The disclosure describes a method of forming highly ordered membrane protein crystals. The forming process is done in the presence of a magnetic field to exploit the diamagnetic anisotropy of the membrane protein. Further described is a method of magnetic alignment and crystallization of membrane proteins in two-dimensional (2D) sheets for protein structural characterization and applications in functional devices. Block co-copolymers are used in alternative embodiments to assist with the crystallization process.

The invention relates to the providing of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer-based hollow fiber membranes containing a water-insoluble antioxidant; in particular, the invention relates to the providing of hollow fiber membranes for the extracorporeal treatment of blood, wherein the hollow fiber membranes have improved biocompatibility relative to treatment blood, in particular improved complement activation and lower platelet loss vis--vis treatment blood. At the same time, the elution of hydrophilic polymers from the lumen of the hollow fiber membrane is reduced.

Disclosed is a vesicle comprising polystyrene-polyacrylic acid (PS-PAA) block copolymer and an amphiphilic functional molecule. The vesicle is stable even at elevated temperatures and the amphiphilic functional molecule remains active. Also discloses is a selectively permeable membrane comprising a support layer and a selective layer incorporating the vesicles.

A method for preparing an adsorptive media for binding biologic molecules comprising immersing a macroporous support in a first solution of a coupling reagent in a solvent solution for attachment of said coupling reagent to form coupling groups; and, immersing said macroporous support in an incubating solution selected from the group consisting of ligand, nucleotide, oligonucleotide, peptide, polypeptide, protein, and enzyme solutions having an affinity to a biologic target molecule to couple one of said ligands, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, peptides, polypeptides, proteins, and enzymes to at least a portion of said coupling groups of said macroporous support for binding with said biologic target molecule when exposed to said macroporous support.

Stabilized surfactant-based membranes and methods of manufacture thereof. Membranes comprising a stabilized surfactant mesostructure on a porous support may be used for various separations, including reverse osmosis and forward osmosis. The membranes are stabilized after evaporation of solvents; in some embodiments no removal of the surfactant is required. The surfactant solution may or may not comprise a hydrophilic compound such as an acid or base. The surface of the porous support is preferably modified prior to formation of the stabilized surfactant mesostructure. The membrane is sufficiently stable to be utilized in commercial separations devices such as spiral wound modules.

A nanobiocatalytic membrane for a filtration system is provided which includes a filtration membrane and a plurality of nanobiocatalyst nanoparticles associated with the membrane, each of the nanobiocatalyst nanoparticles including a core, a coating at least partially surrounding the core, and a plurality of nanobiocatalysts coupled to the coating. Each of the plurality of nanobiocatalysts includes an antibacterial nanoparticle comprising bismuth, and a quorum quenching agent coupled to the antibacterial nanoparticle. A nanobiocatalyst nanoparticle for use with a water purification system is also provided. A method of forming a nanobiocatalytic membrane for a filtration system and a method of using a nanobiocatalytic membrane in a filtration system are also provided.

A method of producing a hollow fiber membrane having an outside coating with a thin film composite (TFC) layer with a transmembrane protein, the method including the steps of: preparing an aqueous solution including a self-assembled nanostructure including polyalkyleneimine (PAI) and a detergent solubilized transmembrane protein and a di- or triamine, preparing an apolar solution including a di- or triacyl halide in an apolar organic solvent, contacting a hollow fiber membrane with the either the solution according to step a) or the solution according to step b), removing excess solution if any, contacting the hollow fiber membrane with the other solution, allowing an interfacial polymerization reaction to take place, and rinsing the hollow fiber membrane with an aqueous solvent. The hollow fiber is applicable e.g. for extracting water from the product solution.

The present invention provides a RO membrane or a FO membrane comprising a coating layer made of a phospholipid bilayer membrane and formed on a surface of a porous membrane body, having a high water permeate flow rate and salt rejection performance, the membrane being a permselective membrane comprising a porous membrane having a pore size of 5 nm to 50 nm and a coating layer made of a phospholipid bilayer and formed on a surface of the porous membrane, wherein (i) the phospholipid bilayer comprises phospholipid, amphotericin B, and ergosterol; (ii) a content of the amphotericin B is 3 to 20 mol % based on the phospholipid bilayer; (iii) a total content of the ergosterol and the amphotericin B in the phospholipid bilayer is 10 to 30 mol %.

The invention provides a filtration membrane which comprises a porous support and, covalently bonded to a surface thereof, a layer comprising a plurality of vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from an amphiphilic block copolymer; characterised in that within said layer, vesicles are covalently linked together to form a coherent mass. The membrane may be prepared by a process which comprises providing an aqueous suspension of vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from an amphiphilic block copolymer having reactive end groups; depositing said suspension of vesicles on a surface of a porous support; and providing reaction conditions such that covalent bonds are formed between different vesicles and between vesicles and said surface.

A permselective membrane includes a support membrane having selective permeability and a lipid membrane containing a channel substance, the lipid membrane being formed on a surface of the support membrane, wherein the support membrane has a permeation flux of 20 L/(m.sup.2.Math.h) or more and a desalination capacity of 1% to 20% at a pressure of 0.1 MPa.