Toray Develops Porous Fibers that Adsorb Pathogenic Substances of Intractable Diseases

Toray Industries, Inc. has announced the development of a technology that allows arbitrary control of pore diameters in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) porous fibers, ranging from several nanometers to approximately 1,000nm. This technological breakthrough enables the selective adsorption and removal of large-molecule pathogenic substances—such as autoantibodies, lipoproteins, and exosomes—which were previously difficult to capture. By applying this technology, Toray aims to provide new blood purification treatment options for intractable diseases, including autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. The company is currently proceeding with the design of optimal pore sizes for specific diseases and the development of mass production technologies for early commercialization, while also exploring applications in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.