Implantable systems and methods for removing specific impurities from fluids such as blood

A system for removing impurities from a fluid, comprising:

• at least one nanotube array formed from a plurality of nanotubes arranged in an array, said nanotubes having hollow interiors and including nanotube walls having a plurality of pores dimensioned to allow said impurities, but not other constituents of the fluid, to pass through said pores and into the hollow interiors, wherein said impurities are concentrated to form waste streams that flow within the hollow interiors of the nanotubes,
• an enclosure surrounding the at least one nanotube array, through which the fluid may flow in a fluid path exterior to the hollow interiors of the nanotubes;
• an outlet conduit coupled to the nanotubes that collects the waste streams but does not convey the fluid, to thereby remove said impurities from said fluid, and
• electrodes coupled to said enclosure, wherein the electrodes are configured to generate an electric field to drive at least some of the impurities of the fluid in the fluid path through the plurality of pores in the nanotube walls and into the hollow interiors of the nanotubes.