Endothelial bionic-modified anti-thrombotic PMP hollow fiber membranes for dual-circulation artificial uterus system

The Artificial Womb Technology (AWT) system is a piece of biomedical equipment that supports the in vitro development of extremely premature infants. The system draws fetal blood, oxygenates it, removes carbon dioxide (CO₂), and then delivers it back to the fetus. This prevents the fetus from switching to a pulmonary breathing pattern prematurely, which provides critical time for lung tissue development. Researchers have utilized extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology to provide the fetus with oxygen. In this study, we developed a new method using artificial blood instead of maternal blood in a liquid-liquid dual-circulation. Additionally, since preterm infants require greater blood compatibility and the oxygenated membrane must have anticoagulant properties, the membrane was modified to enhance hemocompatibility and anticoagulant properties. PMP membranes were functionalized with polydopamine (PDA), after which (3-(methacrylamido) propyl) dimethyl (3-thiopropyl) ammonium hydroxide inner salt (SPP) and fondaparinux sodium were successively grafted. Protein adsorption reached 18.3 ​μg/cm² (64.3 ​% reduction), while hemolysis rate dropped to 0.19 ​% (85.4 ​% reduction). The results confirm that the functionalized modified membrane not only meets the blood compatibility requirements of the dual-circulation system but also accurately replicates the recurrent process of fetal-maternal gas exchange through its biomimetic design, providing key technical support for the clinical translation of the AWT system.