Accumulation of phosphate in blood, a condition called hyperphosphatemia, affects most patients with advanced chronic and acute kidney disease and kidney failure. Maintenance hemodialysis does not remove phosphate from blood effectively; thus, almost all patients on maintenance hemodialysis have hyperphosphatemia. The inability to manage this disorder contributes significantly to the increase in morbidity and mortality of kidney disease. In view of solving this widespread condition, we are developing a new class of blood filtering technology that employs novel immobilized phosphate receptors. Our inorganic receptors have high affinity for phosphate in water and are highly selective over competing anions, notably bicarbonate and chloride. Through the development of these receptors, we determined how minor differences in the ligand lead to substantial changes in recognition of anions by the metal complex. The nature of the coordinating group, that of the metal ion, the geometry of the metal complex, its charge, and the presence of a hydrogen-bonding network all affect anion recognition, binding, and selectivity. Lastly, in order to be translatable to the clinic, any blood-filtering technology must also be regenerable.  This property requires receptors that are both reversible and controllable. The ability of our inorganic receptors complexes to catch phosphate and release it at will upon addition of an external trigger makes them promising candidates for the development of a new class of recyclable selective filtration technology.

Inorganic receptors for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.