Facile fabrication of poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-b-polystyrene functional fibers under a shear field and immobilization of hemoglobin

Abstract

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-b-polystyrene (PGMA-b-PS) block copolymers were synthesized by two steps with 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE) as the chain transfer reagent. The molecular weights and chemical structures of block copolymers were characterized by GPC, FTIR and NMR analyses. Then PGMA-b-PS fibers were fabricated under a shear field using methanol as the antisolvent and glycerin as the shear medium. The shear speed, the concentration of block copolymer solution and the ratios of methanol to glycerin were controlled and regulated. The morphologies of block copolymer fibers were investigated by SEM. Finally, immobilization of bovine hemoglobin on block copolymer fibers was carried out which has potential applications in blood substitutes.