New chelate-forming polymer microspheres carrying dyes as chelators for iron overload

Dye-incorporated [poly(EGDMA-HEMA)] microspheres were investigated as a new chelate-forming polymer for iron overload. Poly(EGDMA-HEMA) microspheres, in the size range of 150-200 microm, were produced by a modified suspension polymerization of EGDMA and HEMA. The reactive dye-ligands (i.e. Cibacron Blue F3GA, Alkali Blue 6B and Congo Red) were covalently incorporated to the microspheres. The maximum dye incorporations were 16.5 micromol Cibacron Blue F3GA g(-1), 23.7 micromol Alkali Blue 6B g(-1), and 14.5 micromol Congo Red g(-1). The maximum Fe(III) adsorptions on the dye-incorporated microspheres from aqueous solutions containing different amounts of Fe(III) ions were 51.0, 37.3, and 25.1 mg g(-1) for the Cibacron Blue F3GA, Alkali Blue 6B, and Congo Red carrying microspheres, respectively. The maximum Fe(III) adsorptions were observed at pH 4.0 in all cases. Fe(III) removal from human plasma was also investigated. The maximum adsorption capacities of Fe(III) ions from human plasma for Cibacron Blue F3GA, Alkali Blue 6B, and Congo Red, were of 12.0, 7.5, and 3.8 mg g(-1) polymer, respectively. It was observed that Fe(III) could be repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed without significant loss in adsorption capacity.