Breakthrough Graphene Membrane Technology Could Make Dialysis Devices Portable
In a project that promises to revolutionize kidney dialysis, an interdisciplinary research team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) is developing a membrane technology that could dramatically reduce the size of dialysis devices, aiming to offer more accessible and effective treatment for millions of patients worldwide.
The team’s goal is to create highly efficient membranes that could enable dialysis devices to shrink to the size of a smartphone. Their project, Graphene Oxide Membrane for Portable Kidney Dialysis (GENESIS), envisions a device powered by the patient’s own blood pressure, using disposable cartridges that weigh just a few grams. The ultimate aim is to enable continuous, round-the-clock dialysis, allowing patients to live normal lives without the need for frequent clinic visits.
“We believe UNC has the expertise, technology, and infrastructure to make these ambitious goals a reality,” said Theo Dingemans, a polymer chemistry expert and Chair of the Department of Applied Physical Sciences. “With support from the ICS AGILE initiative, we hope to develop a working prototype that can eventually be scaled and commercialized.”
Joining Dingemans in this project are Dr. Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, a renowned nephrologist and the Ronald and Katherine Falk Distinguished Professor at UNC School of Medicine, and Orlando Coronell, an expert in water purification membrane technology and Associate Chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering.
At the heart of their innovation is the development of ultrathin polymer-graphene oxide nanocomposite membranes. These membranes can filter molecules with precision based on size while allowing liquids to pass through more efficiently than conventional filters.
“Our aim is to create a device that offers the same functions as the kidney, but in a more portable and convenient form,” said Roy-Chaudhury. “Most importantly, if this technology is both high-quality and more affordable than traditional dialysis, it could provide life-saving treatment to millions of patients who currently cannot afford it. This would be the ‘smartphone moment’ for kidney dialysis—a leap in technology with reduced costs.”
Globally, 850 million people suffer from kidney disease, the ninth leading cause of death. In the U.S. alone, 37 million adults have kidney disease, with 700,000 in end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplantation, costing over $35 billion annually.
Since the 1970s, dialysis technology has seen little progress, offering only limited improvements in patient outcomes. The three-year survival rate for patients on hemodialysis is just 50%, and treatment requires patients to visit centers three times a week for four-hour sessions, significantly impacting their quality of life.
The team aims to design membranes that provide long-term functionality. They will first build and test a small module to evaluate the membranes’ performance in filtering water and known dissolved molecules. Next, they will test the membranes’ ability to filter toxins, such as urea, while retaining essential proteins like albumin in the bloodstream. Their results will be compared to existing commercial dialysis membranes to assess performance.
“We are building a toolbox that will allow us to selectively filter harmful substances while retaining beneficial ones, just like a healthy kidney,” said Coronell. “Addressing such a complex problem from an interdisciplinary perspective makes this project exciting and challenging. Few institutions in the country have the capability to tackle this. Here at Carolina, we have everything we need, and our team is coming together to see if we can bring better dialysis technology to millions.”