Creation of Porous Fibers for Adsorbing Pathogenic Substances in Intractable Diseases

Toray Industries, Inc. has developed a technology to control the pore diameter of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) porous fibers in a wide range from a few nm to approximately 1,000nm. This technology enables the creation of porous fibers capable of selectively adsorbing pathogenic substances for intractable diseases such as autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer, offering a new blood purification treatment option. By combining advanced analysis techniques like small-angle X-ray scattering with digital techniques such as phase separation simulation, Toray succeeded in increasing the pore size to over 50 times the conventional level while maintaining fiber strength.