Researchers at the Science Park of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) have developed an advanced device to treat sepsis – a condition threatening patients with injuries, wounds or post surgeries.
The basic concept of the new method is to pump out blood from a vein, filter it and transfuse decontaminated blood back into the patient’s system. The blood filtration machine uses a unique polymer material that absorbs toxins and harmful bacteria thus killing 99.999% of pathogens.
The sorbent developed by MSU chemistry graduates can separate lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from blood. LPS is a toxin that triggers the septic process. The task was difficult to solve because LPS is usually closely linked to blood cells. One of the sorbent developers is Ivan Bessonov, junior research associate of the bioengineering team at the MSU Biology Department. The study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RSF).
The blood purifier is a plastic cylinder that contains the sorbent and has “ports” on its frame for connecting to a patient’s blood circulatory system. The team has already received a permit from the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Healthcare to use the sorbent in clinical practice.
The results of the Moscow scientists’ research were published in Materials Science and Engineering.