Biomimetic sulfated silk nanofibrils for constructing rapid mid-molecule toxins removal nanochannels

• Published in: Journal of membrane science Vol. 598; p. 117667
• Main Authors: Zhu, Yadong, Yu, Xufeng, Zhang, Tonghui, Li, Peiyun, Wang, Xuefen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.03.2020
• Subjects: Blood compatibility; Hemodiafiltration; Self-assembly; Sulfated silk nanofibrils; Toxin removal channels; Blood compatibility; Self-assembly; Sulfated silk nanofibrils; Hemodiafiltration; Toxin removal channels
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117667

Biomacromolecules and their assemblies exhibit the great potential for biomimetic construction of novel and functional nanomaterials. In this work, sulfated silk nanofibrils (SSNFs) were firstly prepared with special designed sulfated silk fibroin molecule by a facile self-assembly technique, which were incorporated into the poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel. Then they were together coated on the electrospun polyacrlonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous scaffold to fabricate a novel PVA/SSNFs/PAN thin film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) membranes for hemodiafiltration. Combining the results from filtration and hemodiafiltration tests, it could be deduced that the formation of nanogaps between PVA matrix and SSNFs provided more nanochannels for water and uremic toxins to transport rapidly through the functional layer. Especially the incorporation of SSNFs into PVA hydrogel layer endowed PVA/SSNFs TFNC hemodiafiltration membranes with rapid mid-molecule toxins removal channels. PVA/SSNFs-5 could clear 65.7% of lysozyme, also maintaining 85.0% clearance of urea and 94.7% interception of BSA after 4 h of dialysis. In addition, the blood compatibility of PVA/SSNFs TFNC membranes was also enhanced after the introduction of biomimetic SSNFs due to the heparin-like structure of sulfated silk fibroin (SSF). The biomimetic assembly route demonstrated here represents a green and efficient way for designing various functional nanomaterials in bio-nanotechnologies. [Display omitted] •Biomimetic sulfated silk nanofibrils were firstly prepared by self-assembly.•Novel thin-film nanofibrous composite hemodiafiltration membranes were designed.•Rapid directional transport nanochannels were constructed.•Superior dialysis performance and hemocompatibility were obtained.