Biomimetic Membranes for Organ Support

Introduction

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is currently seen in huge numbers of patients worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, even before that, respiratory diseases were the third largest cause of death in the EU.

Current Therapies

Current therapy for respiratory failure includes:

1. Mechanical ventilation
2. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

Both therapies are associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Limitations of ECMO Devices

In ECMO devices, the functionality of the lung tissue membranes responsible for gas exchange during breathing is usually taken over by bundles of synthetic cylindrical hollow fiber membranes.

Issues with Standard Hollow Fiber Membranes

The geometries and transport characteristics of standard hollow fiber membranes are not suitable for re-building the structurally complex and dynamic contracting microstructure of the mammalian lung. Consequently, artificial devices to assist or replace respiration still face major limitations, including:

• Size
• Flow characteristics
• Hemocompatibility

These limitations impede the development of efficient intracorporeal devices.

Project Goals

In BioMembrOS, we want to follow a groundbreaking new biomimetic approach. Our goal is to replicate the main characteristics of the most effective respiration found in vertebrates, mainly birds and fish, in order to develop membrane structures that will serve as key elements for a novel generation of artificial respiration devices.

Specific Objectives

To reach this goal, we will:

a) Optimize the geometry of the membrane structure by mimicking the microstructure of the gills of fish to increase the outer surface per membrane area, mimicking the globular shape of the gas transporting inner lumen and interconnected arrangement of membrane fibers of avian respiration.

b) Design and control flow characteristics and boundary layer by applying PIV experimental flow investigations and structural design optimization.

c) Design and synthesize bi-soft segment polyurethane membranes with increased hemocompatibility and gas permeability through phase inversion.

d) Verify and benchmark the boosted mass transfer capabilities by in-vitro blood tests.