High efficiency removal of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol from whole blood
AssigneeW. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
InventorsMarc E. Parham, Richard L. Duffy, Donald T. Nicholson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the efficient removal of low density lipoprotein cholesterol complex (LDL-C) from whole blood. More specifically, it relates to a process for making a microporous plasmapheresis membrane having an immobilized affinity agent. The immobilized affinity agent is polyacrylic acid bound directly and/or through an interaction with silica and/or calcium chloride to a microporous hollow fiber membrane.
Claims6
A membrane which binds low density lipoprotein cholesterol prepared by a process comprising:
- (a) preparing a hollow fiber membrane from a casting solution comprising about 8 to about 22 weight % of a polysulfone polymer;
- (b) submerging said hollow fiber membrane in an acidic solution comprising polyacrylic acid and 0.1 to about 3 weight % calcium chloride and having a pH range of about 1.5 to about 5.5;
- (c) vacuum degassing said submerged hollow fiber membrane of step (b);
- (d) immobilizing polyacrylic acid to said hollow fiber membrane by heating under pressure the submerged vacuum degassed fibers of step (c);
- and
- (e) annealing the hollow fiber membrane of step (d) by heating under pressure in water.
A membrane which binds low density lipoprotein cholesterol prepared by a process comprising:
- (a) preparing a hollow fiber membrane from a casting solution comprising about 8 to about 22 weight % of a polysulfone polymer;
- (b) submerging said hollow fiber membrane in an acidic solution comprising polyacrylic acid and 0.1 to about 3 weight % calcium chloride and having a pH range of about 1.5 to about 5.5;
- (c) immobilizing polyacrylic acid to said hollow fiber membrane by heating under pressure the submerged fibers of step (b);
- (d) vacuum degassing said submerged hollow fiber membrane of step (c);
- and
- (e) annealing the hollow fiber membrane of step (d) by heating under pressure in water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.