In a healthcare business, Toray will employ their technique in which a hollow fibre membrane or a fibre is provided with a surface having a special structure, in order that protein absorption is restricted or performed selectively. If the hollow fibre membranes made by the technique are applied to an artificial kidney, they can limit protein attachments and can have a longer lifespan than those not made by the technique. The number of restricted protein attachments are boosted about 50 times, using Toray’s newly developed polymers. As well as restricting protein attachments, Toray’s technique can absorb harmful proteins detected in blood. In future, the technique would be used not only for such a blood cleansing treatment, but also for cell cultivation.

JCFA News Letter (No.15) May, 2018/Japan Chemical Fibers Association