Membrane adsorbers for selective removal of bacterial endotoxin.

Surface-modified flat-sheet microfiltration membranes were functionalised with poly-L-lysine, polymyxin B, poly(ethyleneimine), L-histidine, histamine, alpha-amylase and DEAE as well as deoxycholate. Their suitability to remove endotoxin from both buffers and protein solutions was examined using bovine serum albumin, murine IgG1 and lysozyme as model proteins. In protein-free solutions reduction from 6000 EU/ml to <0.1 EU/ml was achieved with all applied ligands; only alpha-amylase as well as L-histidine and histamine, when immobilized via the non-ionic spacer bisoxirane, exhibited low clearance factors at neutral pH. The adsorption of endotoxin is mainly ruled by electrostatic interaction forces. Thus in multi-component systems, such as endotoxin-contaminated protein solutions, competing interactions take place: acidic proteins compete with endotoxin for binding sites at the membrane adsorbers, basic proteins compete with the ligands for endotoxin and act as endotoxin carriers. With properly chosen conditions the membrane adsorbers presented here show exceptional effectiveness also in the presence of proteins. They are generally superior to functionalised Sepharose chromatographic sorbents and allow fast processing. They may contribute to reduce the risks in the application of parenterals and diagnostics.