Direct polymerization of lipid monomers or polymer scaffolding of non-lipid monomers coupled with irradiation or redox polymerization performed at neutral pH resulted in stabilized lipid assemblies. An initiator-buffer component and NaHS03 redox mixture polymerizes reactive lipid monomers at near neutral pH conditions to preserve functionality of reconstituted membrane proteins. Improved stability of black lipid membranes (BLMs) is attained by chemical cross-linking of polymerizable, hydrophobic and commercially available non-lipid monomers partitioned into the suspended lipid membranes, and by suspending the BLMs across low surface energy apertures. Substrate apertures having low surface energy modifiers with amphiphobic properties facilitated a reproducible formation of BLMs by promoting interactions between the lipid tail and the substrate material. In addition, polymeric lipid bilayer membranes were prepared by photochemical or redox initiated polymerization of polymerizable lipid monomers, and disposed onto supporting substrates for use in chromatography columns.

Adsorptive bed devices include a scaffold in housing having a stress absorbing rigid structure and open cells filled with adsorptive beads. The scaffold restricts movement of the plurality of adsorptive beads, absorbs stress induced by a hydraulic pressure gradient along a direction of liquid flow and transfers a portion of the induced compressive stress to the housing. In one embodiment the adsorptive bed is packed into a chromatography column, and in another embodiment the adsorptive bed is sealed in a monolithic block. In another embodiment, the adsorptive bed device includes an adsorptive block, first and second planar distributors and peripheral seal. The adsorptive media includes multiple layers of planarly cohesive media and when operated in a shallow bed configuration possesses significant tensile strength along its planar dimensions enabling it to support the hydraulic pressures that will be generated by the fluids being processed through the adsorptive devices.

Methods and devices are disclosed for a separation device. A separation device includes a plurality stacked modules and a distribution network including an inter-module LEVEL-1 distributor an intermediate LEVEL-2 distributor and a planar LEVEL-3 distributor. The distribution network enables streamline lengths which are approximately equal and induces uniform velocity fluid flow. These features provide a narrow residence time distribution providing improved chromatographic performance.

The present invention relates to a preparative chromatography system (200, 500, 800) and a chromatography process (400, 700) adapted to repetitive cycling of chromatography volumes. The system (200, 500, 800) comprises at least two upstream pumps (203a, 803a, 203b, 803b) and separate flow paths (220) from process liquid sources to the chromatography device (200, 500, 800). The system (200, 500, 800) is arranged to prime one flow path (220) with one process liquid while providing another process liquid to the chromatography device and thereby minimizing the hold-up volume of the system (200, 500, 800).