HEMODIALYZER STERILANT/CLEANING AGENT

HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS ARE AT RISK FOR TOXICITY FROM VARIOUS DISINFECTING, STERILIZING, AND CLEANING AGENTS USED IN REPROCESSING HEMODIALYZERS. THE AIM OF THE PROJECT IS TODEVELOP A NONTOXIC BIOCIDE CAPABLE OF EFFECTIVE, ECONOMICAL STERILIZATION AND CHEMICAL CLEANING OF DIALYZERS. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A CHEMICAL FORMULATION THAT HAS THESE PROPERTIES AND MAINTAINS THE INTEGRITY OF THE UNIT WHILE ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE DIALYZED BLOOD. THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ACTIVATED CHLOROUS ACID/CHLORINE DIOXIDE (RENNEW-D) APPEAR TO FILL THE REQUIREMENTS. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH IS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE ABSOLUTE INTEGRITY OF THE REPROCESSED DIALYZER AND SAFETY OF THE PATIENT. SIGNIFICANT WORK HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY IN ADDRESSING THE BASIC BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE CHLOROUS ACID/CHLORINE DIOXIDE SYSTEM, WHICH INVOLVES COMPARING IT WITH OTHER CHEMICAL SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED FOR USE AND FOUND PROBLEMATIC: FORMALDEHYDE, GLUTARALDEHYDE, PERACETIC ACID, AND BLEACH. THE ELIMINATION OF FIRST-USE SYNDROME AND BLOOD COMPONENT/DIALYZER INCOMPATIBILITY ARE OF PRIME IMPORTANCE FOR ANY CHEMICAL SYSTEM UNDER CONSIDERATION. THEREFORE, STERILANT/CLEANER/DIALYZER UNIT COMPATIBILITY MUST UNDERGO THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. THIS WILL BE THE FOCUS OF PHASE I WORK. PHASE II EFFORTS WILL DETAIL THE OPTIMUM FORMULATION,USE PROTOCOL, AND DELIVERY SYSTEM BASED ON SOUND CHEMISTRY AND ECONOMICS.