A novel amphiphilic adsorbent for the removal of low-density lipoprotein.

Dextran adsorbent with amphiphilic ligands for adsorption of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was prepared by the following procedures. Cholesterol group was linked to Dextran G 75 by reacting with cholesterol N-(6-isocyanatohexyl) carbamate in the presence of pyridine in DMSO at 80. In order to introduce the hydrophilic moiety, it was then reacted with chlorosulfonic acid in formamide which introduced the sulfonic group. Adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was studied which showed the removal of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) and TG to be 1.916, 2.132 and 1.349 mg/ml, respectively without significantly affecting total protein levels in the plasma. Moreover, the adsorbent has a better selectivity in removing LDL-C, TC, TG compared to dextran which has only hydrophobic or hydrophilic ligand.