Applying a Hydrophilic Modified Hollow Fiber Membrane to Reduce Fouling in Artificial Lungs

Abstract

Membranes for use in high gas exchange lung applications are riddled with fouling. The goal of this research is to create a membrane that can function in an artificial lung until the actual lung becomes available for the patient. The design of the artificial lung is based on new hollow fiber membranes (HFMs), due to which the current devices have short and limited periods of low fouling. By successfully modifying membranes with attached peptoids, low fouling can be achieved for longer periods of time. Hydrophilic modification of porous polysulfone (PSF) membranes can be achieved gradually by polydopamine (PSU-PDA) and peptoid (PSU-PDA-NMEG5). Polysulfone (PSU-BSA-35Mg), polysulfone polydopamine (PSUPDA-BSA-35Mg) and polysulfone polydopamine peptoid (PSU-PDA-NMEG5-BSA35Mg) were tested by potting into the new design of gas exchange modules. Both surfaces of the modified membranes were found to be highly resistant to protein fouling permanently. The use of different peptoids can facilitate optimization of the low fouling on the membrane surface, thereby allowing membranes to be run for significantly longer time periods than has been currently achieved.

Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization of Membrane Processes

“…Hydrophilic modifications of HFMs with polydopamine and peptoid allows them to be permanently resistant to protein fouling, a concern associated with older HFMs. The new peptoid-modified hollow fibers are biocompatible and show stable transport of oxygen in a bovine solution [12]. The research shows promise for implementation in respiratory support systems to treat patients with respiratory failure.…”