Disclosed are apparatus and methods for blood and other biological fluid purification using a membrane with cell containing vascular channel systems and filtration channel systems. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatus as well as methods of making membranes.

Methods of fabricating a membrane comprising proteoliposomes having protein water channels are provided herein. The method may include providing a porous substrate, depositing a solution containing proteoliposomes on the porous substrate, and then contacting the porous substrate with an aqueous monomer solution and an organic monomer solution to form a selective layer on the porous substrate embedding the proteoliposomes. The method may include depositing the aqueous monomer solution, then the solution containing the proteoliposomes, then the organic monomer solution, to form the selective layer. The present disclosure also describes the membrane and a system operable to accommodate both methods.

Methods of fabricating a membrane comprising proteoliposomes having protein water channels are provided herein. The method may include providing a porous substrate, depositing a solution containing proteoliposomes on the porous substrate, and then contacting the porous substrate with an aqueous monomer solution and an organic monomer solution to form a selective layer on the porous substrate embedding the proteoliposomes. The method may include depositing the aqueous monomer solution, then the solution containing the proteoliposomes, then the organic monomer solution, to form the selective layer. The present disclosure also describes the membrane and a system operable to accommodate both methods.

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.

Described herein is a crosslinked graphene and biopolymer (e.g. lignin) based composite membrane that provides selective resistance for solutes while providing water permeability. The membrane may include optional additional functional additives in a crosslinked material matrix that provides enhanced salt separation from water. Methods for making such membranes, and methods of using the membranes for dehydrating or removing solutes from water are also described.

Described herein is a crosslinked graphene and biopolymer (e.g. lignin) based composite membrane that provides selective resistance for solutes while providing water permeability. The membrane may include optional additional functional additives in a crosslinked material matrix that provides enhanced salt separation from water. Methods for making such membranes, and methods of using the membranes for dehydrating or removing solutes from water are also described.

A method for processing a fluid with forward osmosis process includes providing one or more tubular membranes each including a tubular nonwoven base layer on the outside of the tubular membrane forming an outer shell of the tubular membrane and providing a lumen for feed flow; a polymer substrate layer on the lumen-side of the tubular membrane comprising three regions, including a region where the polymer substrate layer is partially intruded into the tubular base layer, a region with an open macrovoid structure and a region with an asymmetrical foamy layer, where the partially intruded region forms an intermediate layer; and a functional top layer on the polymer substrate layer. The tubular base layer comprises a longitudinal weld. The method includes providing the feed flow through the lumen and providing a draw solution on the outer shell side of the tubular membrane; and processing the feed flow with the membrane.

In a method p for controlling translocation of a target polymer molecule through a nanopore, a clamp is reversibly bound to a sequential plurality of polymer subunits along the target polymer molecule length and the molecule and clamp are disposed in an ionic solution that is in fluidic communication with the nanopore. A constant translocation force is applied across the nanopore to induce travel of the target polymer molecule into the nanopore, until the clamp abuts the nanopore aperture and stops further travel of the target polymer molecule into the nanopore. Then a voltage control pulse is applied across the nanopore and/or a thermal control pulse is applied at the nanopore, with a pulse duration that steps the clamp along the target polymer molecule by no more than one polymer subunit in a direction opposite that of travel into the nanopore. No fuel is provided to the clamp.

In a method p for controlling translocation of a target polymer molecule through a nanopore, a clamp is reversibly bound to a sequential plurality of polymer subunits along the target polymer molecule length and the molecule and clamp are disposed in an ionic solution that is in fluidic communication with the nanopore. A constant translocation force is applied across the nanopore to induce travel of the target polymer molecule into the nanopore, until the clamp abuts the nanopore aperture and stops further travel of the target polymer molecule into the nanopore. Then a voltage control pulse is applied across the nanopore and/or a thermal control pulse is applied at the nanopore, with a pulse duration that steps the clamp along the target polymer molecule by no more than one polymer subunit in a direction opposite that of travel into the nanopore. No fuel is provided to the clamp.