The present invention provides an improved method of quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of a target molecule using nitrocellulose membrane (NCM). In particular, the present invention provides a porous nitrocellulose membrane that includes a surface and an organic nanostructured molecule that is non-covalently attached to the surface of NCM. The organic nanostructured molecule has a branched region that includes a plurality of terminal region (e.g., terminal end) moieties that are non-covalently attached or bound to a surface of the porous NCM. The organic nanostructured molecule also comprises a linear region that includes a covalently attached capture molecule that is adapted to selectively bind to a target molecule. The NCM of the invention provides an improved reproducibility, reliability, and selectivity compared an NCM in the absence of the organic nanostructured molecule.

The present invention provides an improved method of quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of a target molecule using nitrocellulose membrane (NCM). In particular, the present invention provides a porous nitrocellulose membrane that includes a surface and an organic nanostructured molecule that is non-covalently attached to the surface of NCM. The organic nanostructured molecule has a branched region that includes a plurality of terminal region (e.g., terminal end) moieties that are non-covalently attached or bound to a surface of the porous NCM. The organic nanostructured molecule also comprises a linear region that includes a covalently attached capture molecule that is adapted to selectively bind to a target molecule. The NCM of the invention provides an improved reproducibility, reliability, and selectivity compared an NCM in the absence of the organic nanostructured molecule.

A method for separating microplastics from an animal feces, the method including: 1) freeze-drying an animal fecal sample; 2) transferring the animal fecal sample dried in 1) into a beaker, adding a Fenton's reagent; stirring a mixture of the animal fecal sample and the Fenton's reagent until no bubbles were produced; constantly adding the Fenton's reagent to the mixture; filtering the mixture through a plurality of cellulose nitrate-cellulose acetate (CN-CA) membranes, and transferring the plurality of CN-CA membranes into a plurality of 500 mL beakers; adding 100 mL of 65% HNO.sub.3 to each beaker, placing the each beaker in a water bath firstly at 50 C. for 30 min and then at 70 C. for 15 min; cooling the each beaker in an ice bath, and filtering a solution in the each beaker through a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane; and 3) transferring the first PTFE membrane into a 500 mL beaker.

A method for separating microplastics from an animal feces, the method including: 1) freeze-drying an animal fecal sample; 2) transferring the animal fecal sample dried in 1) into a beaker, adding a Fenton's reagent; stirring a mixture of the animal fecal sample and the Fenton's reagent until no bubbles were produced; constantly adding the Fenton's reagent to the mixture; filtering the mixture through a plurality of cellulose nitrate-cellulose acetate (CN-CA) membranes, and transferring the plurality of CN-CA membranes into a plurality of 500 mL beakers; adding 100 mL of 65% HNO.sub.3 to each beaker, placing the each beaker in a water bath firstly at 50 C. for 30 min and then at 70 C. for 15 min; cooling the each beaker in an ice bath, and filtering a solution in the each beaker through a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane; and 3) transferring the first PTFE membrane into a 500 mL beaker.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for manufacturing a continuous web of polymeric membrane and for continuous downstream processing of said web. The apparatus (10) comprises: a casting station (20) for casting the continuous web (M); a carrier (24) for carrying the web downstream; a membrane drier (30) downstream of the carrier, for drying the web; and a brushing station (40) downstream of the drier for brushing the web. Said drier is located immediately downstream of the carrier, and upstream of said brushing station. The apparatus (10) further includes an additional drying station (50) downstream of the brushing station (40). Brushing after drying retains more surfactant in the membrane which is useful for certain applications. In addition, initial drying eliminates virtually all solvents from the membrane, but leaves some non-solvent (e.g. water) within it, which in turn fixes the surfactant on the nitrocellulose fibers, which improves significantly the consistency and reproducibility of the membrane.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for manufacturing a continuous web of polymeric membrane and for continuous downstream processing of said web. The apparatus (10) comprises: a casting station (20) for casting the continuous web (M); a carrier (24) for carrying the web downstream; a membrane drier (30) downstream of the carrier, for drying the web; and a brushing station (40) downstream of the drier for brushing the web. Said drier is located immediately downstream of the carrier, and upstream of said brushing station. The apparatus (10) further includes an additional drying station (50) downstream of the brushing station (40). Brushing after drying retains more surfactant in the membrane which is useful for certain applications. In addition, initial drying eliminates virtually all solvents from the membrane, but leaves some non-solvent (e.g. water) within it, which in turn fixes the surfactant on the nitrocellulose fibers, which improves significantly the consistency and reproducibility of the membrane.

The embodiments provide a modified filter membrane for separating a crude solution of a biological product and a viral contaminant. The filter membrane has a cellulosed based porous surface, and at least one divalent metal ion bound to the cellulose based porous surface of the filter membrane to form a modified filter membrane cellulose based porous surface, wherein the modified cellulose based porous surface separates the crude solution by retaining a viral contaminant greater than 15 nm in diameter while allowing a biological product smaller than 15 nm in diameter to pass through. The embodiments also provide a method of filtering a crude solution of a biological product and a viral contaminant using a modified filter membrane by adding a divalent metal ion to a filter membrane porous surface to form a modified filter membrane porous surface with a pore size in the range of 1 to 15 nm in size, and filtering the crude solution of the biological product and the viral contaminant through the porous surface of the modified filter membrane, wherein the modified filter membrane retains the viral contaminant on the porous surface while allowing the biological product to pass through.

The invention relates to an implantable device to deliver drug formulations through a nanoporous membrane. The current related arts for delivery of drug formulations include tablets, injections, implantable pellets, injectable polymer depots, and implantable infusion pumps. The invention employs a reservoir to contain the drug formulation, a nanoporous membrane, and a formulation of estrogen.

The invention relates to an implantable device to deliver drug formulations through a nanoporous membrane. The current related arts for delivery of drug formulations include tablets, injections, implantable pellets, injectable polymer depots, and implantable infusion pumps. The invention employs a reservoir to contain the drug formulation, a nanoporous membrane, and a formulation of estrogen.

The present invention provides an improved method of quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of a target molecule using nitrocellulose membrane (NCM). In particular, the present invention provides a porous nitrocellulose membrane that includes a surface and an organic nanostructured molecule that is non-covalently attached to the surface of NCM. The organic nanostructured molecule has a branched region that includes a plurality of terminal region (e.g., terminal end) moieties that are non-covalently attached or bound to a surface of the porous NCM. The organic nanostructured molecule also comprises a linear region that includes a covalently attached capture molecule that is adapted to selectively bind to a target molecule. The NCM of the invention provides an improved reproducibility, reliability, and selectivity compared an NCM in the absence of the organic nanostructured molecule.