Polymers in medicine Teach article

Author(s): Establish project

The topic of polymers is often limited to chemistry lessons. The Establish project offers some hands-on activities to investigate these materials and some of their medical applications.

Polymers are used in
everyday products such as
disposable nappies
Image courtesy of SCA Svenska
Cellulosa Aktiebolaget; image
source: Flickr

We use polymers every day, for example in the form of plastics, coatings and paper, and in products such as nappies and shampoos. Polymers consist of large molecules made up of repeating structural units.

The following activities have been developed to help students to make links between the macroscopic world of materials that we can see and the sub-microscopic world of particles (atoms and molecules) that we cannot see, using real applications. They use the approach of inquiry-based learning, whereby the students are encouraged to develop their ideas based on their observations of the practical activities and then to test them in new contexts.

A patient undergoing dialysis
Image courtesy of quecojones;
image source: Flickr

In the first activity, students aged 13-15 investigate the diffusion of liquids through different types of polymer membrane (Worksheet 1). They then move to a consideration of membranes in medicine: how the human kidney works and how its functions can be taken over by a dialysis machine (Worksheet 2). The particular focus is to understand why some molecules are removed from the blood during dialysis and others are not. The students should also predict what would happen if the dialysis fluid were water, leading them towards an understanding of osmosis.

In the second activity, students aged 15-17 create membranes of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and investigate their physical and chemical behaviour. They then create and test an antibacterial PVC membrane (Worksheet 3). As extensions of this activity, the students can investigate membranes made with different plasticisers, or determine the antibacterial effectiveness of membranes containing different metals or different quantities of metals.

All three worksheets can be downloaded in Word or PDF format from the Science in School websitew8.

Membranes with invisible holes

In this activity, students are asked to think about the invisible world of atoms and molecules and, through their understanding of the activity, will develop an understanding of the particulate nature of matter. These activities can be used to show both the existence of molecules and that molecules have different sizes. The students investigate the diffusion of particles through different types of membranes, then apply what they have learned to a consideration of the kidney and of dialysisw1.

Image courtesy of Peter
Asquith; image source: Flickr

The students will already have encountered the use of sieves to separate mixtures and the need to use a sieve with appropriately sized holes. The teacher can use the context of wrapping food to introduce plastic membranes, after which the students can carry out the investigation below with different membranes. The teacher should encourage a discussion of possible explanations for the results. If necessary, encourage the development of the idea that there are particles of different sizes and membranes with holes of different sizes.

The idea is to use a variety of films / membranes, e.g. cheap plastic bags, food wrapping or food bags, to investigate the movement of iodine particles through different membranes. The students should set up several experiments, as suggested in Table 1. The teacher should try them out in advance, to make sure that they give sufficiently different results.

Tube number Membrane
Table 1: Possible membranes for investigation of ‘holes’
1 No membrane
2 Jam-pot cover
3 Plastic bag or cling film
4 Latex glove

The students should learn to:

  • Draw conclusions from observations
  • Explain the phenomenon through the existence of invisible holes and the movement of particles
  • Distinguish alternative explanations and debate with peers.

Student worksheet 1: membranes with invisible holes

Materials

  • Iodine solution (approximately 0.05 M)
  • Starch solution (approximately 0.12% w/v)
  • A selection of different plastic films

Procedure

Investigate the movement of iodine particles through different membranes. Make a small bag out of each membrane and place it in a tube of starch solution, as shown in Figure 1. Pour some iodine solution into each bag and observe what happens.

Figure 1: Experimental set-up
Image courtesy of Establish project
  1. Record your observations in Table 2.
Table 2: Results of your experiment
1 2 3 4
Colour at start In small bag
In tube
Colour at end In small bag
In tube
  1. Can you explain what is happening?
  2. Can you match each of your tubes (1-4) to one of the diagrams (A-D) in Figure 2?
Figure 2: Which situation corresponds to each of your test tubes?
Image courtesy of Establish project
  1. What would happen in each tube if the solutions were reversed: if at the start, the solution of smaller molecules was in the tube and the solution of larger molecules was in the membrane (Figure 3)? Enter your predictions in Table 3.
Figure 3: What would happen if the solutions were reversed?
Image courtesy of Establish project
Table 3: Your expectations if the solutions were reversed
1 2 3 4
Colour at start In small bag
In tube
Colour at end In small bag
In tube


Student worksheet 2: kidneys and dialysis

The human kidney is an amazing organ, with two essential functions: the maintenance of water balance in the body, and the excretion of urea, salts and water. Each day, the kidneys filter 180 l of fluid out of the blood – most of which is reabsorbed, together with all the nutrients that the body still needs, such as glucose and amino acids. From the 180 l of fluid that they filter, the kidneys produce about 2 l of urine containing waste products such as urea, which is toxic to the body. The urine is then stored in the bladder before being excreted.

How the kidney works. Click on image to enlarge.
For an extra-large version, click here.
a) Overview of the kidney. Filtration takes place in 3 million nephrons,
where bloodarrives under pressure in the capillaries.
Image courtesy of Piotr Michał Jaworski; image source: Wikimedia Commons
b) Detailed structure of a nephron. Small molecules and water are filtered from the
blood via holes in the wall of the Bowman’s capsule. In subsequent parts of the
nephron, molecules that the body needs are reabsorbed
Image courtesy of
http://osmoregulation-apbio3.wikispaces.com
  1. Why do you think there are normally no plasma proteins in the urine even though they are in solution in the blood plasma?
  2. As a result of certain injuries or diseases, blood cells appear in the urine. What may have happened to cause this?

If a person’s kidneys fail, death will follow in about four days because urea builds up and the body loses control of its water balance. The person’s life may be saved with the help of dialysis; this typically involves attending hospital three times a week. During dialysis, which takes about six to eight hours, the blood is taken from the patient’s body in a tube and flows into a machine where it passes next to a filter called a dialysis membrane. A specialised dialysis solution flows on the other side of the membrane. The composition of this solution ensures that urea passes through the membrane from the blood into the dialysis fluid, but glucose and amino acids do not. The blood – minus urea – is then returned to the body.

  1. Why are red blood cells and plasma proteins not removed from blood during dialysis?
  2. Urea, glucose and amino acids are similar-sized molecules. Why does urea pass across the dialysis membrane but glucose and amino acids do not?
  3. What would happen if water were used as the dialysis fluid?
  4. How could dialysis be used to remove excess salts?
Silver-impregnated PVC films
showing difference in zone of
inhibition with silver (Ag)
loading
Image courtesy of James
Chapman, Dublin City
University

Antibacterial PVC

In this activity, students create PVC membranes and investigate the effect of a plasticiser on the physical and chemical properties of the membrane (these membranes can also be used in the first activity). The students then create a PVC membrane containing silver particles, and test its antibacterial properties by incubating it overnight.

As a more advanced investigation, the students could get a better understanding of the antimicrobial property of the membrane by incorporating different concentrations of silver in membranes and examining the effect of concentration on the zones of inhibition that they observe. Typical examples are shown on the right.

Non-pathogenic Escherichia coli can be obtained from the American Tissue Culture Collection (ATCC)w2. BAA 1427 in particular is a non-pathogenic surrogate strain suitable for use in this experiment.

Student worksheet 3: synthesising and investigating antibacterial PVC

The polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a cheap and durable plastic used in pipes, signs and clothing. Plasticisers are often added to it to make it more flexible and easier to manipulate. In this activity, you will make a membrane of PVC both with and without a plasticiser, then compare their physical and chemical properties.

Antimicrobial membranes are used in many medical technologies, and are produced by incorporating nanoparticles or microparticles of silver or other metals into polymers. In the presence of oxygen (in air) and water, the elemental silver particles react to form silver ions (Ag2+), which can break down cell walls, inhibit cell reproduction and disturb metabolism in some bacteria, viruses, algae and fungiw3, w4.

Materials

  • Solvent: oxolane (tetrahydrofuran, (CH2)4O)
  • PVC powder
  • Dibutyl sebacate or other plasticiser
  • Silver nitrate (AgNO3)
  • Tri-sodium citrate (Na3C6H5O7)
  • Nutrient agar
  • Bacterial culture (e.g. E. coli in a nutrient broth)
  • A hotplate
  • A magnetic stirrer
  • 75 ml beakers
  • A glass substrate (e.g. beaker, watch glass or glass slide)
  • A graduated cylinder
  • A Pasteur pipette
  • A spatula
  • Petri dishes
  • Inoculation loops

Procedure

Safety note: All steps should be carried out under the fume hood. Tetrahydrofuranis a highly flammable liquid and vapour that can cause serious eye irritation. Handle with care under the fume hood only and wear gloves when using it.

1) Making PVC without a plasticiser

  1. Using the hotplate and a magnetic stirrer, warm 20 ml solvent.
  2. Slowly add 1.5g PVC powder, while stirring.
  3. After about 10 min, the solution should become more viscous. Remove the beaker from the heat.
  4. Remove the magnetic stirrer and pour a few millilitres of the PVC solution thinly and as evenly as possible over the glass substrate (inside or outside the beaker, or on the glass slide or watch glass). To ensure a thin layer, rotate the glass substrate carefully while the solution is still hot.
  5. Leave the substrate and PVC under the fume hood to allow the solvent to evaporate; this takes about 15 min. The PVC membrane can then be easily removed from the glass substrate.

2) Making PVC with a plasticiser

Repeat the steps above to create four more membranes of PVC, each with a different amount of plasticiser added to the heated solvent (see Table 4).

Sample no. PVC (g) Solvent (ml) Dibutyl sebacate (ml)
Table 4: Creating membranes of PVC with different amounts of plasticiser
1 1.5 20 0.5
2 1.5 20 1
3 1.5 20 2
4 1.5 20 3
  1. Compare your five samples of PVC membrane. What effect does the plasticiser have on the plastic?
  2. What do you think happens to the plastic when more plasticiser is added?
  3. Referring to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images below, was your answer to Question 2 correct?
  4. These membranes can be used in the previous activity (‘Membranes with invisible holes’) to investigate the relative size of the ‘holes’.
SEM images of PVC: a) unplasticised, b) with 0.5 ml plasticiser and c) with 2 ml plasticiser.
Click on image to enlarge
Images courtesy of the Establish project

3) Making antibacterial PVC

The preparation of PVC containing silver particles requires the membrane to have large holes, which is why we use a plasticiser. The silver itself is added in the form of silver nitrate, which is then reduced using sodium citrate.

  1. Using the hotplate and a magnetic stirrer, warm 20 ml solvent.
  2. Add 2.5 ml plasticiser, then slowly add 1.5 g PVC powder.
  3. Add 2.5 ml 10 mM silver nitrate and stir for 1-2 min.
  4. Divide the solution between two 75 ml beakers. Quickly rotate each beaker so that the inside is coated with solution, forming a membrane in the shape of the beaker. Ensure that there are no gaps, as the membrane must be capable of holding water.
  5. Leave the beakers under the fume hood to allow the solvent to evaporate, then carefully remove the membranes. (This is quite difficult; by making two, you increase your chances of success.)
  6. Silver micro- and
    nanoparticles in a PVC
    membrane. Click on image to
    enlarge
    Image courtesy of the Establish
    project

    Make a 5 mM solution of sodium citrate and pour this carefully into one of the beaker-shaped membranes. It should pass through the membrane (hold it over a beaker), reacting with the silver nitrate, giving silver nano- or microparticles.

  7. Note the colour change to the membrane.
  8. Allow the membrane to dry under the fume hood. Typical SEM images (right) show the presence of elemental silver dispersed in a PVC membrane.

Next, you can investigate the antibacterial properties of the prepared membranes.

  1. Prepare an agar plate with a bacterial colony: on a Petri dish containing nutrient agar, deposit about 100 µl of your bacterial culture (e.g. E. coli in a nutrient broth) and use an inoculation loop to spread it evenly across the plate.
  2. Place approximately 1 cm2 of your silver-impregnated PVC membrane on the plate.
    Alternatively, to provide a comparison, place three pieces of PVC membrane on the plate, one of which is untreated with silver.
  3. Incubate the plate overnight at 37 °C, then measure the zone of inhibition around each piece of membrane.

Safety note: As with all microbial studies, sterilised implements should be used at all times (either sterilised in an autoclave or pressure cooker, or dipped in ethanol and then flamed). This includes the scissors that you use to cut the membrane. To prevent cross-contamination, wash the inoculation loops with antibacterial wash before use.

The antibacterial property of these membranes makes them useful for treating wounds and burns, as well as infections with bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and E. coli.

  1. Why are antibacterial PVC membranes particularly useful in the treatment of MRSA infections?
  2. What other applications of antibacterial PVC membranes can you find?

The Establish project

These activities are among the teaching units being developed by the Establish project, an EU-funded project to encourage the widespread use of inquiry-based science teaching for secondary-school students (aged 12-18). A group of more than 60 partners from 11 European countries are working together to develop and adapt teaching units for use in classrooms across Europe.

The activities in this article are taken from the teaching unit entitled ‘Exploring holes’. At the time of going to press, units are also available on sound and on disability, and further units are planned on cosmetics, chitosan, forensic science, photochemistry, renewable energy and medical imaging. To learn more and download the completed units, visit the Establish websitew5.

Nanoparticles in medicine

The use of nanoparticles is very important in new health care applications. Understanding the impact of nanoparticles on cells and tissues is crucial for safety, reliable diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Many medical nanoparticles are based on metals, and X-ray techniques at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)w6 are well suited to monitor, for example, the interaction of a single nanoparticle with a cryopreserved cell at the nanoscale (Lewis et al., 2010).

ESRF is a member of EIROforumw7, the publisher of Science in School.

Acknowledgements

The activities described in this article are based on information in Wilms et al. (2004; Worksheet 1), from Alison Graham at Dublin City University, Republic of Ireland (Worksheet 2), and from Laura Barron and James Chapman at Dublin City University (Worksheet 3).

References

  • Lewis DJ et al. (2010) Intracellular synchrotron nanoimaging and DNA damage / genotoxicity screening of novel lanthanide-coated nanovectors. Nanomedicine 5(10): 1547-1557. doi: 10.2217/nnm.10.96
  • Wilms M et al. (2004) Molekulares Sieben: Mit Einmachfolie ins Diskontinuum. Chemkon 11(3):127-130. doi: 10.1002/ckon.200410011

Web References

Review

Have you ever wondered how a dialysis membrane works? Can plastics be used to filter unwanted substances from your body? How about antibacterial plastics? This article introduces the role of polymers in dialysis machines used for blood filtration and for the treatment of wounds.

The experiments for younger students that are described in this article will help them to understand the science of polymers and how they are used in dialysis. In the activities for older students, the class actually get to make their own PVC – one of the most common polymers used today – and investigate its antibacterial properties.

The activities would be appropriate in both chemistry and biology lessons, addressing the topics of polymerisation, osmosis, diffusion and excretion. It could be followed by a discussion of the wider uses of polymers, of selectively permeable membranes or of excretion.

Andrew Galea, Giovanni Curmi Post-Secondary School Naxxar, Malta

License

CC-BY-NC-SA