Abstract
The biomedical applications of synthetic polymer membranes are based upon following properties of polymers : (1) the biocompatibility represented as the blood compatibility and the tissue compatibility, (2) the processability represented as the spinning of hollow fiber and the micro-encapsulation, (3) the chemical functionality and its regulation by the polymer effect, (4) the mechanical properties and the biostability. The contributions of these characteristic properties to the following aspects of biomedical application are discussed : (1) The hemopurificatory membranes such as artificial kidney, plasma separator and artificial oxygenator, artificial skins, and contact lenses, (2) the diagnostic and therapeutic membranes such as drug-releasing membrane and immobilized-biopolymer membrane for clinical chemical assay, (3) the artificial cell membrane such as drug delivery system and hybridized cell membrane. The unsolved problems involved in the present stage of biomedical application are pointed out, and the subjects of future challenge are targeted.
