Preparation and Characterization of Multifunctional 3D Biopolymer-Graphene Oxide Gels for Efficient Blood Purification

A new type of blood-contact gels with good adsorption capacity and blood compatibility were prepared, which were assembled by blending biopolymers (chitosan, albumin, deoxyribonucleic acid) with graphene oxide (GO) and freeze-dried. The chemical structure and morphology of the biopolymer-GO gels were tested by SEM, AFM and Zeta potential measurements. Results showed that the obtained hydrogels had well-defined and interconnected 3D porous network, and excellent blood compatibility. The hemolysis ratio was greatly suppressed. Meanwhile, the hybrid gels exhibited ultra-high adsorption capacities against the toxic cationic molecules and heavy metal ions.