Functional polyethersulfone particles for the removal of bilirubin

In this study, polyethersulfone/poly (glycidyl methacrylate) particles are prepared via in situ cross-linked polymerization coupled with a phase inversion technique. The surfaces of these particles are then further modified by grafting amino groups using tetraethylenepentamine, dethylenetriamine, ethylenediamine, or 1,6-hexanediamine for the removal of bilirubin. The particles are characterized by Flourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Batch adsorption experiments are performed to verify the adsorption capability, and the effect of bilirubin initial concentration, bovine serum albumin concentration, and solution ionic strength on the adsorption is also investigated. In addition, both adsorption kinetic and isotherm models are applied to analyze the adsorption process of bilirubin, and a particle column is used to further study the bilirubin removal ability. To prove that the method was a universal portal to prepare functional particles, polysulfone, polystyrene, and poly(vinylidene fluoride) based functional particles were also prepared and used for the removal of bilirubin. This study and the results indicated that the particles had a great potential to be used in hemoperfusion treatment for hyperbilirubinemia.