Alginate/HSA double-sided functional PVDF multifunctional composite membrane for bilirubin removal

Abstract Traditional methods used to strengthen hemocompatibility of haemoperfusion adsorbents usually lead to decrease bilirubin removal. The development of new biomaterials with high bilirubin removal and hemocompatibility remains a huge challenge. Herein, a new multifunctional composite membrane is developed by double-sided functional modification for the first time. The outstanding hemocompatible inner surface and efficient bilirubin removal outer surface have been successfully constructed on plasma separation membrane. When the blood flows in membrane, the anticoagulant properties of inner surface can prolong clotting time. Meanwhile, plasma is filtrated through the membrane, and bilirubin in plasma is adsorbed on the outer surface. It effectively solves the “trade-off” effect between hemocompatibility and bilirubin removal of traditional adsorbents. FESEM, ATR-FTIR and XPS showed that alginate and albumin were successfully grafted on the inner and outer surface of membrane, respectively. The outer surface of multifunctional composite membrane was demonstrated to be extraordinarily efficient for bilirubin removal. The “macrospore structure” on the inner surface is conducive to grafting more alginate, improving the hemocompatibility by strengthening self-anticoagulation. Thus, double-sided functional multifunctional composite membrane was successfully developed, which had self-anticoagulation and bilirubin removal properties through one-step “filtration-adsorption”. It provides a new treatment scheme for hyperbilirubinemia, implying its great potential application.