The anti-fouling properties and blood compatibility of poly(acrylonitrile-co-maleic acid) (PANCMA) membranes were improved by the immobilization of poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEG) on membrane surface. It was found that the reactive carboxyl groups on PANCMA membrane surface could be conveniently conversed into anhydride groups and then esterified with PEG. Chemical and morphological changes as well as biocompatibility on membrane surface were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle, protein adsorption, and platelet adhesion. Results revealed that, with the immobilization of PEG, the hydrophilicity and blood compatibility of the acrylonitrile-based copolymer membranes were improved obviously. The molecular weight of PEG had an obvious influence on the properties of the PEG-immobilized membranes. Permeation behaviors for the studied membranes were investigated by water and bovine serum albumin (BSA) filtration experiments. Compared with the original PANCMA membrane, the membrane immobilized with PEG 400 (M-w = 400 g/mol) showed a three-fold increase in a BSA solution flux, a 40.4% reduction in total fouling, and a 57.9% decrease in BSA adsorption. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.