Synthetic membrane composition comprising polyurethane blend

Abstract

Disclosed herein are membranes, composition for forming membranes, methods for forming membranes, and sensors and other devices comprising membranes. The membrane comprises a polyurethane component, the polyurethane component comprising a blend of from 5 wt % to 95 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurethane component, of an amphiphilic polyurethane, and from 5 wt % to 95 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurethane component, of a hydrophobic polyurethane.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a membrane comprising the steps of forming a film from a composition comprising a polyurethane component and a solvent, and evaporating the solvent thereby forming a membrane,
 wherein the composition comprises from 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % of the polyurethane component and from 90 to 99.5 wt % of the solvent, the polyurethane component comprising a blend of from 5 wt % to 95 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurethane component, of an amphiphilic polyurethane, and from 5 wt % to 95 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurethane component, of a hydrophobic polyurethane, wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane comprises a first amphiphilic polyurethane or a second amphiphilic polyurethane, and
 a. the first amphiphilic polyurethane comprises the reaction product of:
 i. an aliphatic diisocyanate; 
 ii. a hydrophilic polymer diol; 
 iii. a hydrophobic poly(alkylene oxide) diol; and 
 iv. a chain extender; 
 
 b. the second amphiphilic polyurethane comprises the reaction product of:
 i. an aliphatic diisocyanate; 
 ii. a copolymer diol comprising a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophobic poly(alkylene oxide); and 
 iii. a chain extender; 
 
 c. the hydrophobic polyurethane comprises the reaction product of:
 i. an aliphatic diisocyanate; 
 ii. a hydrophobic poly(alkylene oxide) diol; and 
 iii. a chain extender; 
 
   wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane and the hydrophobic polyurethane are substantially devoid of siloxane moieties,   wherein the residual solvent content of the membrane is less than 50 ppm if the membrane is dried in a convection oven at 50° C. for 16 hours after forming the membrane.   
     
     
         21 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane comprises from 30 wt % to 85 wt %, based on the total weight of the amphiphilic polyurethane, of the residue of a hydrophilic poly(alkylene oxide) diol, a hydrophobic poly(alkylene oxide) diol, or a copolymer diol comprising a hydrophilic poly(alkylene oxide) and a hydrophobic poly(alkylene oxide). 
     
     
         22 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane, the hydrophobic polyurethane, or both are linear and further comprise an endgroup at each terminus of the backbone. 
     
     
         23 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane is linear and comprises an endgroup, and the endgroup comprises poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
         24 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane, the hydrophobic polyurethane, or both further comprise an endgroup and the endgroup comprises C 2 -C 20  alkyl, C 2 -C 16  fluoroalkyl, or C 2 -C 16  fluoroalkyl ether. 
     
     
         25 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the membrane is substantially devoid of free hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane and the hydrophobic polyurethane are aliphatic. 
     
     
         27 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane comprises the first amphiphilic polyurethane and the first amphiphilic polyurethane comprises the residue of a hydrophilic poly(alkylene oxide) diol. 
     
     
         28 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane comprises the second amphiphilic polyurethane and the second amphiphilic polyurethane comprises the residue of copolymer diol comprising a hydrophilic poly(alkylene oxide) and a hydrophobic poly(alkylene oxide). 
     
     
         29 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the polyurethane component comprises a blend of from 35 wt % to 65 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurethane component, of the amphiphilic polyurethane, and from 35 wt % to 65 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurethane component, of the hydrophobic polyurethane. 
     
     
         30 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the hydrophobic polyurethane is devoid of polyethylene oxide and polyoxazoline. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the amphiphilic polyurethane consists of the reaction product of:
 i. an aliphatic diisocyanate;   ii. a hydrophilic polymer diol;   iii. a hydrophobic poly(alkylene oxide) diol; and   iv. a chain extender.   
     
     
         32 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the backbone of the hydrophobic polyurethane consists of the reaction product of:
 i. an aliphatic diisocyanate;   ii. a hydrophobic poly(alkylene oxide) diol; and   iii. a chain extender.   
     
     
         33 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer diol consists of a poly(ethylene oxide) diol. 
     
     
         34 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer diol consists of poly(propylene oxide) diol, poly(tetramethylene oxide) diol, a copolymer diol comprising poly(propylene oxide) and poly(tetramethylene oxide), or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the solvent consists of tetrahydrofuran (THF), methyl-tetrahydrofuran (methyl-THF), or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the solvent consists of at least 40 wt % of THF, methyl-THF, or a mixture thereof, and optionally, methanol, ethanol, isobutanol, propanol, methyl ethyl ketone, or a mixture thereof at an amount of from 60 wt % or less, based on the total amount of solvent in the composition. 
     
     
         37 . A membrane formed from the method according to claim  1 . 
     
     
         38 . The membrane according to  claim 37 , wherein the membrane has a residual solvent content of less than 50 ppm after drying the membrane under nitrogen for 24 hours followed by drying in a convection oven at 50° C. for one hour. 
     
     
         39 . A sensor comprising the membrane of  claim 37 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect glucose, lactic acid, glutamate, pyruvate, choline, acetylcholine, nitric oxide, sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea, creatine, or dopamine in the blood stream or another bodily fluid.