Hexanediamine functionalized poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone) particles for bilirubin removal

In this study, we provided a facile method to prepare adsorbents with high content of amino groups for bilirubin removal. Poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone) particle adsorbents were prepared through free radical solution copolymerization followed by a phase inversion technique. Amino groups were further introduced onto the particles by grafting 1,6-hexanediamine molecules. The porosity and specific surface area of the functional particles were 92.9% and 11.8m²/g, respectively. Flourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis confirmed the successful functionalization of polymeric particles. The cross-linker content and N-vinylpyrrolidone ratios had significant influence on the pore structure of the polymeric particles, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to verify bilirubin adsorption behavior of the particles, and a particle column was fabricated to further study the bilirubin removal. The particles exhibited good adsorption capacity of bilirubin without procoagulant activity, and had great potential to be used in hemoperfusion. The study opens a new route to fabricate functional polymer adsorbents.