A dialysis membrane module is used in the pressure-driven hemodialysis process to remove excess waste products and water from the body. Material requirements for usage for blood purification are strict. Therefore the amount of membrane materials which can be used in clinical application are very limited. Cellulose and polysulfone are two main membrane materials, and the related technologies are now owned by a few companies.
PLA module for hemodialysis
Recently, the functional membrane group led by Professor XUE Lixin and Associate professor LIU Fu from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), developed a new bio-based polymeric hollow fiber membrane for the use of hemodialysis.
Cross section of PLA hollow fiber
Polylactide (PLA) possesses better bio-compatibility, lower producing cost, and more importantly, it comes from renewable resources. Moreover, PLA is a degradable polymer.
Source: CAS, NIMTE research group