Chitosan-magnetite nanocomposites for effective removal of urea in “magnetic hemodialysis therapy”: A novel concept

Molecular insight into COF monolayers for urea sorption in artificial kidneys

Urea removal from an aqueous solution is considered a challenge in the biological process. The state of complete kidney destruction is known as an end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Kidney transplant and hemodialysis are the most common methods for confronting ESRD. More recently, wearable artificial kidney (WAK) devices have shown a significant improvement in urea removal performance. However, low efficiency in physical adsorbents is a barrier in developing them. For the first time, the urea adsorption capacity of five types of last-generation covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheets (NSs) was investigated in this study by applying molecular dynamics (MD) simulation tools. To this end, different analyses have been performed to evaluate the performance of each nanoparticle. The MD all-atom (AA) results demonstrated that all introduced COF NSs had urea removal capacity. Among the five NSs, TPA-COF was shown to have the best outcomes. Moreover, coarse-grained (CG) and density functional theory (DFT) simulations were conducted, and the results show that the TPA-COF nanoparticle modified with -OH functional group has even better properties for urea adsorption. The present molecular study sheds new light on COF NSs as an adsorbent for urea removal.

Urea removal strategies for dialysate regeneration in a wearable artificial kidney

The availability of a wearable artificial kidney (WAK) that provides dialysis outside the hospital would be an important advancement for dialysis patients. The concept of a WAK is based on regeneration of a small volume of dialysate in a closed-loop. Removal of urea, the primary waste product of nitrogen metabolism, is the major challenge for the realization of a WAK since it is a molecule with low reactivity that is difficult to adsorb while it is the waste solute with the highest daily molar production. Currently, no efficient urea removal technology is available that allows for miniaturization of the WAK to a size and weight that is acceptable for patients to carry. Several urea removal strategies have been explored, including enzymatic hydrolysis by urease, electro-oxidation and sorbent systems. However, thus far, these methods have toxic side effects, limited removal capacity or slow removal kinetics. This review discusses different urea removal strategies for application in a wearable dialysis device, from both a chemical and a medical perspective.

Kinetic study on urea uptake with chitosan based sorbent materials

A one-pot kinetic uptake study of urea in aqueous solution with various chitosan sorbent materials such as pristine chitosan, cross-linked chitosan with glutaraldehyde from low (C-1) to higher (C-2) glutaraldehyde content, and a Cu(II) complex of a glutaraldehyde cross-linked chitosan material (C-3) is reported herein. The kinetic uptake profiles were analyzed by the pseudo-first order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models, respectively. The uptake rate constant of urea and the sorption capacity (qe) of high molecular weight (HMW) chitosan, C-1, C-2, and C-3 were best described by the PFO model. The uptake rate constant of urea with the various sorbents is listed in ascending order: HMW chitosan<C-1<C-2≈C-3. The qe values (mg urea/g sorbent) for the sorbent/urea systems are listed in ascending order: HMW chitosan (48.1)≈C-1 (44.7)<C-2 (51.3)<C-3 (66.4mg/g), revealing good agreement with uptake values obtained independently at equilibrium conditions. Cross-linked chitosan displays relatively rapid urea uptake and greater adsorption capacity when compared with pristine chitosan. The observed trends are in agreement with the greater surface accessibility and pore structure properties of cross-linked chitosan based on scanning electron microscopy studies. These results further illustrate the rational design of chitosan-based materials for the controlled uptake of urea in aquatic environments.