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International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA)

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[[Research Highlights Vol.11] A simple way to treat kidney failure ](https://mdr.nims.go.jp/datasets/d74a56f8-6134-4445-814d-5820eef18ab6)

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2022/04/04 10:24 A simple way to treat kidney failure| MANAhttps://www.nims.go.jp/mana/research/highlights/vol11.html 1/2Previous  Index  NextResearch Highlights[Vol. 11]A simple way to treat kidney failure4 Mar, 2014A new technique for purifying blood using a nanofiber mesh could proveuseful as a cheap, wearable alternative to kidney dialysis.Figure : The newly-fabricated nanofiber mesh for the removal of toxins from theblood, made by WPI-MANA researchers, may be incorporated into wearable bloodpurification systems for kidney failure patients.Kidney failure results in a build up of toxins and excess waste in the body. Dialysis is the mostcommon treatment, performed daily either at home or in hospital. However, dialysis machinesrequire electricity and careful maintenance, and are therefore more readily available in developedcountries than poorer nations. Around one million people die each year worldwide from potentiallypreventable end-stage renal disease.In addition to this, in the aftermath of disasters such as the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of2011, dialysis patients are frequently left without treatment until normal hospital services areresumed. With this in mind, Mitsuhiro Ebara and co-workers at the International Center forMaterials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science in Ibaraki, Japan, havedeveloped a way of removing toxins and waste from blood using a cheap, easy-to-producenanofiber mesh1. The mesh could be incorporated into a blood purification product small enoughto be worn on a patient's arm, reducing the need for expensive, time-consuming dialysis.The team made their nanofiber mesh using two components: a blood-compatible primary matrixpolymer made from polyethylene-co-vinyl alchohol, or EVOH, and several different forms ofzeolites - naturally occurring aluminosilicates. Zeolites have microporous structures capable ofadsorbing toxins such as creatinine from blood.The researchers generated the mesh using a versatile and cost-effective process calledelectrospinning - using an electrical charge to draw fibers from a liquid. Ebara and his team foundthat the silicon-aluminum ratio within the zeolites is critical to creatinine adsorption. Beta typehttps://www.nims.go.jp/mana/research/highlights/vol10.htmlhttps://www.nims.go.jp/mana/research/highlights/index.htmlhttps://www.nims.go.jp/mana/research/highlights/vol12.html2022/04/04 10:24 A simple way to treat kidney failure| MANAhttps://www.nims.go.jp/mana/research/highlights/vol11.html 2/2940-HOA zeolite had the highest capacity for toxin adsorption, and shows potential for a final bloodpurification product.Although the new design is still in its early stages and not yet ready for production, Ebara and histeam are confident that a product based on their nanofiber mesh will soon be a feasible, compactand cheap alternative to dialysis for kidney failure patients across the world.Reference"Fabrication of zeolite-polymer composite nanofibers for removal of uremic toxins from kidneyfailure patients"Koki Namekawa, Makoto Tokoro Schreiber, Takao Aoyagia, and Mitsuhiro EbaraJournal : Biomaterials Science 2, 674-679, (2014)DOI : 10.1039/c3bm60263jContact informationInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics(WPI-MANA)National Institute for Materials Science1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044 JapanPhone: +81-29-860-4710E-mail: mana-pr[AT]ml.nims.go.jphttps://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2014/BM/c3bm60263j#!divAbstract