HEMODIALYSIS MEMBRANES: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE TRENDS

Abstract

Renal failure is one of the major health problems faced by many people all over the world. These patients choose either transplantation procedure or undergo hemodialysis. Approximately 28% people suffer from renal failures worldwide, among which a quarter are very critical. Patients who opt for hemodialysis have to undergo it regularly. The membranes used in hemodialysis are very vital. The first ever polymer used asan artificial hemodialysis membrane was collodion, which is a derivative of cellulose- trinitrate. This was the leading element for further research and applications in this field. Later collodion was replaced by cellophane and cuprophane since they had better performance and mechanical stability than the collodion. The major disadvantage of this was their less hemocompatiblity as they were made from unmodified cellulose. Nowadays the modified cellulose membrane comes with high-flux modification and thus very effective in many therapy like the hemodiafiltration and the hemofiltration. The success of hemodialysis is highly dependent on the membrane used.