The present disclosure relates to a liquid filtration structure with one or more macromolecule membrane structures including membrane proteins selectively permeable to water molecules and fixed within a pore. A liquid filtration structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure increases stability and durability of macromolecule membrane structures including membrane proteins selectively permeable to water molecules, and, thus, can be effectively used in a filtration device for purifying water.

A nanopore system provided herein includes first and second fluidic reservoirs in fluidic communication with a nanopore forming a fluidic path between the reservoirs. An enzyme clamp, provided in the first fluidic reservoir, abuts the nanopore and is reversibly bound to a sequential plurality of polymer subunits of a target polymer molecule in ionic solution. The clamp has an outer clamp diameter that is greater than the nanopore diameter. An electrical circuit includes an electrode in each of the reservoirs for applying a voltage bias across the nanopore. A pulse generator is connected in the electrical circuit to apply control pulses across the nanopore to step the clamp along sequential polymer subunits of the target polymer molecule. The system includes no fuel or source of fuel for the clamp. A controller is connected in the electrical circuit for controlling the collection of electrical indications of polymer subunits.

A nanopore system provided herein includes first and second fluidic reservoirs in fluidic communication with a nanopore forming a fluidic path between the reservoirs. An enzyme clamp, provided in the first fluidic reservoir, abuts the nanopore and is reversibly bound to a sequential plurality of polymer subunits of a target polymer molecule in ionic solution. The clamp has an outer clamp diameter that is greater than the nanopore diameter. An electrical circuit includes an electrode in each of the reservoirs for applying a voltage bias across the nanopore. A pulse generator is connected in the electrical circuit to apply control pulses across the nanopore to step the clamp along sequential polymer subunits of the target polymer molecule. The system includes no fuel or source of fuel for the clamp. A controller is connected in the electrical circuit for controlling the collection of electrical indications of polymer subunits.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that involve inserting connector protein channels of bacteriophage DNA packaging motors into copolymeric membranes via liposome-polymer fusion, which can be used as nanopore sensors for biomedical applications such as high throughput protein sequencing or cancer diagnosis. For example, disclosed are compositions comprising a copolymeric membrane into which a connector protein channel of a bacteriophage packaging motor has been inserted.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that involve inserting connector protein channels of bacteriophage DNA packaging motors into copolymeric membranes via liposome-polymer fusion, which can be used as nanopore sensors for biomedical applications such as high throughput protein sequencing or cancer diagnosis. For example, disclosed are compositions comprising a copolymeric membrane into which a connector protein channel of a bacteriophage packaging motor has been inserted.

Capture membranes for lanthanide metal ions can be made from fusion proteins having at least one lanthanide metal binding sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1-4) covalently bound to a silk-elastin-like polymer (SELP). Capture membranes can be made from silk nanofibrils that are surface-modified with a lanthanide metal binding molecule. The capture membranes can have a layered structure or can contained cross-linked peptides in a hydrogel.

Capture membranes for lanthanide metal ions can be made from fusion proteins having at least one lanthanide metal binding sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1-4) covalently bound to a silk-elastin-like polymer (SELP). Capture membranes can be made from silk nanofibrils that are surface-modified with a lanthanide metal binding molecule. The capture membranes can have a layered structure or can contained cross-linked peptides in a hydrogel.

A method is provided for deterministically translocating through a nanopore a target polymer molecule of a nucleic acid polymer molecule or a protein polymer molecule. In the method, an enzyme clamp is reversibly bound to a plurality of sequential polymer subunits of the target polymer molecule. The target polymer molecule and the enzyme clamp are disposed at the nanopore. In the method, there is applied a pulse of force operative to deterministically advance the enzyme clamp along the target polymer molecule by no more than one polymer subunit. The pulse of force is then repeatedly applied to cause deterministic translocation of a sequential plurality of polymer subunits of the target polymer molecule through the nanopore.

A method is provided for deterministically translocating through a nanopore a target polymer molecule of a nucleic acid polymer molecule or a protein polymer molecule. In the method, an enzyme clamp is reversibly bound to a plurality of sequential polymer subunits of the target polymer molecule. The target polymer molecule and the enzyme clamp are disposed at the nanopore. In the method, there is applied a pulse of force operative to deterministically advance the enzyme clamp along the target polymer molecule by no more than one polymer subunit. The pulse of force is then repeatedly applied to cause deterministic translocation of a sequential plurality of polymer subunits of the target polymer molecule through the nanopore.

A macromolecule membrane structure (2) comprises a membrane (3) with water-channeling integral membrane proteins (IMPS) (1) and is coated, on a first surface, with a silica layer (4). The silica layer (4) stabilizes the macromolecule membrane structure (2) and the water-channeling IMPS (1) while maintaining the water-channeling function of the water-channeling IMPs (1). As a consequence of this stabilization, the macromolecule membrane structure (2) may be used in a filtration device (5) for various filtration operations, including water purification.