The invention provides systems and methods for substantially improving the compaction resistance of isoporous block copolymer (BCP) film by adding a high molecular weight hydrophilic additive in the casting dope formulation. Systems and methods disclosed also disclose several other multifunctional enhancements to film properties including: low fouling propensity, improved permeability, improved permeability retention upon drying, and ability to tune the substructure and pore size of these novel BCP films. These porous BCP films are useful in filtration and separations applications and are amenable to standard manufacturing practices.

The invention provides systems and methods for substantially improving the compaction resistance of isoporous block copolymer (BCP) film by adding a high molecular weight hydrophilic additive in the casting dope formulation. Systems and methods disclosed also disclose several other multifunctional enhancements to film properties including: low fouling propensity, improved permeability, improved permeability retention upon drying, and ability to tune the substructure and pore size of these novel BCP films. These porous BCP films are useful in filtration and separations applications and are amenable to standard manufacturing practices.

Track-etched membranes for filtration are provided. Filtration methods utilizing such membranes and cell culture methods are also provided.

A porous membrane, The porous membrane includes a triblock copolymer of the formula ABC, the porous membrane comprising a plurality of pores; wherein the A block has a T.sub.g of 90 degrees Celsius or greater and is present in an amount ranging from 30% to 80% by weight, inclusive, of the total block copolymer; wherein the B block has a T.sub.g of 25 degrees Celsius or less and is present in an amount ranging from 10% to 40% by weight, inclusive, of the total block copolymer and wherein the C block is a water miscible hydrogen-bonding block immiscible with each of the A block and the B block; wherein the porous membrane comprising a first major surface and an opposed second major surface, wherein the first major surface is a nanostructured surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe functionalized polymeric membranes including one or more dithiol compounds that extend from a nanoparticle provided on or near a surface and/or pores of a polymer material, wherein at least one thiol of the dithiol compound binds to the nanoparticle and at least one thiol of the dithiol compound is a free thiol. Embodiments of the present disclosure further describe methods of separating and/or recovering a purified antibody comprising contacting a feed stream containing an antibody and other biomolecules with a functionalized polymeric membrane to separate the antibody from the feed stream; and applying a reducing agent to release the antibody from the membrane and recover a purified antibody; wherein the functionalized polymeric membrane includes a plurality of free thiols selective to binding the antibody.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a polymeric membrane having a homogeneous porosity throughout the entire polymeric phase. The method comprises the steps of dissolving at least one amphiphillic block copolymer in a solvent to form a casting solution of the block copolymer, and contacting the extruded solution with non-solvent to induce phase separation and thereby producing an integral asymmetric polymeric membrane, wherein the amphiphillic block copolymer is an amphiphillic diblock copolymer, containing blocks of a polar copolymer and blocks of a benzocyclobutene copolymer, and wherein the integral asymmetric polymeric membrane is crosslinked by application of heat or radiation thereby producing a membrane having a homogeneous porosity throughout the entire polymeric phase.

Provided is a method of producing a composite membrane in the form of laminated membranes in which a plurality of isoporous membranes are laminated, wherein the plurality of membranes laminated have through-holes having different sizes from each other and each membrane have the through-holes having the same size.

A method for fractionating a liquid include contacting a liquid comprising at least one type of encapsulating particle with at least one mesoporous isoporous block copolymer material, wherein at least one component of the liquid is separated. A device for fractionating a liquid having encapsulating particles includes at least one mesoporous isoporous block copolymer material. The device can further include an inlet to allow the liquid to contact the mesoporous isoporous block copolymer material, and an outlet to allow passage of the fractionated liquid. In some instances, the device can be a pleated capsule, a flat sheet cassette, a spiral wound module, a hollow fiber module, a syringe filter, a microcentrifuge tube, a centrifuge tube, a spin column, a multiple well plate, a vacuum filter, a flat sheet, or a pipette tip.

A microfilter, a manufacturing method thereof, and a microfiltration unit for holding the microfilter are provided. The microfilter has: a non-epoxy based microfilm; and a plurality of microholes provided on the surface of the non-epoxy based microfilm and penetrating therethrough via UV laser ablation, wherein the surface of the non-epoxy based microfilm is patterned into predetermined sections for locating isolated targets and quick enumeration.

Micro- or nano-pores are produced in a membrane for various applications including filtration and sorting functions. Pores with at least one cross-sectional dimension in or near the nano-scale are provided. Device designs and processing allow for the use of thin film disposition and nano-imprinting or nano-molding to produce arrays of nano-pores in membrane materials functioning in applications such as filtration membranes, drug application/control structures, body fluid sampling structures, and sorting membranes. The nano-imprinting or nano-molding approach is utilized to create nano-elements in an organic or inorganic mold material with at least one nano-element cross-sectional dimension in or close to the nano-scale. These nano-elements can be in various shapes including slits, cones, columns, domes, and hemispheres.