Development of polyetherurethane sheet embedded with powdered charcoal for use in hemoperfusion

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Medical Device Development
• Hemoperfusion Technology

Background:

• Bilirubin overload is a critical issue in liver disease and jaundice.
• Existing hemoperfusion materials have limitations in efficiency and bilirubin adsorption.
• Development of advanced adsorbent materials is crucial for effective jaundice management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel polyetherurethane sheet embedded with powdered charcoal (UPC) for hemoperfusion.
• To assess the in vitro bilirubin adsorption capacity of the UPC material.
• To investigate the in vivo efficacy of UPC in reducing bilirubin levels in jaundiced animal models.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 200-micron thick polyetherurethane sheet incorporating powdered charcoal with optimized pore and particle size (10-40 micron).
• In vitro adsorption experiments comparing UPC with bead-type charcoal and XAD-7 for bilirubin removal.
• In vivo hemoperfusion study using a UPC column in jaundiced dogs to measure bilirubin reduction.

Main Results:

• UPC demonstrated significantly higher in vitro bilirubin adsorption (14x and 6x) compared to bead-type charcoal and XAD-7, respectively.
• Hemoperfusion with UPC in jaundiced dogs resulted in effective bilirubin reduction.
• Maximum removal efficiencies of 78% for conjugated and 76% for unconjugated bilirubin were achieved in vivo.

Conclusions:

• The developed polyetherurethane sheet embedded with powdered charcoal (UPC) is a promising material for hemoperfusion.
• UPC exhibits superior bilirubin adsorption capabilities, offering a potential advancement in jaundice treatment.
• This material shows significant potential for clinical application in managing hyperbilirubinemia through hemoperfusion.