Modular heme oxidation and iron capture for blood decolourisation

Overview

This research program is developing a modular polymer platform to decolourise blood within superabsorbent materials. Blood colour comes from the porphyrin chromophore of haem, which is shielded inside red blood cells, so an effective treatment must create access to the haemoglobin, oxidise the chromophore under mild conditions, and prevent liberated iron from generating persistent colour or uncontrolled peroxide chemistry. The proposed platform integrates four complementary functions into a single non-leaching system tailored for absorbent cores: red-cell access, wet-activated oxidation, catalytic chromophore disruption, and high-density iron capture.

The value proposition is a superabsorbent-compatible active material that removes visible blood staining while maintaining absorbent performance, optical neutrality, dry-storage stability, and minimal leaching. Target applications include menstrual and incontinence hygiene products and other absorbent formats where blood or bodily-fluid staining is undesirable. Its modular design allows each function to be tuned and down-selected independently before integration into a complete, realistic treatment sequence.

Technical specifications

The platform combines four modules:

• A hydrophilic uptake layer that retains red cells and presents immobilised amphiphilic/cationic sites to access intracellular haemoglobin
• Dry urea-hydrogen peroxide (UHP), a storage-stable oxidant reservoir that is activated on wetting, combined with catalase management to control peroxide chemistry
• Immobilised catalysts that drive hydrogen peroxide-dependent disruption of the haem chromophore under mild conditions
• Polyurethane-derived, non-leaching coordination polymers with controlled donor density and linker spacing to capture released Fe(III) and coloured or reactive intermediates

Modules are screened against defined criteria: colour loss, residual peroxide, iron retention, optical neutrality, leaching, dry-storage stability, and compatibility with superabsorbent product formulations. The work draws on expertise in peroxide chemistry, oxidation catalysis, functional materials, and polyurethane chemistry.

Technology readiness level

The technology is at an early research stage, with the concept established and laboratory validation planned across a 12-month program. Planned workstreams include: establishing analytical methods for colour, iron, residual peroxide, and leaching, and screening red-cell access and catalase-inhibition functions (months 0–2); developing immobilised catalysts and a library of iron-coordinating polyurethane polymers with varied donor groups, density, and spacing (months 3–12); and integrating the best modules into a superabsorbent-compatible active material tested against blood and menstrual-fluid simulants for colour reduction, residual peroxide, leaching, colour reversion, and by-products (months 7–12). Downstream product formulation, packaging, and safety/regulatory assessment are planned once the active material is validated.