Breakthrough in Blood-Compatible Polymers Revolutionizes Medical Device Safety and Performance

New Polymer Design Paradigm Challenges Conventional Approaches

Researchers have developed a novel approach to creating antithrombogenic polymers that significantly improves blood compatibility in medical devices, according to recent reports in the Polymer Journal. Rather than focusing solely on increasing hydrophilicity as traditionally done, scientists reportedly targeted the mobility of water molecules surrounding both polymers and proteins, leading to breakthrough improvements in artificial kidney technology and other medical applications.

New Polymer Design Paradigm Challenges Conventional Approaches
The Water Mobility Breakthrough
Computational Chemistry Drives Innovation
Commercial Success and Clinical Benefits
Expanded Applications and Future Potential

The Water Mobility Breakthrough

Sources indicate that the research team discovered that conventional approaches using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) faced significant limitations in improving antithrombogenic properties. The report states that when blood contacts artificial kidney materials, protein adhesion initiates platelet adhesion and inflammation, ultimately leading to blood coagulation. Previous research had considered the amount of water interacting with polymers as important, but the new approach focused specifically on water mobility.

Analysts suggest the key insight was recognizing that proteins and polymers each have surrounding “adsorbed water” that contributes to their structural stability. When PVP and proteins contact each other, the mismatch in their water mobility causes dehydration and structural destabilization of proteins, leading to irreversible adhesion. According to the research, this understanding led to designing polymers with water mobility matching that of proteins.

Computational Chemistry Drives Innovation

The development team reportedly created custom molecular dynamics programs to predict structures that control adsorbed water mobility. Computational analysis revealed that the mobility of water around proteins falls within approximately 2.0-2.5 × 10 seconds inverse relaxation time, guiding researchers toward polymers with higher hydrophobicity than PVP to achieve matching water mobility.

This approach marked a significant departure from conventional methods, as analysts suggest the general practice had been to increase hydrophilicity to improve antithrombogenic properties. Instead, researchers balanced hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity in PVP modifications, discovering polymers that significantly suppress platelet adhesion when their water mobility matches that of proteins.

Commercial Success and Clinical Benefits

The technology has been successfully commercialized as TORAYLIGHT NV, which sources indicate represents the world’s first practical application of a polysulfone membrane artificial kidney using an antithrombogenic polymer other than conventional PVP. Reports demonstrate that the product suppresses adhesion and reduces both thrombosis and inflammation indicators compared to conventional products.

Clinical improvements reportedly include reduced platelet adhesion, lower inflammation, decreased anticoagulant usage, and improved removal performance due to suppressed protein adhesion. According to studies, patients using the new technology showed normalized platelet counts, improved bleeding tendency symptoms, reduced chronic inflammation, better atherosclerosis indicators, and reduced need for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.

Expanded Applications and Future Potential

The concept of adsorbed water mobility is reportedly based on clear fundamental principles, making it widely applicable across multiple fields. Researchers are expanding the technology to various medical devices, including antithrombogenic catheters that outperform anticoagulant drug-eluting types and high-sensitivity allergy test chips that enable testing with just one drop of blood.

Advanced analysis techniques such as quasielastic neutron scattering have deepened understanding of water mobility, enabling computational design of polymers tailored to specific materials. This approach reportedly allows creation of both water-soluble and water-insoluble hydrophilic/hydrophobic-regulated polymers, significantly differentiating it from other techniques in the field.

The technology has also been applied to HEMOFEEL SNV for acute renal failure, with reports indicating usable time per unit has extended by more than 1.5 times. Surveys at 21 medical facilities reportedly showed no cases of shorter usage time compared to conventional products, with approximately 18% of cases demonstrating longer usage times, making the technology particularly suitable for patients prone to blood coagulation, including those with COVID-19.