Construction of Kevlar nanofiber/graphene oxide composite beads as safe, self-anticoagulant, and highly efficient hemoperfusion adsorbents

Abstract

Recently emerged hemoperfusion absorbents, e.g. ion-exchange resin, activated carbon, and other porous materials, provide numerous novel possibilities to cure chronic liver failure (CLF) and renal failure (CRF). However, the limited adsorption performance and unsatisfactory blood compatibility significantly impede the development of the absorbents. Hence, designing safe and self-anticoagulant hemoperfusion absorbents with robust toxin clearance remains a considerable challenge. Here, brand new Kevlar-based composite gel beads for hemoperfusion are prepared by interface assembly based on π–π interaction. First, Kevlar nanofiber–graphene oxide (K–GO) beads are produced by liquid–liquid phase separation. Then, sodium p-styrenesulfonate (SS) is adsorbed onto the K–GO interface by π–π interaction and initiated to achieve the composite gel (K–GO/PSS) beads with an interfacial crosslinked structure. Such composite gel beads possess superior mechanical strength and self-anticoagulation capability, owing to the dual-network structure and heparin-mimicking gel structure, respectively. Furthermore, the K–GO/PSS beads show robust adsorption capacities for different kinds of toxins due to their strong charge and π–π interactions. A simulated hemoperfusion experiment in vitro demonstrates that the concentrations of the toxins in the blood can be restored to normal values within 30 minutes. In general, we envision that such composite gel beads will provide new strategies for future clinical CLF and CRF treatments.