title: Multi-chamber electroosmosis using textile reinforced agar membranes--A promising concept for the future of hemodialysis.
abstract: Renal replacement therapy options are limited to hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (70% of US patients) or renal transplantation. Diffusion processes are the main physico-chemical principle behind hemodialysis. An alternative way to achieve liquid flow through membranes bases on the electroosmotic flow which is observed as electrokinetic phenomenon in porous membranes which bear surface charges. Agar consists of the non-ionic agarose and the negatively charged agaropectine thus an electroosmotic flux is observed in analytical electrophoresis. In this study the potential electroosmosis on textile reinforced agar membranes as separation method was investigated. Using a five-chamber electrolysis cell and an agar membrane/cellulose fabric composite an intensive electroosmotic flow of 1-2 ml cm(2) h(-1) at 100 mA cell current could be observed. The movement of cations in the negatively charged agar structure led to an intensive electroosmotic flux, which also transported uncharged molecules such as urea, glucose through the membrane. Separation of uncharged low molecular weight molecules is determined by the membrane characteristic. The transport of ions (K(+), PO4(3-), creatinine) and uncharged molecules (urea, glucose) in electroosmotic separation experiments was monitored using a pH 5.5 phosphate electrolyte with the aim to assess the overall transport processes in the electrochemical cell. The results demonstrate the potential of the method for filtration of biological fluids in the absence of external pressure or high shear rates.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics, University Innsbruck, Hoechsterstrasse 73, 6850 Dornbirn, Austria(1).
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenninger
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neuwirt
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics, University Innsbruck, Hoechsterstrasse 73, 6850 Dornbirn, Austria(1). Electronic address: Thomas.Bechtold@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bechtold
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000737:chemistry; D053841:Electroosmosis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013784:Textiles; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014508:Urea; D000362:Agar; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: Agar; Agar (PubChem CID: 71571511); Creatinine; Creatinine (PubChem CID: 588); Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (PubChem CID: 24450); Electroosmosis; Hemodialysis; Membrane filtration; Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (PubChem CID: 516951); Urea; Urea (PubChem CID: 1176); d-Glucose (PubChem CID: 5793)