A critical review of hemoperfusion adsorbents: materials, functionalization and matrix structure selection

Abstract

Hemoperfusion has emerged as an admirable adjuvant treatment for some severe diseases and autoimmune diseases with favorable therapeutic effects because it can realize the specific removal of pathogenic factors existing in the blood of patients based on adsorption between pathogenic factors and ligands. Advances in natural and synthetic polymers, biomimetic coating and novel adsorbent fabrication technologies have led to the development of clinical applications of hemoperfusion. In this review, the history of hemoperfusion is traced, and the performance on common materials such as activated carbon, inorganic porous materials and polymers is evaluated. The functionalization methods of hemoperfusion pristine materials containing surface coating and surface grafting are introduced and compared. Matrixes with both traditional and novel structures are systematically summarized in detail. In addition, the indispensability for high-performance hemoperfusion devices is also highlighted, which could fill the gap of overview in materials science and serve as a bridge between medical professionals and scientists for future hemoperfusion development.