Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) membranes with specific adsorption properties for potential clinical application

The preparation of novel polymeric systems through Molecular Imprinting Technology (MIT) for potential application in extracorporeal blood purification is described. Membranes based on poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) material, produced through a phase inversion method, were modified introducing in their structure specific binding sites for lipid and/or protein molecules. Membranes prepared are intended to selectively remove low density lipoproteins and cholesterol (LDL) from the plasma, by using interactions at a molecular level, between the molecularly imprinted membrane and specific target molecules, created during the preparation procedure. The binding performances of membranes and their potentiality as adsorbents for two different model target compounds, a phospholipid (phosphotidylcholine, PC) and a protein (alpha-amylase enzyme) were investigated, showing improved adsorption capacity with respect to unmodified control membranes. In addition, molecularly imprinted poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) materials in the shape of microparticles, using the same templates, were prepared and studied for their potential use as adsorbers into a column.