 5 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 PEG-dm 
                 67 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0084]    From the results of Table 4, it became apparent that the anti-platelet adhesion copolymer composing the above hydrophilic polymer compound was not limited to the polyether-modified silicone (X-22-3939A) and could be firmly immobilized to medical materials including a hollow fiber membrane. 
       Evaluation of Anti-Platelet Adhesion Ability 
       [0085]    The separately prepared module case of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane mini-module was cut with an ultrasonic cutter to take out the PMMA hollow fiber membrane (hereinafter referred to as “Example 1 hollow fiber membrane”) on which the Example 1 compound was immobilized. 
         [0086]    A double-stick tape was adhered to one surface of a circular film made of polyethylene terephthalate having a diameter of 18 mm. The Example 1 hollow fiber membrane was fixed thereto, and the fixed PMMA hollow fiber membrane was cut into slivers of a semicylindrical shape to expose the inner surface of the PMMA hollow fiber membrane. The Example hollow fiber membrane fixed to the circular film was placed inside of a Falcon (registered trademark) cylindrical tube (18 mmφ, NO. 2051) that had cut into a cylindrical shape, and the gap between the cylindrical tube and circular film was sealed with Parafilm. Thereafter, the cylindrical tube was filled with physiological saline. 
         [0087]    Venous blood immediately after collected from volunteers was placed in a blood collection tube in which heparin had been collected in advance, and the resulting mixture was mixed by inverting the tube to prepare blood supplemented with heparin. The concentration of the blood supplemented with heparin was adjusted to be 50 U/mL. 
         [0088]    After discarding the physiological saline in the above cylindrical tube, 1.0 mL of the blood supplemented with heparin was placed thereto, and the cylindrical tube was shaken at 37° C. for 1 hour. Thereafter, the Example 1 hollow fiber membrane in the above cylindrical tube was washed with 10 mL of physiological saline, and then blood components were fixed by adding physiological saline containing 2.5% by volume glutaraldehyde, followed by further washing the membranes with distilled water. Thereafter, the circular film on which the Example 1 hollow fiber membrane was fixed was removed from the above cylindrical tube, and the circular film on which the Example hollow fiber membrane was fixed was dried under reduced pressure at normal temperature at an absolute pressure of 0.5 Torr for 12 hours. 
         [0089]    The circular film dried under reduced pressure on which the Example 1 hollow fiber membrane was fixed was adhered to the stage of a scanning electron microscope with a double-stick tape, and a platinum/palladium thin film was then formed on the surface of the Example hollow fiber membranes by sputtering. The inner surface near the center in the longitudinal direction of the Example hollow fiber membrane, wherein a platinum/palladium thin film was formed on the surface thereof, was observed with a field emission scanning electron microscope (S800; manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) at a magnification of 1500×, and the number of adhered platelets in one visual field (4.3×10 3  μm 2 ) was counted. 
         [0090]    The integer value of the mean of the numbers of adhered platelets counted in different 5 visual fields was defined as the number of adhered platelets (platelets/(4.3×10  3 m 2 )), and the number of the platelets adhered to the Example 1 hollow fiber membrane was 1. 
         [0091]    On the other hand, the separately prepared module case of the Comparative Example 2 mini-module was cut with an ultrasonic cutter, and the hollow fiber membrane on which any compounds were not immobilized (hereinafter referred to as “Comparative Example 2 hollow fiber membrane”) was taken out to confirm the number of adhered platelets as well. The number of the platelets adhered to the Comparative Example 2 hollow fiber membrane was 100 or more. 
         [0092]    From these results, it became apparent that the above hydrophilic polymer compounds can impart a significant anti-platelet adhesion ability to medical materials including a hollow fiber membrane. 
       Measurement of Whole Blood Clotting Time 
       [0093]    The blood collected from volunteers and citric acid were mixed at a volume ratio of 9/1 to prepare blood supplemented with citric acid. 
         [0094]    To a cuvette (NON-ACTIVATED CLOTTING TEST KIT), 18 μL of physiological saline was placed, and 14.8 μL of calcicol was added thereto, followed by further adding 342 μL of blood supplemented with citric acid. Thereafter, the measurement using Sonoclot blood coagulation/platelet function analyzer (IMI Co., Ltd.) was carried out to define the obtained ACT ONSET value as whole blood clotting time. The whole blood clotting time of the blood collected by the volunteers was 545 seconds. 
         [0095]    When the same measurement were carried out using, in place of physiological saline, each of 2, 10 and 20 μM of argatroban solutions (solvent was methanol/hydrochloric acid (volume ratio: 4/1)), the whole blood clotting times was 531, 746 and 849 seconds, respectively. 
         [0096]    When the same measurements were carried out using, in place of physiological saline, each of the aqueous Example 1 compound solutions of 0.3, 1.3 and 2.5 μM, the whole blood clotting times was 527, 693 and 730 seconds, respectively. 
       Example 14 
       [0097]      1 . Binding between Vinyl Acetate-Vinyl Pyrrolidone Copolymer and Argatroban 
         [0098]    To a screw vial, 14.9 g of tetrahydrofuran, 11.5 g of vinyl acetate, 10.8 g of N-vinylpyrrolidone, 0.028 g of 2-aminoethanethiol and 0.016 g of azobisisobutyronitrile were placed, and after sealing the screw vial, the resulting mixture was sonicated for 10 minutes, The screw vial was once unsealed, and the mixture was bubbled with argon gas for 10 minutes. The screw vial was again sealed, and then immersed in a hot water bath at 60° C. under stirring for 1 hour and further in a hot water bath at 70° C. for 6 hours to copolymerize vinyl acetate with vinyl pyrrolidone. To this reaction solution, 80 mL of methanol was added, and the resulting mixture was added to about 5 times amount of ether, followed by removing the supernatant. The washing procedure of newly adding ether and removing the supernatant was repeated three times, and the resultant was dried under reduced pressure to obtain a vinyl acetate-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer. When the obtained vinyl acetate-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer was measured by  1 H-NMR (solvent: CDCl 3 ), a vinylpyrrolidone unit was 60.6 unit % by mole. 
         [0099]    The obtained vinyl acetate-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer, 3.58 g was dissolved in 20 mL of anhydrous DMF to prepare a vinyl acetate-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer/anhydrous DMF solution. The entire volume of the prepared vinyl acetate-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer/anhydrous DMF solution and 0.5 mL of argatroban hydrochloride/anhydrous DMF solution (0.49 M) were placed in a two-necked flask, and 0.5 mL of DCC/anhydrous DMF solution (1.04 M) and 0.5 mL of HOBt/anhydrous DMF solution (1.02 M) were each added thereto with ice cooling and stirring; and the resultant was allowed to react under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 3 days. Next, the reaction solution was placed in a dialysis tube (Spectra/Por RC, Pore 6, MWCO=1,000), and dialyzed for 3 days against distilled water with a volume of more than 10 times while appropriately replacing the distilled water. The reaction solution after the dialysis was filtered, and the solvent in the filtrate was evaporated with a rotary evaporator, followed by drying the resultant overnight in a vacuum dryer to obtain a hydrophilic polymer compound (hereinafter referred to as “Example 14 compound”). 
       2. Measurement of Antithrombin Activity of Example 14 Compound 
       [0100]    The antithrombin activity of the Example 14 compound/methanol solution (concentration: 20% by weight) was measured in the same manner as the measurement of the antithrombin activity of the Example 1 compound, and the calculated concentration of 104.1 ppm in terms of argatroban of the Example 14 compound/methanol solution was defined as a value indicating the antithrombin activity of the Example 14 compound/methanol solution. 
       Example 15 
       [0101]    Argatroban in an amount of 44.8 mmol was placed in a recovery flask and 50 mL of anhydrous dimethylformamide (hereinafter referred to as “anhydrous DMF”) was added thereto to dissolve argatroban under an Ar flow. Thereafter, the recovery flask was cooled in ice. Fifty milliliters of 4 N hydrochloric acid/1,4-dioxane (Toyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) were added dropwise and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. Next, the solvent was evaporated using a rotary evaporator and subjected to azeotropic treatment with dehydrated toluene (Wako). The resultant was further dried in a vacuum dryer overnight; and anhydrous DMF was added to the obtained compound to make an argatroban hydrochloride/anhydrous DMF solution (1.0 M). 
         [0102]    To a three-necked flask, 46 mL of argatroban hydrochloride/anhydrous DMF solution was added; and 57.8 mmol of HOBt and 20 mL of anhydrous DMF were added thereto with ice cooling and stirring. After the mixture was dissolved, 51.0 mmol of DCC was added. To 190 g of amino-polyether-modified silicone (X-22-3939A; Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) that was in advance dried under reduced pressure at 40° C. for 5 hours, 760 g of anhydrous DMF was added and stirred. The anhydrous DMF solution in which argatroban hydrochloride, DCC, and HOBt had been dissolved was added to the amino-polyether-modified silicone/anhydrous DMF solution with ice cooling. Degassing and Ar substitution were repeated five times and then the mixture was stirred at room temperature for three days and allowed to react. Next, the reaction solution was placed in a dialysis tube (Spectra/Por RC, Pore 6, MWCO=15,000), and dialyzed for 7 days against distilled water with a volume of more than 100 times while appropriately replacing the distilled water. The reaction solution after the dialysis was filtered, and the solvent in the filtrate was evaporated with a rotary evaporator, followed by drying the resultant overnight in a vacuum dryer to obtain a bound substance (hereinafter referred to as “Example 15 bound substance”). 
       Measurement of Antithrombin Activity of Example 15 Bound Substance 
       [0103]    ECA-T kit (HaemoSys) was used for the measurement. To 10 mg of Example 15 bound substance, 1 ml of distilled water was added to prepare an aqueous Example 15 bound substance solution. The aqueous Example 15 bound substance solution in an amount of 30 μL was sampled and mixed with 100 μL of ECA prothrombin buffer and 25 μL of ECA-T substrate. After incubated at 37° C. for 60 seconds, the mixture was set in an apparatus (COATRON Ml(code 80 800 000); Production); and 50 μL of ECA ecarin reagent was added thereto to then carry out the measurement of antithrombin activity. 
         [0104]    A mixture of 20 μL of argatroban solution prepared to an arbitrary concentration using an ethanol/hydrochloric acid (volume ratio: 4/1) mixed solvent and 80 μL of human blood plasma, or a mixture of 20 μL of blank distilled water and 80 μL of human blood plasma was each subjected to the measurement using the ECA-T kit in place of the above aqueous Example 15 bound substance solution, and a calibration curve was prepared from the results. The concentration of 2.6 ppm by weight in terms of argatroban of the aqueous Example 15 bound substance solution calculated from the calibration curve was defined as a value indicating the antithrombin activity of the aqueous Example 15 bound substance solution. 
         [0105]    From these results, it became apparent that the above hydrophilic polymer compound can prolong the whole blood clotting time as compared with argatroban which is known to have an antithrombin activity, even if the concentrations of the hydrophilic polymer compound are very low; and the hydrophilic polymer compound can impart an excellent anticoagulant activity to medical materials including a hollow fiber membrane filled in a module for hemocatharsis. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0106]    Our medical materials can be used as a medical material having an excellent anticoagulant activity in the field of medicine.