Membranes and polymer structures--biocompatibility aspects with respect to production limits

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Device Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Plasmapheresis utilizes centrifugation or membrane technology for plasma separation.
• Membrane-based plasmapheresis yields platelet-free plasma, driving market adoption.
• Current plasmapheresis membranes are primarily synthetic polymers, with limited exceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the factors influencing plasmapheresis membrane biocompatibility.
• To discuss the limitations of current membrane materials in optimizing blood-polymer interactions.
• To explore polymer selection criteria beyond performance, including cost and environmental impact.

Main Methods:

• Review of membrane production processes, including the Accurel-process.
• Analysis of polymer properties (surface chemistry, charge distribution, structure) influencing biocompatibility.
• Examination of membrane characteristics (pore distribution, geometry) and device design effects.

Main Results:

• Biocompatibility is affected by polymer surface properties, electrical charges, and chemical structure.
• Membrane structure, pore geometry, and flow dynamics influence cell activation and plasma component adsorption.
• Existing polymers, often textile fibers, were not developed for optimal biocompatibility in plasmapheresis.

Conclusions:

• Specific polymer development for high biocompatibility in plasmapheresis is limited by market size and cost.
• Polymer selection involves balancing availability, cost, manufacturing processes, and environmental considerations.
• The Accurel-process for PLASMAPHAN production integrates multiple selection parameters for membrane manufacturing.