Toray Creates Porous Fibers that Adsorb Pathogenic Substances of Intractable Diseases
Toray Industries has developed a technology to control the pore size of PMMA porous fibers across a wide range (up to 1,000 nm), enabling the selective adsorption of large-molecule pathogens to treat intractable diseases like autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 05:11
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 26, 2026 at 21:27 (1384h 16m after Published)
Toray Industries, Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Mitsuo Ohya; hereinafter "Toray") has developed a technology to arbitrarily control the pore size of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) porous fibers over a wide range from several nanometers to approximately 1,000 nm. This has led to the creation of porous fibers capable of selectively adsorbing pathogens associated with intractable diseases. This technology contributes to proposing new blood purification treatment options that can replace or provide synergistic effects with conventional treatments for diseases such as autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.
With the aging population and diversifying lifestyles, the number of patients with intractable diseases is increasing annually. In many cases, drug therapy or surgery alone is insufficient, or side effects and recurrence risks pose significant challenges. Consequently, there is a growing demand for technologies that can efficiently remove large-molecular-weight pathogens—such as autoantibodies, lipoproteins, and exosomes—from the blood.
PMMA is a material known for its excellent biocompatibility and moderate protein adsorption properties. Toray is the only company in the industry to have commercialized PMMA porous fibers, with a 50-year track record in manufacturing and selling them for applications like artificial kidneys and adsorption-type blood purifiers.
By combining advanced analytical techniques, such as small-angle X-ray scattering, with digital technologies like phase separation simulation, Toray analyzed nano-level phase separation behavior during the fiber spinning process in real-time. This led to a pore size control technology capable of reaching diameters up to 1,000 nm—approximately 50 times larger than conventional fibers—while maintaining structural strength. This allows for the selective removal of large pathogens that previously could not be trapped inside the pores.
Moving forward, Toray aims for early commercialization by designing pore sizes tailored to specific diseases and developing mass production technologies. Furthermore, the company is exploring applications beyond medical devices, such as in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Toray will continue to embody its corporate philosophy of 'Contributing to society through the creation of new value' by developing high-value-added products through advanced materials technology, aiming for sustainable growth alongside social contribution.
With the aging population and diversifying lifestyles, the number of patients with intractable diseases is increasing annually. In many cases, drug therapy or surgery alone is insufficient, or side effects and recurrence risks pose significant challenges. Consequently, there is a growing demand for technologies that can efficiently remove large-molecular-weight pathogens—such as autoantibodies, lipoproteins, and exosomes—from the blood.
PMMA is a material known for its excellent biocompatibility and moderate protein adsorption properties. Toray is the only company in the industry to have commercialized PMMA porous fibers, with a 50-year track record in manufacturing and selling them for applications like artificial kidneys and adsorption-type blood purifiers.
By combining advanced analytical techniques, such as small-angle X-ray scattering, with digital technologies like phase separation simulation, Toray analyzed nano-level phase separation behavior during the fiber spinning process in real-time. This led to a pore size control technology capable of reaching diameters up to 1,000 nm—approximately 50 times larger than conventional fibers—while maintaining structural strength. This allows for the selective removal of large pathogens that previously could not be trapped inside the pores.
Moving forward, Toray aims for early commercialization by designing pore sizes tailored to specific diseases and developing mass production technologies. Furthermore, the company is exploring applications beyond medical devices, such as in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Toray will continue to embody its corporate philosophy of 'Contributing to society through the creation of new value' by developing high-value-added products through advanced materials technology, aiming for sustainable growth alongside social contribution.