Development of the electrospun membranes based on quaternized polysulfones with performance and functionality in hemodialysis

The development of electrospun dialysis membranes represents a significant progress in renal care, aiming to enhance the efficiency of hemodialysis by improving toxin clearance from biological fluids while minimizing patient inflammation and discomfort. In this study, we present novel electrospun bioactive membranes, developed by blending quaternized polysulfone (PSFQ) with cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and functionalized with antioxidants, guided towards improved separation of uremic toxins. The membrane architecture and surface chemistry were tailored to improve performance by incorporating α-Tocopherol and α-Lipoic Acid at concentrations of 5 mg/mL and 40 mg/mL, respectively. The PSFQ/CAP/PVDF blend was formulated in a 70/28/2 wt% ratio using a solvent system comprising 2-methoxyethanol and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, followed by electrospinning to produce membranes with enhanced porosity and functional properties compared to membranes prepared from PSFQ alone. The resulting membranes exhibited outstanding efficacy, achieving approximately 90 % removal of key uremic solutes (urea, creatinine, and uric acid) from simulated biological fluids after four hours of dialysis, while maintaining low vitamin B12 loss (<11 %), indicating high selectivity. Toxin removal was initially dominated by diffusion mechanisms, gradually transitioning to adsorption over time. These findings highlight the potential of PSFQ-based bioactive membranes to significantly improve dialysis outcomes by achieving a critical balance between permeability and selectivity, thereby contributing to more effective and patient-friendly hemodialysis therapies.