Abstract:
For the therapy of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), hemodialysis is a widely used
extracorporeal technique. Hemodialysis considered as superior technique for the
separation of protein and uremic toxins based on their molecular weights using semipermeable membranes. It is hard to modernize anticoagulant dialyzers for
anticoagulant exempt hemodialysis. So, we fabricate an eco-friendly highperformance biocompatible membrane. Cellulose Acetate (CA) hemodialysis
membrane with enhanced filtration capability and hemocompatibility was developed
by using Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) as the blending
additives. By blending different ratios of PVA in the CA-PEG, the phase inversion
technique was used to cast the membranes, and separation was done by dead-end
filtration cell. The synthesized membranes were described in terms of chemical
structure using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and morphology by
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), pure water
flux, solute permeation, and protein retention. Biocompatibility of the membranes was
tested by the platelet adherence, hemolysis ratio, thrombus formation, and plasma
recalcification time. SEM images exposed that the CA-PVA membrane has a uniform
porous structure. 42.484 Lm-2 h-1 is the maximum pure water flux obtained. The CAPVA rejected up to 95% of bovine serum albumin (BSA). A similar membrane
separated 93% of urea and 89% of creatinine. Platelet adhesion and hemolysis ratio of
casted membranes were less than the pure CA membrane. Increased clotting time and
less thrombus formation on the membrane’s surface showed that the fabricated
membrane is biocompatible. Depending on such results, it can be concluded that the
CA-PVA membrane is well biocompatible can be used for hemodialysis membranes.
