Device for the removal of toxic substances from blood

1. A device for the removal of toxic substances from dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma, said device comprising:

i) a sorption filter for removing toxins, toxic solutes, toxic small and middle-sized molecules and protein bound toxins from the dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma, said sorption filter comprising a nanostructured sorption material made of nanoparticles or nanocrystalline materials captured in a porous polymer matrix, wherein the pores in said porous polymer matrix are of a size that allows the entry into said matrix of substances sought to be removed from said liquid while preventing the escape of said nanostructured sorption material and/or preventing the entry into said matrix of substances not sought to be removed from said liquid; said sorption filter being contained in a housing;

ii) an inlet for entry of said dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma into said device;

iii) an outlet for the removal of purified dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma from said device, and

iv) a conduit connecting said inlet with said outlet and holding said sorption filter such that said dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma must pass through said sorption filter when flowing from said inlet to said outlet.

2. Device according to claim 1 wherein said porous polymer matrix is based on a cross-linked polymer and/or a charged polymer.

3. Device according to claim 2 , wherein said cross-linked polymer and/or a charged polymer is a biopolymer selected from carbohydrates and proteins.

4. Device according to claim 3 , wherein said carbohydrate is selected from an oxidized crosslinked starch and a carboxymethyl cellulose.

5. Device according to claim 1 wherein the pores in said matrix are of a size that prevents the entry into said matrix of albumin.

6. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said toxic substances are selected from potassium, phosphate, urea, uric acid, ammonia, creatinine, beta2-microglobulin (β2M), and albumin-bound toxins.

7. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said sorbent material further comprises means for supplementing said dialysate fluid and/or said optionally purified blood plasma with at least one substance selected from vitamins, minerals, anticoagulants, anti microbial agents and medicaments.

8. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the sorbent material is provided in the form of dried granules having a mean size over the range 250 microns to 1500 microns based on the size in dried form.

9. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said sorption filter is provided in the form of a filter pad comprising the sorbent material.

10. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises means for supplementing said dialysate fluid and/or said blood plasma and/or said purified blood plasma with at least one substance selected from vitamins, minerals, anticoagulants, anti microbial agents and other medicaments.

11. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a pump for pumping said dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma from said inlet to said outlet.

12. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said sorption filter is combined with a hemofilter system in order to form an artifical kidney device for the removal of toxic substances from the blood of a patient, comprising a hemofilter for separating patient blood plasma from patient blood cells.

13. Device according to claim 12 , wherein said artificial kidney system is a wearable device.

14. Device according to claim 13 , wherein said hemofilter comprises at least one inlet for receiving blood from a patient, and at least one outlet for recovery of patient blood plasma.

15. Device according to claim 14 , wherein said hemofilter comprises at least a further outlet for recovery of patient blood cells.

16. Device according to claim 12 , wherein said sorption filter comprises an inlet for receiving patient blood plasma exiting said hemofilter, and at least one outlet for recovery of purified blood plasma.

17. Device according to claim 12 , wherein said sorption-filter is combined with a permeable envelop to form a filter pad comprising an envelope surrounding contents of the filter pad, wherein the envelope of said pad comprises a permeable membrane and the contents of said pad comprise said sorbent material.

18. Device according to claim 12 , wherein said hemofilter and said sorption filter are combined to form a filter pad comprising an envelope surrounding a filter pad contents, wherein the envelope of said pad comprises said hemofilter, and the contents of said pad comprise said sorbent material.

19. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises ion exchange systems.

20. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises surface crystallisation systems.

21. Filter pad comprising a sorbent material adapted for being held in a conduit,

wherein said sorbent material is a nanostructured sorption material made of nanoparticles or nanocrystalline materials captured in a porous polymer matrix, wherein the pores in said porous polymer matrix are of a size that allows the entry into said matrix of substances sought to be removed from said liquid while preventing the escape of said nanostructured sorption material and/or preventing the entry into said matrix of substances not sought to be removed from said liquid; said sorption filter being contained in a housing, and

wherein said conduit connects said inlet with said outlet and holding said sorption filter such that said dialysate fluid, blood or blood plasma must pass through said sorption filter when flowing from said inlet to said outlet.

22. Filter pad according to claim 21 , wherein the sorbent material is provided in the form of dried granules having a mean size over the range 250 microns to 1500 microns based on the size in dried form, and further comprising a permeable envelope containing said sorbent material.

23. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said nanoparticles or nanocrystalline materials are selected from metal silicates, metal hydroxides, and pure metaloxide nanoparticles.

24. Device according to claim 23 , wherein said metal silicates are selected from nanoclays and exfoliated nanoclays.

25. Device according to claim 23 , wherein said metal hydroxides are selected from double layered hydroxides.

26. Device according to claim 25 , where said metal hydroxides are selected from nano-hydrotalcite.

27. Device according to claim 23 , wherein said nanoporous materials are selected from zeolites, mesoporous systems, and metal organic frameworks.

28. Device according to claim 6 , wherein the albumin-bound toxins are selected from bilirubin and paramino hippuric acid.

29. Device according to claim 9 , wherein the device further comprises a hemofilter.

30. Device according to claim 12 , wherein the sorption filter supplements the blood with at least one substance selected from vitamins, minerals, anticoagulants, anti microbial agents and other medicaments.

31. A wearable dialysis system comprising a sorption filter comprising a nanostructured sorption material captured in a porous polymer matrix, wherein pores in said porous polymer matrix are of a size that allows entry into said matrix of substances sought to be removed from a liquid while preventing the escape of said nanostructured sorption material and/or preventing the entry into said matrix of substances not sought to be removed from said liquid, wherein said sorption filter is part of a hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis system.