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Cellulosic versus Synthetic Membranes: A Reasonable Comparison?
Author(s) -
Baurmeister U.,
Vienken J.,
Luttrell A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1989.tb02832.x
Subject(s) - membrane , biocompatibility , cellulosic ethanol , synthetic membrane , materials science , permeability (electromagnetism) , chemistry , chemical engineering , cellulose , engineering , biochemistry
Of the two main classes of dialysis membranes, cellulosic and synthetic, the former represents the standard membrane used in dialysis therapy. The disputed properties of cellulosic membranes related to biocom‐patibility have inspired a number of authors to compare these two membrane classes from a variety of perspectives. However, such a strict categorization as “synthetic” or “cellulosic” is of doubtful value from the point of view of polymer chemistry. Here, biocompatibil‐ity and performance properties of these two membrane classes are compared with the aim of investigating the validity of this categorization. The biocompatibility parameters studied are complement and leukocyte activation together with activation of the coagulation cascade. Analysis of a variety of both cellulosic and synthetic membranes with different degrees of biocompatibility showed that biocompatibility can be achieved by both classes of membranes and is, therefore, not a particular property of one class only. Furthermore, performance and ß 2 ‐microglobulin removal properties of the two classes of membranes do not particularly favor one of these classes. Therefore, differences between cellulosic and synthetic membranes are not manifested in parameters like biocompatibility, hydraulic permeability, and overall performance.