Effect of the Grafting of Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Crystallinity and Thermal Properties of Electrospun Polymeric Membranes and Its Anticoagulation Mechanism

Grafting of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was an effective approach to improve surface hemocompatibility while preserving the initial mechanical properties and morphology. However, its effect on the crystallinity and thermal properties of synthetic polymeric materials were not investigated. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate and compare these properties of the non-grafted and the CLA-grafted polymeric membranes. The membranes were subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Moreover, the coagulation of blood plasma exposure to the membranes was evaluated to understand the antithrombotic mechanism of CLA on the membrane surface. The results showed that generally, the grafting caused no substantial impact on the properties being assessed, successfully preserved the initial state of the base materials. Moreover, the CLA exhibited slight obstruction on plasma coagulation cascade, specifically on the intrinsic pathway. Thus, CLA grafting could be a prospective approach to improve the hemocompatibility of a surface while preserving other properties.