In the current study, dahllite/hydroxyapatite/collagen filler extracted via calcination of wasted chicken bone was blended with PSf polymer to obtain highly biocompatible, and antifoulant hemodialysis membranes. FTIR and Raman spectroscopic analysis was done to obtain information about the bonding chemistry of the obtained filler. The intermolecular interaction that existed between dahllite/hydroxyapatite/collagen filler and pristine PSf was confirmed by Raman spectroscopic study. The PSf polymer exhibited a sponge-like structure owing to its high thickness and slow exchange with non-solvent in coagulation bath whilst the instantaneous de-mixing course produced finger-like capillaries in dahllite/hydroxyapatite/collagen filler based PSf membranes as exposed by SEM photographs. The presence of different wt. % of filler composition in the PSf matrix improved the mechanical strength as revealed by fatigue analysis. The hydrophilic character improved by 78% while leaching consistency adjusted to 0%–4%. Pure water permeation (PWP) flux improved by nine times. The pore profile improved with the addition of filler as revealed by hydrophilicity experiment, PWP flux, and SEM micrographs. Fouling evaluation results disclosed that filler based membranes showed 36% less adsorption of protein (BSA) solution together with more than 84% flux recovery ratio. The biocompatibility valuation analysis unveiled that membranes composed of filler showed extended prothrombin and thrombin coagulation times, reduced activation of fibrinogen mass, and less adhesion of plasma proteins in comparison with pristine PSf membrane. The adsorption capacity of fabricated membranes for urea and creatinine improved by 31% (in the case of urea) and 34% (in the case of creatinine) in contrast with pristine PSf membrane. The overall results showed that the M-3 membrane was optimized in terms of surface properties, protein adhesion, anticoagulation activity, and adsorption amount of urea and creatinine.

In the current study, a phase inversion scheme was employed to fabricate hydroxyapatite (HA)/polysulfone (PSF)‐based asymmetric membranes using a film applicator with water as a solvent and nonsolvent exchanging medium. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopic studies were conducted to confirm the bonding chemistry and purity of filler. The inherent thick nature of PSF generated sponge‐like shape while the instantaneous demixing process produced finger‐like pore networks in HA/PSF‐based asymmetric membranes as exhibited by scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs. The FTIR spectra confirmed noncovalent weak attractions toward the polymer surface. The leaching ratio was evaluated to observe the dispersion behavior of HA filler in membrane composition. Hydrophilicity, pore profile, pure water permeation (PWP) flux, and molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) values of all formulated membranes were also calculated. Antifouling results revealed that HA modified PSF membranes exhibited 43% less adhesion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) together with >86% recovery of flux. Membrane composition showed 74% total resistance, out of which 60% was reversible resistance. Biocompatibility evaluation revealed that the modified membranes exhibited prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) comparable with typical blood plasma, whereas proliferation of living cells over membrane surface proved its nontoxic behavior toward biomedical application. The urea and creatinine showed effective adsorption aptitude toward HA loaded PSF membranes.

No abstract

Carbonate apatite/hydroxyapatite (CO3Ap/HAP) additive was obtained by calcination of wasted chicken bones at 900°C. Intermolecular attraction exists between CO3Ap/HAP additive and blended polysulfone (PSF) polymer. Electron dispersive X-ray (EDX) and FTIR analysis were carried out to check the elemental composition and bonding chemistry of prepared additive. The instantaneous demixing process generated consistent finger-like networks in CO3Ap/HAP/PSF-based composite membranes while sponge-like structure was shown by PSF as revealed by SEM images. The increase in weight % of additive loading is also confirmed by EDX analysis. Furthermore, the interaction mechanism of CO3Ap/HAP additive with polysulfone medium was analyzed by FTIR exploration. The water absorption experiment defined a 93% expansion in hydrophilic performance. Change in porosity occurs with additive loading and pure water permeation flux improved up to 11 times. Approximately, antifouling results revealed that 87% of water flux was recovered after treating with a protein solution, whereas a 30% improvement in antifouling capability in case of bovine serum albumin solution occurred. In vitro cytotoxicity, and clotting times study was carried out to evaluate virulent behavior and anticoagulation activity of formulated membranes.

Membrane technology has recently been given extensive consideration for the treatment of effluent to remove suspended solids, organic compounds and inorganic contaminants such as heavy metals. The aim of this study was to prepare, characterize, and test membranes made of silk fibroin (SF) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blend with different wt% ratios (5%, 10%, and 15%), respectively. The membranes were prepared by phase inversion scheme using water as non‐solvent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to find chemical interactions between polymer matrix and fibroin. The mechanical property of synthesized membranes was also carried out. The surface roughness, and finger‐like pore geometry developed by impregnation of fibroin filler in membrane matrix were depicted by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. Surface porosity improved from 4.5% ± 1.9% to 30.0% ± 2.8%, water contact angle reduced from 68° ± 3.0° to 38° ± 1.2°, and highest pure water permeation value (31 L m−2 h−1) was obtained with the addition of fibroin loading. The membrane showed a greater affinity for Cr(VI) in comparison with Pb(II). The highest % rejection was evaluated to be 83% and 56% for Cr(VI), and Pb(II) by utilizing 1.70 wt% fibroin filler in membrane composition, respectively.