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Synthesis and urea adsorption capacity of a strong, acidic hollow nanoparticle

Polymer Journal volume 56, pages 553–560 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

To increase the quality of life of dialysis patients while maintaining economic efficiency, the concept of a wearable artificial kidney was proposed and designed approximately two decades ago. However, the primary challenge in the development of a wearable artificial kidney is the adequate removal of urea from dialysate due to the chemical inertness of urea under physiological conditions. Herein, a hollow polystyrene nanoparticle with sulfonic acid groups, named H-CPS-SO3H, was synthesized that could efficiently adsorb urea. H-CPS-SO3H was produced in three steps. First, a core-shell polystyrene nanoparticle with a linear core and cross-linked shell was prepared using modified emulsion polymerization. Second, the core-shell nanoparticles were treated with DMF to create hollow nanoparticles. Finally, the hollow nanoparticles were subjected to sulfuric acid treatment to produce H-CPS-SO3H, which was confirmed by both TEM and FTIR analysis. The urea adsorption capacity and kinetics of the as-synthesized H-CPS-SO3H were evaluated in a 30 mM urea aqueous solution. The results indicated that H-CPS-SO3H had a urea absorption capacity of up to 1 mmol/g, which was achieved after only two hours of adsorption at 37 °C. These findings demonstrated the high adsorption capacity and favorable adsorption kinetics of H-CPS-SO3H. Additionally, the adsorption capacity first increased and then slightly decreased with decreasing pH or increasing solution volume, while the adsorption capacity sharply decreased with increasing ionic strength. The results suggest that the prepared H-CPS-SO3H has promising application potential in the field of wearable artificial kidney devices.

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Funding

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21978060, 22005080).

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Yiheng Huang, Yifan Jiang

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China

    Yiheng Huang, Yifan Jiang, Youyou Mou, Maoyun Li, Hong Yu, Jia-Wei Shen & Yong Guo

  2. Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China

    Jia-Wei Shen & Yong Guo

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  1. Yiheng Huang
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Correspondence to Jia-Wei Shen or Yong Guo.

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Huang, Y., Jiang, Y., Mou, Y. et al. Synthesis and urea adsorption capacity of a strong, acidic hollow nanoparticle. Polym J 56, 553–560 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-024-00884-y

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