The present invention provides an organic bioelectronic HD device system for the effective removal of protein-bound substances, comprising PEDOT:PSS, a multiwall carbon nanotube, polyethylene oxide (PEO), and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GOPS). The composite nanofiber platform exhibited (i) long-term water-resistance; (ii) high adhesion strength on the PES membrane; (iii) enhanced electrical properties; and (iv) good anticoagulant ability and negligible hemolysis of red blood cells, suggesting great suitability for use in developing next-generation bioelectronic medicines for HD.

Microdialysis sampling is an essential tool for in vivo neuro-chemical monitoring. Conventional dialysis probes are over 220 ?m in diameter and have limited flexibility in design because they are made by assembly using preformed membranes. The probe size constrains spatial resolution and governs the amount of tissue damaged caused by probe insertion. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a method to microfabricate probes in Si that are 45 ?m thick 180 ?m wide. The probes contain a buried, U-shaped channel that is 30 ?m deep 60 ?m wide and terminates in ports for external connection. A 4 mm length of the probe is covered with a 5 ?m thick nanoporous membrane. The membrane was microfabricated by deep reactive ion etching through a porous aluminum oxide layer. The microfabricated probe has cross-sectional area that is 79% less than that of the smallest conventional microdialysis probes. The probes yield 2-7% relative recovery at 100 nL/min perfusion rate for a variety of small molecules. The probe was successfully tested in vivo by sampling from the striatum of live rats. Fractions were collected at 20 min intervals (2 ?L) before and after an injection of 5 mg/kg, i.p amphetamine. Analysis of fractions by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed reliable detection of 13 neurochemicals, including dopamine and acetylcholine, at basal conditions. Amphetamine evoked a 43-fold rise in dopamine, a result nearly identical to a conventional dialysis probe in the same animal. The microfabricated probes have potential for sampling with higher spatial resolution and less tissue disruption than conventional probes. It may also be possible to add functionality to the probes by integrating other components, such as electrodes, optics, and additional channels.

The present disclosure relates to a filter capsule that supports direct integrity testing of an internal filter element. The filter capsule includes a filter housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, a passage running longitudinally between the inlet port and outlet port and holding a filter element, and an aseptic vent assembly. The filter housing also includes an integrity test assembly that can be used as a direct connection for integrity testing hardware, as opposed to upstream of the filter capsule. In one embodiment, the integrity test assembly comprises a body having a bore formed through its interior and a movable plunger within the bore. The plunger includes a handle to move the plunger between a closed position and an open position. Various seals between the plunger and the bore form a fluid tight seal between various portions of the plunger and the bore.

The present invention belongs to the field of free components detection technologies. For sample preparation of free components, although ultrafiltration is efficient and fast, the temperature is not easy to control which result in the measurement results have a large deviation. Conversely, the temperature is easy to control and measurement results are more precise when equilibrium dialysis is used. However, a long time consumed gives rise to equilibrium dialysis cannot meet the requirement for quickly analyzing clinical biological samples. Therefore, this application provides a content conversion method of free components by transforming ultrafiltration to equilibrium dialysis. Free components are separated from samples by ultrafiltration to obtain first concentration. Meanwhile, free components are separated from the samples by equilibrium dialysis to obtain second concentration. A linear equation is established based on the first concentration and the second concentration, which can meet both requirements of high detection accuracy and short time consuming.

The present invention relates to a potentiated T-cell modulator (TCM), with a potency of 10.sup.12 leucocytes/mm.sup.3, obtained from a dialysed extract of leucocytes from the spleen of Selachimorpha or sharks that contains peptides equal to or less than 10,000 Da, in powder form. The invention also relates to the use of the TCM to produce a medicine for treating diseases related to the regulation of immune response such as cancer or viral infections.

Multicomponent copolymers including two or more types of repeat units is presented. In one example, the multicomponent copolymer includes at least one repeat unit AC having a structure (I), at least one repeat unit DC having a structure (II), and at least one repeat unit BC having a structure (III) or (V). The multicomponent copolymer may be cross-linked via a cross-linking agent. A polymer blend including the multicomponent copolymer or a cross-linked copolymer and a second polymer is also provided. The multicomponent copolymer may be a random or a block copolymer. The structural units of the multicomponent copolymers provide improved, tunable properties, such as improved biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, protein fouling, and mechanical properties, to the copolymers and/or the membranes fabricated from the copolymers.

The present disclosure relates to a hemodialysis membrane for the treatment of vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients, especially in chronic hemodialysis patients. The present disclosure further relates to methods of treating vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients, wherein the hemodialysis membrane is characterized in that it comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer and in that it has a MWRO of between 15 and 20 kD and a MWCO of between 170-320 kD or that the hemodialysis membrane comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer and has a MWRO of between 8.5 kD and 14.0 kD and a MWCO of between 55 kD and 130 kD.

A dialyzer and a method of manufacture thereof, wherein the dialyzer includes a tubular dialyzer housing in the interior of which a plurality of capillaries each extending in the longitudinal direction of the dialyzer housing and being juxtaposed transversely to the longitudinal direction is arranged, with a filler having a volume-increasing property being arranged between the inner wall of the dialyzer housing and the capillaries.

A hemodiafiltration (HDF) system is provided for performing HDF treatment. The HDF system includes a mixing system for mixing nitric oxide (NO) with other chemicals to produce a dialysis fluid. The HDF system further includes an extracorporeal blood circuit that includes a filter for separating the dialysis fluid into a dialysate and NO spiked substitution fluid. The extracorporeal blood circuit also includes a dialyzer that receives the dialysate and a blood line connected to the dialyzer. The blood line includes admission points connected to the filter. The admission points are used to administer the NO spiked substitution fluid to the patient during the HDF treatment.

A spinning nozzle is provided for the extrusion of a hollow fiber from one or more spinning masses. An apparatus that includes a spinning nozzle, and a method for extruding a hollow fiber using the spinning nozzle, are also provided. The spinning nozzle has an inlet port for each spinning mass to be extruded. The inlet port is for introducing the spinning mass into the spinning nozzle. An outlet port for the exit of a spinning mass along an outlet axis, is also provided. A spinning mass flow channel is used to guide the spinning mass from the inlet port to the outlet port. The spinning mass flow channel includes a flow manipulation section having an inlet and an outlet and includes a flow-guiding structure for influencing a spinning mass through the spinning mass flow channel.