Hemocompatible dialysis

The excellent sorption capacity of the hypercrosslinked mesoporous poly-DVB with respect to selective removal of P2M from its mixtures with albumin and other semm proteins, combined with superior hemocompat-ibility of the beads surface modified with poly(N-vinyl)pyrrolidone, justified the manufacturing of an experimental batch of the material for initial clinical studies. The polymer was named BetaSorb (RenalTech International, USA) and was used in 300 mL cylindrical polysrdfone devices that were steam-sterilized and filled with normal saline containing 1000 lU heparin. The device was placed in line with the dialysis circuit, upstream of the dialyzer, in order to not affect the pressure drop across the dialyzer membrane. The blood flow was maintained at the customary value of 400 mL/ min, again the optimal flow rate for the dialyzer. The complete setup of the combined hemoperfusion-hemodialysis treatment [361] is displayed in Fig. 15.2. 

Erlenkdtter A, Endres P, Nederlof B, Hornig C, Vienken J. Score model for the evaluation of dialysis membrane hemocompatibility. Artif Organs 2008 32 962-9. 

Extracorporeal artificial organs provide mass-transfer operations to support failing or impaired organ systems [126]. Common examples include kidney substitute, hemodialysis, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), apheresis therapy, peritoneal dialysis, lung substitute and assist, and plasma separation. A critical component involved in the extracorporeal artificial organ is the membrane, which serves to separate the undesired substance from the blood or plasma. Ideally, materials used as the membrane in these particular applications should have appropriate cellular and molecular permeability, as well as blood compatibility (i.e., hemocompatibility). Over the years, both natural and synthetic polymers have been used as membrane materials. 

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