COMBATTING INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION THROUGH TAILORED NANOSTRUCTURED DESIGN

Aim: There are major global healthcare issues associated with the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases and the need to reduce dependence on antibiotics. Our aim has been to develop a range of pure and composite nanoporous sorbent systems in different structural forms which can absorb biological toxins and microbial contaminants. Such therapeutics offer the potential for cost effective and efficient treatments to target adsorption of the instigators of infection and inflammation. Methods: A range of polymer resin derived adsorbents with nanoporous domains in bead and monolith form were characterised using SEM and porosimetry. Cell models were used to assess biocompatibility. Removal of toxins, including inflammatory cytokine TNF, microbial endotoxin, acetaldehyde were measured by HPLC, ELISA, LAL assay and flow cytometry. Results: Nanoporous domains allowed adsorption of high molecular weight inflammatory molecule TNF and gram negative bacterial endotoxin. Low molecular weight and protein bound toxins were adsorbed to some extent by adsorbents with porous domains of less than 2 nm but adsorptive capacity was significantly increased (p