Novel Endotoxin Adsorbing Materials, Polymyxin-Sepharose and Polyporous Polyethylene Membrane for Removal of Endotoxin from Dialysis Systems

Abstract

In order to remove contaminated endotoxin from dialysis systems, we prepared and investigated two novel endotoxin adsorbing materials, Polymyxin-Sepharose (PxSeph) and polyporous polyethylene hollow fiber membrane (EHF). PxSeph was prepared by covalently immobilizing polymyxin B on Sepharose 4B beads by CNBr coupling method. It adsorbed various endotoxins with a high affinity constant and could effectively remove endotoxin from aqueous solution and human plasma. EHF also removed endotoxins from contaminated water by filtration through EHF modules, and its adsorption nature was demonstrated. Both PxSeph and EHF are stable in physiological conditions and proved to be useful adsorbents for removal of contaminated endotoxin from the hemodialysis systems.