CRYOGEL/CARBON COMPOSITES FOR USE IN EXTRACORPOREAL HAE MO PERFUSION THERAPY

摘要

Current haemoperfusion adsorbents show limited ability for the removal of protein bound toxins and middle molecules with a molecular mass between 300 and 15000 Daltons, the removal of which may be essential in the treatment of many pathological conditions including renal failure, hepatic failure and sepsis [1]. The recent development of medical grade, synthetic, mesoporous (2-50nm pore diameter) and macroporous (>50nm pore diameter) activated carbon beads has re-established the materials potential as a haemoperfusion adsorbent [2-4]. However bead-based, packed-bed systems have poor flow dynamics, producing a large pressure drop across the system which is inappropriate to use in-line in an extracorporeal circuit. A more rational method for presenting the adsorptive beads to the blood is via incorporation into the porous matrix of a cryogel. This study presents the preparation and physical and biological characterisation of poly (vinyl) alcohol/activated carbon (PVA/AQ composite monoliths with the potential for use as a novel extracorporeal blood purification system.