Membranen in der medizinischen Verfahrenstechnik

Abstract

Membranes in medical process engineering. Synthctic membranes not only represent the essential components of an artificial kidney or an artificial lung but are also used as wound dressing and in systems for controlled release ofdrugs in certain long-term therapeutic measures or as part of an artificial pancreas. By far the greatest present economic significance ofmembranes is their use in the so-called artificial kidney. Considerable cost saving would result if patients could undertake "home dialysis". This requires the development of new, simpler artificial kidneys and thus highzrperformance membranes. The latest trend in "artificial kidneys", the so-called method of "hemodiafiltration" warants special mention. The separation process is no longer effected only by diffusion but also by convection, i. e. the driving force is the pressuredifference between the two sides of the membrane. This paper addresses problems encountered in the development and use of membranes in medicine, recent applications such as the controlled release of active components, or plasma separation. and demonstrates the potential of membranes in medicine.

The medium cycle bioreactor (MCB): Monoclonal antibody production in a new economic production system

“…Cell retention became rationalised for the slow growth rate of mammalian cells. Synthetic membranes are used in numerous separation problems in biotechnology (Chmiel et al, 1985) and enable a reliable cell retention by microfiltration of the bioreactor fluid. Concerning cell cultures, systems were developed dealing with medium filtration inside the bioreactor.…”

Hollow fibre modules as membrane reactor in biocatalysis

“…For a fairly long time hollow fibres have generally been used for the purpose of blood dialysis 1111. The production of those fibres meets high technical and medical requirements [12].…”