UNS — Four Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta students succeeded in creating new inventions to help Covid-19 patients. The students are Jeesica Hermayanti Pratama, Atsna Rofida, Adenissa Kurnia Putri, and Raihan Naufal, supervised by Dr. rer. nat. Witri Wahyu Lestari, S.Si., M.Sc. The students from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science (FMIPA), Faculty of Medical Science (FK), and Faculty of Engineering (FT) made a solid team that created an innovation in healthcare, specifically on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (EMCO).
The study on EMCO materials was based on the pandemic that affected more than 200 countries and infected four million people in Indonesia with a 21-28% mortality rate for patients receiving hospital care per Sunday (17/10/2021) (based on Worldometer data). From the number, 85% of hospitalized Covid-19 patients experienced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or breathing failure caused by lung damage due to fluid buildup.
Without prompt action, ARDS could lead to death. ARDS patients are commonly treated with mechanical breathing apparatus using EMCO.
However, EMCO availability is very limited due to the expensive cost of its materials, especially in the Asia Pacific Regions, including Indonesia. In Solo, this apparatus is only available in Moewardi Hospital. EMCO also has short membrane usage and has a potential for leakage due to the contact between the membrane and protein in the blood plasma that reduces water resistance performance of the membrane.
Departing from this phenomenon, four UNS students shared their innovative ideas in the Student Creativity Program (PKM) for Natural Science Research (PKM-RE) and won funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology RI and will be presented in the National Student Science Week (PIMNAS) 34 that will be held hybrid.
Jeesice explained that using an ethylcellulose-coated composite membrane with nano-size could solve the issues of membrane usage and leakage in EMCO. “The use of polymer composite membrane is expected to increase membrane strength and prolong its service life,” she added.
The innovation also has better economic value because their ethylcellulose coating was sourced from paper waste that will increase product usage value and reduce pollution. This material is relatively easy to obtain and will increase the bio-compatibility that prevents immune rejection reactions by the human body, hypersensitivity reactions and reduce the risk of biofouling or the accumulation of biological materials on the membrane surface.
The ethylcellulose used in this product succeeded in separating oxygen gas and carbon dioxide, which have the potential for the blood oxygenation process. This potential is also supported with the quantification test that showed that protein could penetrate the membrane and therefore, reducing the risk of leakage. Jeesica hoped that this study could lay the basis of EMCO development in the future, especially in Indonesia. “Including as a rescue device to increase life expectancy for Covid-19 patients, especially those with breathing failure,” Jeesica concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Alinda Hardiantoro
Editor: Dwi Hastuti