Transport properties of composite polymeric membranes for artificial organs

Polymeric membranes represent a fundamentaì component of many artificial ongans, e g. artificial kidney and artificial lung; of ibrid artificial ongans, e.q., panrcreas and lirver, and of endoprostheses such as vascular prostheses and nerve guidance channels for neural regeneration. This fact should not wonder at all if we consider the mass transport phenomena occurrin in the biological systems, where natural membranes play a role of vital importance in regulating the exchanges betweeir cells of various organs, and fluids or gases in the body. Moreover, the membrane transport phenomena have a determining role, not merely when they are nominated to perform impontant tasks such as filtration (kidneys) or gases permeability (lung), but also when they act as fìuid or tissue containers (vessel, sheath).