Evaluation of Nano-Porous Alumina Membranes for Hemodialysis Application

Abstract

Globally, kidney failure has consistently been a major health problem. The number of patients suffering from kidney failure is radically increasing. Some studies forecast an exponential growth in the number of kidney failure patients during the coming years. This emphasizes the importance of hemodialysis (HD) membranes. Current dialysis membranes (cellulose based and synthetic polymer membranes) have irregular pore shapes and sizes, nonuniform pore distribution and limited reusable capability, which leads to low efficiency of toxin removal. New alumina membranes with uniform, controllable and well-structured nanoscale pores, channeled pores aligned perpendicular to the membrane plane, high porosity, high thermal and chemical resistance, and better mechanical properties are certainly preferable to currently used membranes. Determination of transport properties of alumina membranes will assist in the development of the alumina membranes for enhancing hemodialysis. Experiments were performed to evaluate hydraulic permeability, solute diffusive permeability, sieving coefficient, and clearance of four solutes (urea, creatinine, Vancomycin, and inulin) for alumina membrane. Based on comparison of these values against those of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes, transport performance of alumina membrane was determined. Hydraulic conductivity of the alumina membrane was approximately twice that of the PES membrane and inulin sieving coefficient for alumina membrane is approximately 21% higher than that for PES membrane. Alumina membrane has higher solute clearances and no albumin leakage, which makes it an effective replacement for current dialysis membranes.

Novel anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanoporous membrane for wearable hemodialysis device

“…Kidney failure is a major health problem around the globe [1]. The research forecast an exponential growth in the kidney failure cases during coming year [1].…”

“…The research forecast an exponential growth in the kidney failure cases during coming year [1]. Currently, two general treatments for end stage renal diseases (ESRD) are available those are native kidney transplant and dialysis.…”

Fabrication of mini-dialyzers using Anodic Aluminum Oxide and Polysulfone membrane and their comparative study for the improvement of hemodialysis to treat renal failure patients

“…Polysulfone membrane is one of the extensively used synthetic polymeric membrane used for the process of hemodialysis. It has non-uniformity in pore size and shape that cause albumin loss during HD treatment and cause blood and dialysate to flows in both compartment, which decreases the performance of HD treatment [6,14]. So both cellulose base and polymer synthetic membranes have a drawback of low toxin removal efficiency because of their irregular pore geometry and non-uniform pores distribution, which make them a nonideal material for the treatment of end stage renal disease.…”

“…So dialysis is an easy reachable approach for renal failure patients. It is an extracorporeal process of blood filtration to maintain kidney function through an artificial kidney called dialyzer [6]. Dialysis are of two types Peritoneal and Hemodialysis.…”

In vitro Clearance and Hemocompatibility Assessment of Ultrathin Nanoporous Silicon Membranes for Hemodialysis Applications Using Human Whole Blood

“…Attaluri et al [6] have fabricated nanoporous alumina membranes. Their membranes, when compared to polyethersulfone (PES) membranes, showed 2 times the hydraulic conductivity, 21% higher inulin sieving coefficient, higher solute clearances and no albumin leakage [6]. Due to the maturity of silicon chip manufacturing and microfabrication techniques, silicon has also been considered as a base material for fabrication of nanoporous membranes.…”