Polymeric Sorbents for Virucide Agents in Blood Treatments

Hydrophilic polystyrene (PS) type resins displaying excellent adsorption capacity for aromatic molecules in water were obtained by chemical modification of mesoporous cross-linked PS-type resins with a variety of hydrophilic reagents. The vinyl groups available on the surface of the resin beads were utilized as reactive sites for free radical grafting of hydrophilic moieties. Qualitative and semi-quantitative assessments of the functionalization degree were performed by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. Wetting and water uptake tests confirmed the occurrence of functionalization. The removal of an acridine virucide agent using the modified PS resins was tested under physiological conditions at pH 7.4. The virucide uptake capacity of the modified resins was in some cases almost quantitative. Antipyrogen treatment at 180°C for 8 h did not significantly affect the resin hydrophilicity, although a slight decrease in the adsorption capacity was detected. These modified resins were evaluated in hemofiltration procedures as virucide sorbents during the antiviral stage.