Removal of
low-density lipoprotein (
LDL) from
hyperlipemia patients' blood represents an effective approach to prevent the progression of atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease. Based on the
LDL structural characteristics and intermolecular interactions, a tailored nano-adsorbent (Fe3O4@SiO2@PAA-PE) was prepared aimed at the removal of
LDL from
hyperlipemia serum with high selectivity. The core-shell structured magnetic nanoparticles were embedded in an amphiphilic layer composed of hydrophilic
poly(acrylic acid) and lipophilic
phospholipids to provide multifunctional binding for
LDL particles. The results of dynamic light scattering, water contact angle and zeta-potential measurements, thermal gravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy together with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the core-shell structured nanoparticles bearing amphiphilic
poly acrylic acid and
phospholipid molecules. Because of the superior electronegativity of the functional layer, the nano-adsorbent demonstrated favorable adsorption selectivity against
high-density lipoprotein, which possesses a similar structure to
LDL but has a cardio-protective function in the human body. The respective adsorption capacity of Fe3O4@SiO2@PAA-PE towards
LDL, total
cholesterol and
triglycerides reached up to 6.26 mg g-1, 8.41 mg g-1 and 9.19 mg g-1, which was 7.03, 9.45 and 10.32 times that towards HDL (0.89 mg g-1). The kinetic and isothermal studies revealed that multiple interactions containing both physical and chemical adsorption occurred in the binding procedure between
LDL and Fe3O4@SiO2@PAA-PE, and chemical adsorption may play a more predominant role in
LDL adsorption. The nano-adsorbent also had negligible effects on blood cells, and possessed satisfactory recyclability, low cytotoxicity and
hemolysis ratios, indicating its good application prospects as a
hemoperfusion adsorbent in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia.