Patent Description:
Conventional medical devices are recognized as contaminants for biological components, and cause adhesion of platelets and proteins, and biological reactions, resulting in serious problems. For example, in conventional blood purifiers such as artificial kidney modules, platelets and proteins adhere to the surfaces of materials in the blood purifier, resulting in deterioration of fractionation performance and water permeability. In addition, stents and artificial blood vessels are required to be semi-permanently continuously used, and therefore it is important to set specifications which ensure that adhesion of platelets and proteins is suppressed, thus making it possible to withstand use for a long period of time.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a polysulfone-based hydrophilic film in which polyvinylpyrrolidone as a hydrophilic polymer, and the static contact angle of water on a film surface is controlled to <NUM> degrees or more and <NUM> degrees or less to suppress contamination.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a polysulfone-based polymer separation membrane in which a coating layer insolubilized by radiation crosslinking is formed after the polymer is brought into contact with a hydrophilic polymer solution such as polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a separation membrane containing a water-soluble polymer typified by a copolymer of polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl acetate, the water-soluble polymer having a glass transition temperature of <NUM> or higher. Patent Document <NUM> suggests that interaction of a vinyl acetate unit with a hydrophobic base material improves introduction efficiency of the copolymer, so that hydrophilization can be efficiently performed.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a medical material in which an alkyl (meth)acrylate and a methoxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate copolymer are introduced to a surface thereof, and suggests that the introduction of an alkyl (meth)acrylate and a methoxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate copolymer improves blood compatibility.

Non-Patent Document <NUM> discloses membranes for blood purification therapies based on copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and n-butylmethacrylate, which exhibit good blood compatibility and low platelet adhesion for enabling longer blood-material contact.

However, in Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM>, only hydrophilization of a material surface is performed, and the mobility of a polymer on the material surface is not considered. The present inventors prepared the films and separation membranes according to Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM>, and resultantly found that both the films and the separation membranes were poor in suppression of adhesion of platelets and proteins at the time of coming into contact with blood.

In addition, for the separation membrane in Patent Document <NUM>, a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer that is a commercially available polymer is used, and a structural design suitable for suppression of adhesion of platelets and proteins is not considered at all. The present inventors prepared the separation membrane according to Patent Document <NUM>, and resultantly found that proteins adhered to the separation membrane when the separation membrane was in contact with a biological component such as blood for a long period of time.

Further, in the medical material in Patent Document <NUM>, the glass transition temperature of the copolymer is in a range of -<NUM> to <NUM>, and therefore the medical material lacks stability of a polymer form at room temperature, and has a problem in handling property.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a medical separation membrane that is able to suppress adhesion of platelets and proteins even when being into contact with a biological component such as blood.

Proteins contained in a biological component such as blood easily adhere to a hydrophobic surface, and therefore it is considered important that the entire contact surface of a medical device has hydrophilicity. This may be because when protein approaches a material surface, the higher order structure of the protein is changed, so that the hydrophobic site inside the protein is exposed, and the hydrophobic site hydrophobically interacts with the material surface.

On the other hand, it is known that adhesion of proteins cannot be suppressed when a contact surface of a medical device is coated with a hydrophilic polymer such as polyethylene glycol or polyvinyl alcohol. This may be because when the contact surface of the medical device has excessively high hydrophilicity, the structure of protein is destabilized, and therefore adhesion of the protein cannot be sufficiently suppressed.

The present inventors have extensively conducted studies to solve the above-described problems, and resultantly found a medical separation membrane using a biological component adhesion-suppressing medical material, which considerably suppresses adhesion of platelets and proteins, and can be used even when being in contact with a biological component such as blood for a long period of time, and a blood purifier including the medical separation membrane. The medical separation membrane and the blood purifier are defined in the appended claims.

The medical separation membrane and the blood purifier of the present invention is able to suppress adhesion of platelets and proteins even when being in contact with a biological component such as blood for a long period of time.

The present invention is as set out in the appended claims. Hereinafter, the present invention will be further described in detail.

A medical material of the present invention is a copolymer comprising a hydrophobic unit and a hydrophilic unit. The hydrophobic unit has a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms in a side chain and the hydrophilic unit is an alkyl acrylamide unit or a vinyl amide unit. The static contact angle of water on the copolymer is <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees. The copolymer has only one glass transition temperature in a range of from <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>.

The "medical material" means a material that is used while being in contact with a biological component. Examples of the medical material include powder materials, particulate materials, and coating materials which are bonded or attached to a surface of a medical device, and coating materials are preferable. As a method using such a material as a coating material, mention is made of, for example, a method in which a surface of a separation membrane such as a flat membrane or a hollow fiber membrane is coated with the medical material. Examples of the medical device using the medical material include blood purifiers typified by artificial kidney modules or plasma separators, which include the separation membrane, blood circuits, blood storage bags, catheters, stents, contact lenses and biosensors, and blood purifiers are preferable. Examples of the medical device using the medical material further include separation membranes for food and beverage, which are used while being in contact with a glycoprotein, and separation membranes to be used for purification of antibody medicaments.

The "biological component" means an organism-derived component substance such as sugar, protein, platelet, or antibody. The biological component is preferably a substance contained in a body fluid such as blood, tear or cerebrospinal fluid, and in particular, a substance contained in blood is preferable as a target.

The "unit" refers to a repeating unit in a homopolymer or copolymer obtained by polymerizing monomers. For example, the carboxylic acid vinyl ester unit refers to a repeating unit in a homopolymer obtained by polymerizing a carboxylic acid vinyl ester monomer, or a repeating unit derived from a carboxylic acid vinyl ester monomer in a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing a carboxylic acid vinyl monomer.

The "hydrophobic unit" is defined as a repeating unit such that a polymer (number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM> or more and <NUM>,<NUM> or less) obtained by polymerizing only the unit is slightly soluble or insoluble in water. Here, the term "slightly soluble or insoluble in water" means that the solubility in <NUM> of water at <NUM> is <NUM> or less.

The "hydrophilic unit" is defined as a repeating unit such that a polymer (number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM> or more and <NUM>,<NUM> or less) obtained by polymerizing only the unit is easily soluble in water. Here, the term "easily soluble in water" means that the solubility in <NUM> of pure water at <NUM> is more than <NUM>, preferably <NUM> or more.

The "side chain" means a molecular chain branched from the main chain of a unit of a polymer concerned. For example, in the case of a vinyl butyrate unit, the side chain refers to CH<NUM>CH<NUM>CH<NUM>COO, and in the case of a methyl methacrylate unit, the side chain refers to CH<NUM> and CH<NUM>OCO.

The "terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms" means a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group which is present at a terminal of a molecular chain branched from the main chain and which has <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. For example, in the case of a vinyl butyrate unit, the terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms refers to CH<NUM>CH<NUM>CH<NUM>, and in the case of a methyl methacrylate unit, the terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms refers to CH<NUM> and CH<NUM> bonded to (OCO). In addition, the terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms may be not only a linear alkyl group but also a branched alkyl group or a cyclic alkyl group, but is preferably a linear alkyl group from the viewpoint of availability. The terminal alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms because the alkyl group does not have excessively high hydrophobicity, and the terminal alkyl group is more preferably a linear alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, still more preferably an alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, most preferably a linear alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms for improving the mobility of the copolymer.

The "number of carbon atoms" refers to the number of carbon atoms that form a functional group concerned, which is a terminal alkyl group in this case. For example, a vinyl acetate ester unit has a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> carbon atom, a vinyl butyrate ester unit has a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> carbon atoms, a methyl acrylate unit has a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> carbon atom, an hexyl acrylate unit has a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> carbon atoms, and a <NUM>-pentene unit has a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> carbon atoms. On the other hand, a <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate unit does not have a terminal alkyl group because an ethylene group is present in the side chain, but is not present at a terminal.

When a plurality of side chain alkyl groups are present in one unit, the "number of carbon atoms" refers to the number of carbon atoms in each alkyl group. In such a case, the unit is considered to have a "terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms" when at least one of a plurality of side chain alkyl groups has <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. For example, an ethyl methacrylate unit has <NUM> and <NUM> carbon atoms, and therefore has a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, but an isopropenyl acetate unit has <NUM> and <NUM> carbon atoms, and therefore does not have a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms.

Examples of the hydrophobic unit having a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms in the side chain include alkyl carboxylic acid vinyl ester units, acrylic acid alkyl ester units and methacrylic acid alkyl ester units.

The "static contact angle of water" means an angle formed by a polymer-water droplet interface and a water droplet-air interface at the time when a polymer such as a copolymer is deposited in the form of a film, and water droplets are dropped.

A polymer having high hydrophilicity, like polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide or a copolymer composed of such a polymer, has a small water contact angle, which is generally less than <NUM> degrees. On the other hand, a hydrophobic polymer, like polystyrene, polypropylene or a polymer composed of such a polymer, has a large water contact angle, which is generally <NUM> degrees or more.

It is important that the above-mentioned copolymer is balanced between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. When the hydrophilicity of the polymer is excessively high, the structures of platelets and proteins are destabilized. On the other hand, when the hydrophobicity of the polymer is excessively high, interaction with hydrophobic parts of platelets and proteins occurs, leading to an increase in adhesion. The static contact angle of water on the copolymer is <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees, preferably <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees, more preferably <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees. Any of the preferred lower limits can be combined with any of the preferred upper limits.

The "glass transition temperature" indicates a temperature at which a polymer softens from a glass state to a rubber state, and serves as an index of the mobility of the polymer. A polymer containing a linear alkyl chain, an ethylene glycol chain or a siloxane chain has high mobility, and therefore has a glass transition temperature of <NUM> or lower, or <NUM> or lower in some cases. On the other hand, a polymer containing a rigid chain such as a naphthyl group or a biphenyl group has low mobility, and therefore has a glass transition temperature of <NUM> or higher, or <NUM> or higher in some cases.

It is considered that when the above-mentioned copolymer has low mobility, platelets and proteins easily adhere to the copolymer because approaching platelets and proteins cannot be repelled. On the other hand, it is not preferable that the copolymer has excessively high mobility, i.e. an excessively low glass transition temperature. When the copolymer has high mobility, not only the structure of protein is destabilized, but also the copolymer itself is deformed or aggregated at room temperature, primary performance of the material cannot be exhibited. The glass transition temperature of the copolymer is <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>, preferably <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>. Any of the preferred lower limits can be combined with any of the preferred upper limits. The preferred static contact angle of water and the preferred glass transition temperature can be arbitrarily combined.

The term "having only one glass transition temperature" means that glass transition does not occur at a temperature other than the one glass transition temperature. It is important that the glass transition temperature causes cooperative movement throughout the copolymer. This may be because when there is a distribution in the mobility of the polymer, adhesion of platelets and proteins occurs with a high-mobility site or low-mobility site as an origination point. Therefore, the copolymer is preferably a random copolymer or an alternating copolymer rather than a graft copolymer or a block copolymer.

In addition, for the same reason, it is preferable that there is little deviation in the copolymerization ratio of the copolymer. Specifically, the molar fraction of one type of unit is preferably <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less, more preferably <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less, still more preferably <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less. Any of the preferred lower limits can be combined with any of the preferred upper limits.

In the present invention, the molar fraction of the unit with respect to the entire copolymer can be calculated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement or elemental analysis.

In the medical separation membrane of the present invention, it is more preferable that the static contact angle of water on the copolymer is <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees, and the copolymer has only one glass transition temperature in a range of from <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>. When both the static contact angle of water on the copolymer and the glass transition temperature of the copolymer fall within the above-mentioned ranges, respectively, the copolymer is balanced between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, so that moderate mobility of the copolymer is easily maintained.

When the number average molecular weight of the copolymer is excessively small, it may be impossible to sufficiently exhibit the effect of suppressing adhesion of platelets and proteins, and therefore the number average molecular weight of the copolymer is preferably <NUM>,<NUM> or more, more preferably <NUM>,<NUM> or more. On the other hand, the upper limit of the number average molecular weight of the copolymer is not particularly limited, but when the number average molecular weight is excessively large, solubility may be reduced, and therefore the number average molecular weight is preferably <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> or less, more preferably <NUM>,<NUM> or less, still more preferably <NUM>,<NUM> or less. The number average molecular weight of the copolymer can be measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) as described later.

The copolymer may be synthesized by chain polymerization of vinyl monomers or by sequential polymerization of difunctional monomers. It is preferable that the copolymer is synthesized by chain polymerization of vinyl monomers because it is easy to adjust the copolymerization ratio of the hydrophobic unit and hydrophilic unit. Here, the vinyl monomer means a monomer having a vinyl group.

The hydrophobic unit is preferably an alkyl carboxylic acid vinyl ester unit. The alkyl carboxylic acid vinyl ester unit refers to a repeating unit in a homopolymer or copolymer obtained by polymerizing a carboxylic acid vinyl ester monomer in which an alkyl group is bonded to a carbon atom of an ester group. In a copolymer containing an alkyl carboxylic acid vinyl ester unit, adhesion of platelets and proteins is suppressed, and biological safety is easily improved.

Examples of the alkyl carboxylic acid vinyl ester unit include propanoic acid vinyl ester units (having <NUM> carbon atoms in the terminal alkyl group in the side chain), butyric acid vinyl ester units (having <NUM> carbon atoms in the terminal alkyl group in the side chain), pentanoic acid vinyl ester units (having <NUM> carbon atoms in the terminal alkyl group in the side chain), pivalic acid vinyl ester units (having <NUM> carbon atoms in the terminal alkyl group in the side chain), <NUM>-ethylhexanoic acid vinyl ester units (having <NUM> carbon atoms in the terminal alkyl group in the side chain), and palmitic acid vinyl ester units (having <NUM> carbon atoms in the terminal alkyl group in the side chain). Among them, propanoic acid vinyl ester units, butyric acid vinyl ester units, pentanoic acid vinyl ester units, pivalic acid vinyl ester units and <NUM>-ethylhexanoic acid vinyl ester units are preferable, propanoic acid vinyl ester units, butyric acid vinyl ester units, pentanoic acid vinyl ester units and pivalic acid vinyl ester units are more preferable, and propanoic acid vinyl ester units and butyric acid vinyl ester units are still more preferable.

The hydrophilic unit includes alkyl acrylamide units and vinyl amide units because they do not have excessively high hydrophilicity, and easily undergo a polymerization reaction with a carboxylic acid vinyl ester unit. Here, the alkyl acrylamide unit refers to a unit in which a hydrogen atom bonded to a nitrogen atom of acrylamide is substituted with an alkyl group. Examples of the alkyl acrylamide unit include N-isopropyl acrylamide units and N,N-dimethyl acrylamide units. On the other hand, examples of the vinyl amide unit include N-vinyl acetamide units and N-methyl-N-vinyl acetamide units.

It is preferable that the hydrophobic unit and the hydrophilic unit do not have an anionic group such as a sulfonic acid group or a cationic group such as an amino group. This is because anionic groups and cationic groups may activate and degenerate biological components through complement activation. On the other hand, nonionic groups such as amide groups, ester groups and ether groups are capable of further reducing influences on the living body, and therefore it is preferable that the hydrophobic unit and the hydrophilic unit preferably have such nonionic groups. In the above-mentioned copolymer, the preferred hydrophobic unit and the preferred hydrophilic unit described above can be arbitrarily combined. For example, the hydrophobic unit and the hydrophilic unit may be an acrylic acid alkyl ester unit and an alkyl acrylamide unit, respectively.

It is preferable that the copolymer is dissolved in any of water, ethanol and isopropanol in an amount of <NUM>% by weight or more. This means that the copolymer does not have excessively high hydrophobicity, adhesion of platelets and proteins is small, and at the time when a copolymer is dissolved in a solution, and molded, it is possible to prepare a solution having a reduced impact on biological components.

The copolymer may be amorphous or crystalline, but when the copolymer is crystalline, the adhesion suppressing effect of platelets and proteins varies depending on the higher order structure of the copolymer, so that it may be necessary to control the structure. Therefore, the copolymer is preferably amorphous. The "crystallinity" means that crystals are formed at a temperature equal to or lower than the melting point at the time when the copolymer in a molten state is cooled. Examples of the crystalline polymer include polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. The term "amorphous" means that crystals are not formed. Examples of the amorphous polymer include polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

The copolymer may be nonbiodegradable or biodegradable, but the copolymer may have poor long-term storage stability when the copolymer is biodegradable, and therefore the copolymer is preferably nonbiodegradable. The term "biodegradable" means that the copolymer is decomposed by microorganisms. Examples of biodegradable polymer include polylactic acid. The term "nonbiodegradable" means that the copolymer is not decomposed by microorganisms. Examples of the nonbiodegradable polymer include polyvinyl hexanoate, polyvinyl butyrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Other monomers, e.g. monomers containing a reactive group such as a hydroxy group, a carboxy group or glycidyl group may be copolymerized within the bounds of not hindering the action/function of the copolymer.

The copolymer can be synthesized by a chain polymerization method typified by, for example, a radical polymerization method using an azo-based initiator, but the synthesis method is not limited thereto.

The copolymer is produced by, for example, the following production method, but the production method is not limited thereto.

A monomer is mixed with a polymerization solvent and a polymerization initiator, and the mixture is mixed with stirring in a nitrogen atmosphere at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time to carry out polymerization reaction. The reaction liquid is cooled to room temperature to stop the polymerization reaction, and is put in a solvent such as hexane. A copolymer can be obtained by recovering a precipitated precipitate, and drying the recovered precipitate under reduced pressure.

The reaction temperature of the polymerization reaction is preferably <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>, still more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>.

The pressure of the polymerization reaction is preferably atmospheric pressure.

The reaction time of the polymerization reaction is appropriately selected according to conditions such as a reaction temperature, but is preferably <NUM> hour or more, more preferably <NUM> hours or more, still more preferably <NUM> hours or more. When the reaction time is short, a large amount of an unreacted monomer may be apt to remain in the polymer. On the other hand, the reaction time is preferably <NUM> hours or less, more preferably <NUM> hours or less. When the reaction time is long, side reactions such as production of a dimer formation may easily occur, thus making it difficult to control the molecular weight.

The polymerization solvent to be used in the polymerization reaction is not particularly limited as long as it is a solvent compatible with a monomer, and for example, an ether-based solvent such as dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, an amide-based solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide, a sulfoxide-based solvent such as dimethylsulfoxide, an aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvent such as benzene or toluene, an alcohol-based solvent such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, amyl alcohol hexanol, or water is used, but from the viewpoint of toxicity, it is preferable to use an alcohol-based solvent or water.

As the polymerization initiator for the polymerization reaction, for example, a photopolymerization initiator or a thermal polymerization initiator is used. A polymerization initiator that generates any of a radical, a cation and an anion may be used, but a radical polymerization initiator is preferably used because it hardly causes decomposition of a monomer. As the radical polymerization initiator, for example, an azo initiator such as azobisisobutyronitrile, azobisdimethylvaleronitrile or dimethyl azobis(isobutyrate), or a peroxide initiator such as hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide or dicumyl peroxide is used.

The solvent in which a polymerization reaction is put after polymerization reaction is stopped is not particularly limited as long as it is a solvent in which the copolymer is precipitated, and for example, a hydrocarbon-based solvent such as pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane or decane, or an ether-based solvent such as dimethyl ether, ethyl methyl ether, diethyl ether or diphenyl ether is used.

In the present invention, the static contact angle of water on the copolymer is measured by a droplet method as described later. For example, when the static contact angle of water on the copolymer is measured by the droplet method, the following procedure is carried out. The copolymer is dissolved in chloroform, and a <NUM> wt% solution is prepared. A cover glass having a size of <NUM> × <NUM> (symbol <NUM> in <FIG>) is spin-coated at <NUM> rpm for <NUM> seconds to apply a copolymer as shown by symbol <NUM> in <FIG>. Using an automatic contact angle meter, the contact angle with pure water <NUM> seconds after water deposition is analyzed with an image by a curve fitting method to determine an angle θ (<NUM>) formed by an interface (<NUM>) between a copolymer (<NUM>) and a water droplet (<NUM>) at the water droplet end portion and an interface (<NUM>) between the water droplet (<NUM>) and air (<NUM>). Care is needed because the copolymer may be dissolved in pure water when the time after water deposition increases. One sample is measured at three points in air at <NUM>, and the average of the angle θ is calculated as a static contact angle of water on the copolymer.

In the present invention, the glass transition temperature is measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as described later. For example, when the glass transition temperature of the copolymer is measured by DSC, the following procedure is carried out. Approximately <NUM> of the copolymer is placed in an aluminum sample container, and the container is hermetically sealed to obtain a measurement sample. As a reference, an empty aluminum container is prepared. A heating process and a cooling process are each carried out <NUM> cycles. Symbol <NUM> in <FIG> denotes a DSC curve, and in <FIG>, the abscissa represents a temperature of the sample container, and the ordinate represents a difference DSC (mW) between the amount of heat applied to the measurement sample and the amount of heat applied to the reference per unit time. An onset point (<NUM>), which is an intersection of an extended line (<NUM>) of the baseline of the DSC curve and a tangent line (<NUM>) of a baseline-shifted curve, in the heating process in the second cycle is defined as a glass transition temperature of the polymer.

In addition, in the medical separation membrane of the present invention, the medical material of the present invention is bonded or attached to a surface of a membrane including a hydrophobic polymer.

The "separation membrane" means a membrane that selectively removes a specific substance contained in a liquid to be treated, such as blood or an aqueous solution, by adsorption or on the basis of the size of a substance. As a form of the separation membrane, mention is made of a flat membrane and a hollow fiber membrane, but the medical separation membrane is preferably a hollow fiber membrane from the viewpoint of blood purification efficiency.

There are various methods for using the medical material, but it in the present invention, the medical material is bonded or attached to a surface of a membrane including a hydrophobic polymer. That is, when the medical material is bonded or attached to a surface that is in contact with a biological component such as blood, an effect of suppressing adhesion of platelets and proteins is exhibited. Here, the surface that is in contact with a biological component refers to an outermost surface which is in contact with a biological component such as blood, and extends to a depth of <NUM>.

The medical material may be used alone as a medical separation membrane, but when the medical material has high hydrophilicity, the medical material may be eluted in blood, and therefore the medical material is bonded or attached to a surface of a hydrophobic polymer when used. In particular, a hydrophobic polymer is easily molded, and easily bonded or attached to the medical material, and has little risk of being eluted, and therefore the medical material is bonded or attached to a surface of a membrane including a hydrophobic polymer.

Whether the medical material is bonded or attached to a surface of a membrane including a hydrophobic polymer can be determined by surface analysis such as XPS measurement or TOF-SIMS measurement.

The "hydrophobic polymer" refers to a polymer having a solubility of <NUM> or less in <NUM> of pure water at <NUM>.

The term "bonded or attached to" means that a signal derived from a copolymer in a medical material concerned is detected in compositional analysis. For example, when a carbon peak derived from an ester group is detected in analysis of a surface, at which an ester group-containing copolymer is present, by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), it can be said that the copolymer is present. Since the copolymer is present at a surface that is in contact with a biological component, it is preferable to detect the copolymer by performing analysis by XPS or time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). When analysis is performed by a plurality of methods, it is determined that the medical material is "bonded or attached to" the membrane when a signal derived from the copolymer in the medical material concerned is detected by at least one of the above-mentioned methods.

In order to reduce elution of the hydrophobic polymer in blood, the static contact angle of water on the hydrophobic polymer is preferably <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees, more preferably <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees, still more preferably <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees. Any of the preferred lower limits can be combined with any of the preferred upper limits. In addition, for ensuring that the copolymer is easily bonded or attached to the membrane, a difference between the static contact angle of water on the copolymer and the static contact angle of water on the hydrophobic polymer is preferably less than <NUM> degrees, more preferably less than <NUM> degrees, still more preferably less than <NUM> degrees.

When the hydrophobic polymer has a low glass transition temperature, it may be impossible to maintain sufficient strength. On the other hand, when the hydrophobic polymer has an excessively high glass transition temperature, the solubility and moldability of the polymer are deteriorated. The glass transition temperature of the hydrophobic polymer is preferably <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>, still more preferably <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>. Any of the preferred lower limits can be combined with any of the preferred upper limits.

In the medical separation membrane of the present invention, it is preferable that the static contact angle of water on the hydrophobic polymer is <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees, and the glass transition temperature of the hydrophobic polymer is <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>. This is because when both the static contact angle of water on the hydrophobic polymer and the glass transition temperature of the hydrophobic polymer fall within the above-mentioned ranges, respectively, it is possible to prevent elution in blood and secure sufficient mechanical strength.

Preferably, the hydrophobic polymer includes a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polysulfone-based polymer, a polymethacrylate-based polymer, a polyacrylate-based polymer, a polyester-based polymer and a polystyrene-based polymer. Here, the polysulfone-based polymer is a polymer having an aromatic ring, a sulfonyl group and an ether group in the main chain, and examples thereof include polysulfone, polyether sulfone and polyaryl ether sulfone. Examples of the polymethacrylate-based polymer include polymethyl methacrylate and polyhexyl methacrylate. Examples of the polyacrylate-based polymer include polyethyl acrylate and polyoctyl acrylate. Examples of the polyester-based polymer include polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate. Examples of the polystyrene-based polymer include polystyrene, poly(p-methylstyrene) and poly-α-methylstyrene.

In particular, the polysulfone-based polymer is preferably used because it has favorable moldability, and is easily bonded or attached to the medical material.

As the main raw material of the membrane including the hydrophobic polymer, for example, a polysulfone-based polymer represented by the chemical formula of the following formula (<NUM>) and/or (<NUM>) is preferably used, but the main raw material of the membrane is not limited thereto. In the formula, n is an integer of <NUM> or more, preferably <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>. When n has a distribution, the average of the distribution is defined as n. Here, the "main raw material" means a raw material contained in an amount of <NUM>% by weight or more based on the total of the medical separation membrane.

[In the formula, n represents an integer of <NUM> or more.

The polysulfone-based polymer that can be used for the medical separation membrane is preferably a polymer composed only of a repeating unit represented by the formula (<NUM>) and/or (<NUM>), but may be a copolymer obtained by copolymerization with a monomer other than the monomer derived from the repeating unit represented by the formula (<NUM>) and/or (<NUM>), or a modified product thereof. The copolymerization ratio of the above-mentioned other monomer in the copolymer obtained by copolymerization with the above-mentioned other monomer is preferably <NUM>% by weight or less based on the total of the polysulfone-based polymer.

Examples of the polysulfone-based polymer that can be used for the medical separation membrane include polysulfone-based polymers such as Udel Polysulfone P-<NUM> and P-<NUM> (manufactured by Solvay), Ultrason (registered trademark) S3010 and S6010 (manufactured by BASF SE), VICTREX (manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co. ), Radel (registered trademark) A (manufactured by Solvay) and Ultrason (registered trademark) E (manufactured by BASF SE).

Since the hydrophobic polymer has high hydrophobicity, a hydrophilic polymer may be further included in the separation membrane in addition to the copolymer to obtain a medical separation membrane. The hydrophilic polymer may be included during molding of the medical separation membrane or after molding of the medical separation membrane.

Preferably, the hydrophilic polymer contains an amide bond in the structure of the repeating unit of the hydrophilic polymer.

Examples of the hydrophilic polymer containing an amide bond include polyvinyl caprolactam, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetamide, polyacrylamide and derivatives thereof. Among them, polyvinylpyrrolidone is preferably used because it has favorable moldability and spinnability with a polysulfone-based polymer, and also serves as a pore forming agent in formation of a hollow fiber membrane.

Here, the "hydrophilic polymer" is a polymer having a solubility of more than <NUM>, preferably <NUM> or more, in <NUM> of pure water at <NUM>.

Presence of a hydrophilic polymer containing an amide bond can be confirmed by, for example, observing a peak in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> in ATR-IR measurement.

The medical material may be used as a powder material or a fine particle material, or used as a coating material to be bonded or attached to a surface of a medical device such as a separation membrane such as a flat membrane or a hollow fiber membrane. For example, a flat membrane of polyethylene terephthalate to be used for an artificial blood vessel is immersed in an aqueous solution of a copolymer as a medical material, radiation exposure is performed to crosslink and immobilize the medical material, and the thud-obtained product is used as a medical separation membrane. From the viewpoint of suppressing adhesion of platelets, the concentration of the aqueous solution of the copolymer is preferably <NUM> ppm or more, more preferably <NUM> ppm or more. The number of adhering platelets is preferably <NUM> or less, more preferably <NUM> or less per area of <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> µm<NUM>. The number of adhering platelets can be measured by a method as described later. In addition, in the case of a blood circuit, it is preferable to use the blood circuit with a medical material bonded or attached to an inner surface of a tube that forms the circuit, the inner surface being mainly in contact with blood. In a catheter or stent, a medical material may be bonded or attached to a surface of a (metal) material, which is mainly in contact with blood.

In addition, it is preferable that as one component for forming a medical separation membrane, the medical material is bonded or attached to a surface of the membrane (particularly, an inner surface which is frequently brought into blood) for suppressing adhesion of blood components.

In addition, the present invention provides a medical device, particularly a blood purifier, which includes the medical separation membrane of the present invention. That is, the blood purifier of the present invention includes the medical separation membrane of the present invention.

The "blood purifier" refers to a product having a medical separation membrane aimed at removing wastes and harmful substances in blood by circulating blood outside the body. Examples of blood purifiers include artificial kidney modules to be used for treatment of chronic renal failure, continuous blood flow blood purifiers to be used for treatment of acute renal failure, and exotoxin adsorption columns.

The "module" means a device included in a casing. For example, the medical separation membrane module is a device in which a medical separation membrane is included in a casing.

The blood purifier is used while being in contact with blood for a long period of time, e.g. <NUM> hours in the case of an artificial kidney module used for treatment of chronic renal failure and <NUM> day to several days for a continuous blood purifier used for treatment of acute renal failure. Thus, adhesion of platelets and proteins occurs, resulting in deterioration of fractionation performance and water permeability. Further, since the artificial kidney module and the continuous blood purifier are subjected to filtration from the inside to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane for removing wastes and harmful substances in blood, adhesion of platelets and proteins particularly easily occurs.

As a method for binding or attaching the copolymer to the medical separation membrane, for example, a method in which a copolymer is bonded or attached after formation of a membrane is preferable, and a method in which a copolymer in the form of a solution (aqueous solution) is brought into contact with a surface of a membrane is used. More specific examples include a method in which a copolymer solution is caused to flow at a predetermined flow rate, and a method in which a membrane is immersed in the solution. In addition, mention is also made of a method in which conditions are set so that a copolymer is intentionally put together on a membrane surface in a method in which a copolymer is added to a dope solution for forming a membrane, and the mixture is spun.

There are various methods for producing the medical separation membrane module, depending on the use of the separation membrane module. As one aspect thereof, the method can be divided into a step of producing a medical separation membrane and a step of incorporating the medical separation membrane into a module. In production of the medical separation membrane module, treatment by radiation exposure may be performed before the step of incorporating the medical separation membrane into a module, or may be performed after the step of incorporating the medical separation membrane into a module. Since the medical separation membrane module in the present invention is for medical use, it is preferable to perform treatment by γ ray irradiation as treatment by radiation exposure after the step of incorporating the separation membrane into a module because sterilization can be performed at the same time.

<FIG> is a schematic view showing a cross-section of a hollow fiber membrane module (<NUM>) as one form of the medical separation membrane module, the cross-section being horizontal to a longitudinal direction. The hollow fiber membrane module has a structure in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (<NUM>) cut to a predetermined length are present in a tubular case (<NUM>) while being bundled, and both ends of the hollow fiber membranes are put together with a potting agent (<NUM>), respectively. Both end portions of the hollow fiber membrane (<NUM>) are open. Headers (43A and 43B) are placed at both ends of the hollow fiber membrane module, respectively, and the header has a hollow fiber membrane blood-side inlet (44A) and a hollow fiber membrane blood-side outlet (44B). In addition, the tubular case (<NUM>) has a hollow fiber membrane dialysate-side inlet (45A) and a hollow fiber membrane dialysate-side outlet (45B).

As a specific example of a method for producing a medical separation membrane module, one example of a method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module to be used in a blood purifier will be described.

Examples of the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane to be incorporated into a blood purifier include the following method. That is, polysulfone and polyvinylpyrrolidone (weight ratio of preferably <NUM> : <NUM> to <NUM> : <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> : <NUM> to <NUM> : <NUM>) is dissolved in a mixed solvent of a good solvent (preferably N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, or dioxane) and a poor solvent (preferably water, ethanol, methanol, or glycerin) for polysulfone to obtain a dope solution (concentration of preferably <NUM> to <NUM>% by weight, more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>% by weight), and at the time of discharging the dope solution from a double ring-shaped die, a bore fluid is fed to the inside, and the dope solution is run through a dry section, and then guided to a coagulation bath. Here, since the humidity of the dry section affects the dope solution, the phase separation behavior in the vicinity of the outer surface is accelerated by supplying moisture from the outer surface of the membrane during running of the dry section, so that the pore diameter can be increased, resulting in reduction of permeation/diffusion resistance in dialysis. However, when the relative humidity is excessively high, coagulation of the dope solution on the outer surface is dominant, so that the pore diameter tends to rather decrease, resulting in increase of permeation/diffusion resistance in dialysis. Therefore, the relative humidity is preferably <NUM> to <NUM>%. In addition, it is preferable to use a bore fluid having a composition based on the solvent used for the dope solution from the viewpoint of process suitability. For example, when N,N-dimethylacetamide is used, an aqueous solution with a bore fluid concentration of preferably <NUM> to <NUM>% by weight, more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>% by weight is used.

Here, the good solvent means a solvent in which a target polymer is soluble in an amount of <NUM>% by weight or more at <NUM>. The poor solvent means a solvent in which a target polymer is soluble in an amount of less than <NUM>% by weight at <NUM>.

The method of incorporating the hollow fiber membrane into the module is not particularly limited, but for example, there are the following methods. First, the hollow fiber membrane is cut to a required length, and a required number of pieces are bundled, and placed in a cylindrical case. Both ends of the case are then temporarily capped, and a potting agent is placed at both ends of the hollow fiber membrane. Here, a method in which the potting agent is placed while the module is rotated with a centrifuge is a preferred method because the potting agent is uniformly packed. After the potting agent is solidified, the hollow fiber membrane is cut at both end portions so as to be opened at both ends, so that a hollow fiber membrane module is obtained.

The polysulfone-based polymer used as a main raw material of the hollow fiber membrane generally has high hydrophobicity, and therefore when the polysulfone-based polymer is used as a hollow fiber membrane as it is, adhesion of organic substances such as proteins easily occurs. Thus, a hollow fiber membrane obtained by introducing the copolymer into the inner surface is preferably used. In particular, from the viewpoint of improving the hydrophilicity of the inner surface, a copolymer containing a carboxylic acid vinyl ester unit is preferably used. Examples of the method for bonding or attaching the copolymer to the inner surface include a method in which a solution of the copolymer is brought into contact with a hollow fiber membrane in the module; and a method in which at the time of spinning the hollow fiber membrane, a bore fluid containing the copolymer is brought into contact with the inside of the hollow fiber membrane.

When an aqueous solution of the copolymer is fed through the hollow fiber membrane in the module, and bonded or attached to the surface, a sufficient amount of the copolymer is not bonded or attached to the surface when the concentration of the copolymer in the aqueous solution is excessively low. Therefore, the copolymer concentration in the aqueous solution is preferably <NUM> ppm or more, more preferably <NUM> ppm or more, still more preferably <NUM> ppm or more. When the concentration of the copolymer in the aqueous solution is excessively large, the amount of an eluate from the module may increase, and therefore the copolymer concentration in the aqueous solution is preferably <NUM>,<NUM> ppm or less, more preferably <NUM>,<NUM> ppm or less.

When the copolymer is not dissolved in water at a predetermined concentration, the copolymer may be dissolved in a mixed solvent of water and an organic solvent in which the hollow fiber membrane is insoluble, or an organic solvent which is compatible with water and in which the hollow fiber membrane is insoluble. Examples of the organic solvent that can be used for the organic solvent or the mixed solvent include, but are not limited to, alcohol-based solvents such as methanol, ethanol and propanol.

In addition, when the ratio of the organic solvent in the mixed solvent increases, the hollow fiber membrane may be swollen, leading to reduction of strength. Therefore, the weight fraction of the organic solvent in the mixed solvent is preferably <NUM>% or less, more preferably <NUM>% or less, still more preferably <NUM>% or less.

Further, from the viewpoint of improving the hydrophilicity of the hollow fiber membrane as a whole, it is preferable that a polysulfone-based polymer and a hydrophilic polymer are mixed, and the mixture is spun.

For preventing elution of the bonded or attached copolymer at the time of use, it is preferable that the copolymer is insolubilized by radiation exposure or heat treatment after being bonded or attached to the surface.

For the radiation exposure, an α-ray, a β-ray, a γ-ray, an X-ray, an ultraviolet ray, or an electron beam can be used. Here, blood purifiers such as artificial kidneys are obliged to be sterilized prior to shipping, and in recent years, a radiation sterilization method using a γ ray or an electron beam has been heavily used from the viewpoint of the low residual toxicity and convenience. Therefore, it is preferable that a radiation sterilization method is used while an aqueous solution in which the copolymer is dissolved is in contact with the hollow fiber membrane in the medical separation membrane module because insolubilization of the copolymer can be achieved in parallel to sterilization.

When the medical device is sterilized and reformed at the same time, the irradiation dose of a radiation is preferably <NUM> kGy or more, more preferably <NUM> kGy or more. This is because an irradiation dose of <NUM> kGy or more is effective for sterilizing a blood purification module with a γ-ray. In addition, the irradiation dose is preferably <NUM> kGy or less. This is because when the irradiation dose is more than <NUM> kGy, the copolymer may easily undergo three-dimensional crosslinking or decomposition, leading to deterioration of blood compatibility.

An antioxidant may be used for suppressing crosslinking reaction in radiation exposure. The antioxidant means a substance having a property of easily giving electrons to other molecules, and examples thereof include, but are not limited to, water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C, polyphenols, and alcohol-based solvents such as methanol, ethanol and propanol. These antioxidants may be used singly, or in combination of two or more thereof. When an antioxidant is used for the medical separation membrane module, it is necessary to take safety into consideration, and therefore an antioxidant having low toxicity, such as ethanol or propanol is preferably used.

In a blood purifier such as an artificial kidney module, not only fractionation performance and permeability may be deteriorated due to adhesion of platelets and proteins, but also it may be impossible to continue extracorporeal circulation because blood cannot flow into the hollow fiber membrane due to blood coagulation. For adhesion of platelets and proteins to the inside of the hollow fiber membrane, the performance of the hollow fiber membrane can be evaluated by measuring the relative adhesion amount of total proteins to the inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane after circulation of blood.

Deterioration of the performance of the blood purifier is related particularly to adhesion of proteins, and the smaller the relative adhesion amount of total proteins, the less the performance deterioration.

In the present invention, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins can be measured by a method as described later. In order to prevent blood-dependent variations in the adhesion amount of total proteins, measurement of the hollow fiber membrane in Artificial Kidney Toraylight (registered trademark) CX manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc. is performed in parallel as a control, and the adhesion ratio (%) relative to the control is calculated.

Adhesion of platelets and proteins to a medical device to be used for a long period of time occurs markedly within <NUM> minutes after the medical device comes into contact with blood, and therefore the performance of the medical device can be evaluated by measuring the relative adhesion amount of total proteins after circulation of blood for <NUM> minutes. From the viewpoint of suppressing performance deterioration, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins to the medical device is preferably <NUM>% or less, more preferably <NUM>% or less, still more preferably <NUM>% or less.

The present invention will be illustrated below with reference to Examples.

A <NUM> N LiNO<NUM> solution of water/methanol = <NUM>/<NUM> (volume ratio) was prepared, and used as a GPC development solution. <NUM> of the polymer was dissolved in <NUM> of this solution. <NUM>µL of the polymer solution was injected into a GPC connected to a column (GMPWXL manufactured by TOSOH CORPORATION, inner diameter: <NUM> × <NUM>, particle size: <NUM>). The device configuration of GPC is as follows.

The flow rate was <NUM>/min, and the measurement time was <NUM> minutes. Detection was performed using a differential refractive index detector RID-10A (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation), and the number average molecular weight was calculated from a peak derived from the polymer, which appeared around an elution time of <NUM> minutes. The number average molecular weight was calculated while being rounded off from the tenth decimal place. A polyethylene oxide standard sample (<NUM> kD to <NUM> kD) manufactured by Agilent Company was used for preparation of a calibration curve.

<NUM> of the copolymer was dissolved in <NUM> of chloroform-D (<NUM>%) (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. 05V/V%, with TMS), and the solution was added in a NMR sample tube, and subjected to NMR measurement (Superconducting FTNMR EX-<NUM>: manufactured by JEOL Ltd. The temperature was room temperature, and the cumulative number was <NUM>. From the result of this measurement, the value of APVP / (APVP + AVC) × <NUM> was calculated as a molar fraction of the hydrophilic unit where the area of a region surrounded a base line and a peak observed in a range of <NUM> to <NUM> ppm and derived from a proton (<NUM>) bonded to a carbon atom adjacent to a nitrogen atom in vinylpyrrolidone is 3APVP, and the area of a region surrounded by a base line and a peak observed in a range of <NUM> to <NUM> ppm and derived from a proton (<NUM>) bonded to carbon at the α-position in vinyl carboxylate is AVC. This method is an example of calculating the molar fraction in a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and a carboxylic acid vinyl ester, and in the case of a copolymer including a combination of other monomers, an appropriate proton-derived peak is selected, and the molar fraction is determined. The molar fraction was calculated while being rounded off from the ones place.

Copolymer or hydrophobic polymer (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a polymer) was dissolved in chloroform (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. ) to prepare a <NUM> wt% solution. A cover glass having a size of <NUM> × <NUM> (symbol <NUM> in <FIG>) was spin-coated at <NUM> rpm for <NUM> seconds to apply a polymer as shown by symbol <NUM> in <FIG>. Using an automatic contact angle meter Drop Master DM <NUM> (manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co. ), the contact angle with pure water <NUM> seconds after water deposition was analyzed with an image by a curve fitting method to determine an angle θ (<NUM>) formed by an interface (<NUM>) between a polymer (<NUM>) and a water droplet (<NUM>) at the water droplet end portion and an interface (<NUM>) between the water droplet (<NUM>) and air (<NUM>). Care is needed because the polymer may be dissolved in pure water when the time after water deposition increases. One sample was measured at three points in air at <NUM>, and the average of the angle θ was calculated as a static contact angle of water on the polymer.

Approximately <NUM> of a copolymer or hydrophobic polymer (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a polymer) was placed in an aluminum sample container, and the container was hermetically sealed to obtain a measurement sample. As a reference, an empty aluminum container is prepared. A heating process and a cooling process were each carried out <NUM> cycles. Symbol <NUM> in <FIG> denotes a DSC curve, and in <FIG>, the abscissa represents a temperature of the sample container, and the ordinate represents a difference DSC (mW) between the amount of heat applied to the measurement sample and the amount of heat applied to the reference per unit time. An onset point (<NUM>), which is an intersection of an extended line (<NUM>) of the baseline of the DSC curve and a tangent line (<NUM>) of a baseline-shifted curve, in the heating process in the second cycle was defined as a glass transition temperature of the polymer. The measurement conditions are as follows.

A double-sided tape was bonded to a polystyrene circular plate having a diameter of <NUM>, and a flat membrane cut to <NUM> square was fixed thereto. When the surface of the flat membrane has contaminants, scratches, folds and the like, it may be impossible to perform accurate evaluation because platelets adhere to those parts. Therefore, a flat membrane free from contaminants, scratches and folds was used. The circular plate was attached to a cylindrically cut Falcon (registered trademark) tube (<NUM> in diameter, No. <NUM>) in such a manner that a surface bonded to the flat film was situated inside the cylinder, and a gap was filled with a parafilm. The inside of the cylindrical tube was washed with physiological saline, and then filled with physiological saline. Human venous blood was collected, and heparin was then immediately added to <NUM> U/ml. The physiological saline in the cylindrical tube was discarded, <NUM> of the blood was then placed in the cylindrical tube and shaken at <NUM> for <NUM> hour within <NUM> minutes after collection of the blood. Thereafter, the flat membrane was washed with <NUM> of physiological saline, blood components were immobilized with <NUM>% glutaraldehyde physiological saline, and the flat membrane was washed with <NUM> of distilled water. The washed flat membrane was dried under reduced pressure at <NUM> and <NUM> Torr for <NUM> hours. The flat membrane was bonded to a sample stand of a scanning electron microscope with a double-sided tape. Thereafter, a thin membrane of Pt-Pd was formed on the flat membrane surface by sputtering to prepare a sample. The surface of the flat membrane was observed with a field emission type scanning electron microscope (S800 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. ) at a magnification of <NUM> times, and the number of adhering platelets per visual field (<NUM> × <NUM><NUM> µm<NUM>) was counted. When <NUM> or more platelets adhered, the number of adhering platelets was set to <NUM> with the membrane considered to have no platelet adhesion suppressing effect. The average of the numbers of adhering platelets in <NUM> different visual fields in the vicinity of the center of the flat membrane was defined as the number of adhering platelets (number/<NUM> x <NUM><NUM> µm<NUM>). In the case of medical membranes other than flat membranes, a surface of a material may be appropriately exposed, and brought into contact with the blood, followed by counting the number of adhering platelets. In addition, when an electron microscope having a different visual field area, conversion may be appropriately performed so as to obtain the number of adhering platelets (number/<NUM> x <NUM><NUM> µm<NUM>).

<NUM> of human fresh blood containing <NUM>% of an ACD-A solution was circulated through the hollow fiber membrane module at a flow rate of <NUM>/min for <NUM> hour. The hollow fiber membrane module was washed for <NUM> minutes by feeding a phosphate buffer solution (PBS) therethrough, and a follow fiber membrane was then cut out by <NUM> from the hollow fiber membrane module, finely cut to an about <NUM> length, and placed in an Eppendorf tube. Washing was performed with PBS (<NUM> × <NUM> times, washing was repeated when blood remained). Moisture was removed, <NUM> of a BCA reagent was then added, and the mixture was immediately stirred with a micro mixer at room temperature for <NUM> hours. The color-developed BCA reagent was taken out into a cuvette with Pipetman, and the absorbance was measured at <NUM>. The calibration curve sample (Albumin standard (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. ) was diluted with raw food, and adjusted to <NUM> to <NUM>µg/ml) was measured in the same manner as described above. From the absorbance of the calibration curve sample, the adhesion amount Tps of total proteins in the target sample was determined. From the adhesion amount Tpc of the control (Trelite (registered trademark) CX) and the adhesion amount Tps of the target sample, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins (%) was determined in accordance with the following formula.

When the relative adhesion amount of total proteins is measured for a membrane other than a hollow fiber membrane, <NUM> of human fresh blood is brought into contact with the functional layer of the sample for <NUM> hour by a method such as immersion in blood, and the sample is washed using a phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Thereafter, the absorbance is measured in the same manner as in the case of the hollow fiber membrane, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins is calculated. A material before immobilization of the copolymer of the present invention on the surface is used for the control.

A <NUM>-thick polystyrene film (manufactured by PS Japan Co. ) was shaped into a disk having a radius of <NUM> on a hot plate, and placed in a <NUM> centrifuge tube (manufactured by AS ONE Corporation). The centrifuge tube was filled with a copolymer or polymer aqueous solution having a concentration of <NUM> ppm, covered with a lid, and irradiated with a γ-ray of <NUM> kGy to obtain a flat membrane. The static contact angle of water on polystyrene corresponding to a hydrophobic polymer was <NUM> degrees, and the glass transition temperature of the polystyrene was <NUM>.

A vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer was prepared by the following method. <NUM> of a vinylpyrrolidone monomer (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. ), <NUM> of a vinyl hexanoate monomer (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co. ), <NUM> of isopropanol (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. ) as a polymerization solvent, and <NUM> of azobisdimethylbutyronitrile as a polymerization initiator were mixed, and the mixture was stirred at <NUM> for <NUM> hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction liquid was cooled to room temperature, and concentrated, and the concentration residue was put in hexane. The precipitated white precipitate was recovered, and dried under reduced pressure at <NUM> for <NUM> hours to obtain <NUM> of a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer. The result of <NUM>H-NMR measurement showed that the molar fraction of the vinylpyrrolidone unit was <NUM>%. The result of GPC measurement showed that the number average molecular weight was <NUM>,<NUM>. The static contact angle of water on the prepared copolymer was <NUM> degrees, and the glass transition temperature of the copolymer was <NUM>. A flat membrane was prepared using the prepared vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of platelet adhering to the flat membrane was <NUM>. The shaking time was extended to <NUM> hours, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl propanoate random copolymer (vinylpyrrolidone unit molar fraction: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The number of adhering platelets was <NUM>. The shaking time was extended to <NUM> hours, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl butyrate random copolymer (vinylpyrrolidone unit molar fraction: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl <NUM>-ethyl hexanoate random copolymer (vinylpyrrolidone unit molar fraction: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that a N-isopropyl acrylamide/ethyl acrylate random copolymer (N-isopropyl acrylamide unit molar fraction: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The number of adhering platelets was <NUM>. The shaking time was extended to <NUM> hours, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that pure water was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer aqueous solution, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>. The shaking time was extended to <NUM> hours, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that polyvinylpyrrolidone (K90 manufactured by BASF SE, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate random copolymer (LUVISKOL (registered trademark) VA73W manufactured by BASF SE, vinylpyrrolidone unit molar fraction: <NUM>%, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that a vinylpyrrolidone/styrene random copolymer (manufactured by ISP Co. , vinylpyrrolidone unit molar fraction: <NUM>%, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

A flat membrane was prepared in the same manner as in Reference Example <NUM> except that a vinylpyrrolidone/styrene graft copolymer (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co. , vinylpyrrolidone unit molar fraction: <NUM>%, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) was used in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, and the number of adhering platelets was measured. The result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

The polystyrene film was immersed in a chloroform solution of polyvinyl chloride (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. , static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) at a concentration of <NUM>% by weight, then taken out, and placed in a centrifuge tube filled with pure water, and the centrifuge tube was covered with a lid, and irradiated with a y ray of <NUM> kGy to obtain a flat membrane. A platelet adhesion test was conducted, and the result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

The polystyrene film was immersed in a methanol solution of poly(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P3932 manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, culture tested, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) at a concentration of <NUM>% by weight, then taken out, and placed in a centrifuge tube filled with pure water, and the centrifuge tube was covered with a lid, and irradiated with a y ray of <NUM> kGy to obtain a flat membrane. A platelet adhesion test was conducted, and the result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

The polystyrene film was immersed in a methanol solution of polyvinyl acetate (number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) at a concentration of <NUM>% by weight in place of the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer, then taken out, and placed in a centrifuge tube filled with pure water, and the centrifuge tube was covered with a lid, and irradiated with a y ray of <NUM> kGy to obtain a flat membrane. The number of adhering platelets was measured, and the result showed that the number of adhering platelets was <NUM>.

<NUM> parts by weight of polysulfone (Udel-P <NUM> manufactured by Amoco Co. ), <NUM> parts by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone (K30 manufactured by International Special Products Co. ; hereinafter, abbreviated as ISP Co. ) and <NUM> parts by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone (K90 manufactured by ISP Co. ) were dissolved in <NUM> parts of N,N-dimethylacetamide and <NUM> part of water by heating to obtain a membrane formation dope solution.

This membrane formation dope solution was discharged through an outer tube of an orifice-type double cylindrical die having an outer diameter of <NUM> and an inner diameter of <NUM> at the annular slit portion. As a bore fluid, a solution composed of <NUM> parts by weight of N,N-dimethylacetamide and <NUM> parts by weight of water was discharged from the inside tube. The discharged membrane formation dope solution passed through a dry zone atmosphere having a dry length of <NUM>, a temperature of <NUM> and a relative humidity of <NUM>% RH, and was then guided to a coagulation bath having <NUM>% of water and a temperature of <NUM>, and subjected to a water washing step at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds, a drying step at <NUM> for <NUM> minutes, and a crimping step at <NUM> to obtain a hollow fiber membrane. The hollow fiber membrane was taken up as a bundle. The hollow fiber membrane had an inner diameter of <NUM> and an outer diameter of <NUM>. <NUM> hollow fibers were inserted into a plastic tube, and the plastic tube was fixed at both ends with an adhesive to prepare a hollow fiber membrane module having an effective length of <NUM>. The static contact angle of water on polysulfone corresponding to a hydrophobic polymer was <NUM> degrees, and the glass transition temperature of the polysulfone was <NUM>.

An aqueous ethanol solution of the copolymer (<NUM> ppm) was fed from a blood-side inlet (44A) to a dialysate-side inlet (45A) of the hollow fiber membrane module (<FIG>). Thereafter, the hollow fiber membrane module was irradiated with a γ-ray of <NUM> kGy, and used as a hollow fiber membrane module.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl hexanoate random copolymer described in Reference Example <NUM>. Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of proteins was considerably suppressed.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl propanoate random copolymer described in Reference Example <NUM>. Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of proteins was considerably suppressed.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using the vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl butyrate random copolymer described in Reference Example <NUM>. Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of proteins was suppressed.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl butyrate random copolymer (vinylpyrrolidone unit ratio: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>). Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of proteins was suppressed.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using the N-isopropylacrylamide/ethyl acrylate random copolymer (<NUM> ppm) described in Example <NUM>. Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of proteins was considerably suppressed.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using the polyvinylpyrrolidone described in Comparative Example <NUM>. Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of a large amount of proteins occurred.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate random copolymer (manufactured by BASF SE, vinylpyrrolidone unit ratio: <NUM>%, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>). Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of a large amount of proteins occurred.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate block copolymer (vinylpyrrolidone unit ratio: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, two glass transition temperatures: <NUM> and <NUM>). Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of a large amount of proteins occurred.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using an aqueous solution of a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate random copolymer (manufactured by BASF SE, vinylpyrrolidone unit ratio: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>) at a concentration of <NUM> ppm. Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of a large amount of proteins occurred.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl propanoate block copolymer (vinylpyrrolidone unit ratio: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, two glass transition temperatures: <NUM> and <NUM>). Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of a large amount of proteins occurred.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl butyrate random copolymer (vinylpyrrolidone unit ratio: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>). Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of a large amount of proteins occurred.

A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared using a vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl butyrate random copolymer (vinylpyrrolidone unit ratio: <NUM>%, number average molecular weight: <NUM>,<NUM>, static contact angle of water: <NUM> degrees, glass transition temperature: <NUM>). Blood was fed through the obtained hollow fiber membrane module for <NUM> hour, and the relative adhesion amount of total proteins adhering to the membrane was measured. As shown in Table <NUM>, the relative adhesion amount of total proteins was <NUM>%, and it was shown that adhesion of a large amount of proteins occurred.

In Table <NUM>, the "static contact angle of water" indicates the static contact angle of water on a homopolymer or copolymer, and the "glass transition temperature" indicates the glass transition temperature of a homopolymer or copolymer.

Claim 1:
A medical separation membrane in which a medical material is bonded or attached to a surface of a membrane including a hydrophobic polymer,
wherein
the medical material is a copolymer comprising a hydrophobic unit and a hydrophilic unit,
wherein
the hydrophobic unit has a terminal alkyl group having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms in a side chain,
wherein
the hydrophilic unit is an alkyl acrylamide unit or a vinyl amide unit, and
wherein
a static contact angle of water on the copolymer is <NUM> degrees or more and less than <NUM> degrees, measured as described in the description, and
the copolymer has only one glass transition temperature in a range of <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM>, measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as described in the description.