Quantum statistical mechanics of nonrelativistic membranes: crumpling transition at finite temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borelli, M. E. S.; Kleinert, H.; Schakel, Adriaan M. J.

2000-03-01

The effect of quantum fluctuations on a nearly flat, nonrelativistic two-dimensional membrane with extrinsic curvature stiffness and tension is investigated. The renormalization group analysis is carried out in first-order perturbative theory. In contrast to thermal fluctuations, which soften the membrane at large scales and turn it into a crumpled surface, quantum fluctuations are found to stiffen the membrane, so that it exhibits a Hausdorff dimension equal to two. The large-scale behavior of the membrane is further studied at finite temperature, where a nontrivial fixed point is found, signaling a crumpling transition.

Study of Membrane Reflector Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knapp, K.; Hedgepeth, J.

1979-01-01

Very large reflective surfaces are required by future spacecraft for such purposes as solar energy collection, antenna surfaces, thermal control, attitude and orbit control with solar pressure, and solar sailing. The performance benefits in large membrane reflector systems, which may be derived from an advancement of this film and related structures technology, are identified and qualified. The results of the study are reported and summarized. Detailed technical discussions of various aspects of the study are included in several separate technical notes which are referenced.

Review of Large Spacecraft Deployable Membrane Antenna Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhi-Quan; Qiu, Hui; Li, Xiao; Yang, Shu-Li

2017-11-01

The demand for large antennas in future space missions has increasingly stimulated the development of deployable membrane antenna structures owing to their light weight and small stowage volume. However, there is little literature providing a comprehensive review and comparison of different membrane antenna structures. Space-borne membrane antenna structures are mainly classified as either parabolic or planar membrane antenna structures. For parabolic membrane antenna structures, there are five deploying and forming methods, including inflation, inflation-rigidization, elastic ribs driven, Shape Memory Polymer (SMP)-inflation, and electrostatic forming. The development and detailed comparison of these five methods are presented. Then, properties of membrane materials (including polyester film and polyimide film) for parabolic membrane antennas are compared. Additionally, for planar membrane antenna structures, frame shapes have changed from circular to rectangular, and different tensioning systems have emerged successively, including single Miura-Natori, double, and multi-layer tensioning systems. Recent advances in structural configurations, tensioning system design, and dynamic analysis for planar membrane antenna structures are investigated. Finally, future trends for large space membrane antenna structures are pointed out and technical problems are proposed, including design and analysis of membrane structures, materials and processes, membrane packing, surface accuracy stability, and test and verification technology. Through a review of large deployable membrane antenna structures, guidance for space membrane-antenna research and applications is provided.

Mixing, diffusion, and percolation in binary supported membranes containing mixtures of lipids and amphiphilic block copolymers.

PubMed

Gettel, Douglas L; Sanborn, Jeremy; Patel, Mira A; de Hoog, Hans-Peter; Liedberg, Bo; Nallani, Madhavan; Parikh, Atul N

2014-07-23

Substrate-mediated fusion of small polymersomes, derived from mixtures of lipids and amphiphilic block copolymers, produces hybrid, supported planar bilayers at hydrophilic surfaces, monolayers at hydrophobic surfaces, and binary monolayer/bilayer patterns at amphiphilic surfaces, directly responding to local measures of (and variations in) surface free energy. Despite the large thickness mismatch in their hydrophobic cores, the hybrid membranes do not exhibit microscopic phase separation, reflecting irreversible adsorption and limited lateral reorganization of the polymer component. With increasing fluid-phase lipid fraction, these hybrid, supported membranes undergo a fluidity transition, producing a fully percolating fluid lipid phase beyond a critical area fraction, which matches the percolation threshold for the immobile point obstacles. This then suggests that polymer-lipid hybrid membranes might be useful models for studying obstructed diffusion, such as occurs in lipid membranes containing proteins.

Brownian dynamics simulations of simplified cytochrome c molecules in the presence of a charged surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorba, C.; Geyer, T.; Helms, V.

2004-07-01

Simulations were performed for up to 150 simplified spherical horse heart cytochrome c molecules in the presence of a charged surface, which serves as an approximate model for a lipid membrane. Screened electrostatic and short-ranged attractive as well as repulsive van der Waals forces for interparticle and particle-membrane interactions are utilized in the simulations. At a distance from the membrane, where particle-membrane interactions are negligible, the simulation is coupled to a noninteraction continuum analogous to a heat bath [Geyer et al., J. Chem. Phys. 120, 4573 (2004)]. From the particles' density profiles perpendicular to the planar surface binding isotherms are derived and compared to experimental results [Heimburg et al. (1999)]. Using a negatively charged structureless membrane surface a saturation effect was found for relatively large particle concentrations. Since biological membranes often contain membrane proteins, we also studied the influence of additional charges on our model membrane mimicking bacterial reaction centers. We find that the onset of the saturation occurs for much lower concentrations and is sensitive to the detailed implementation. Therefore we suggest that local distortion of membrane planarity (undulation), or lipid demixing, or the presence of charged integral membrane proteins create preferential binding sites on the membrane. Only then do we observe saturation at physiological concentrations.

Microscale X-ray tomographic investigation of the interfacial morphology between the catalyst and micro porous layers in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prass, Sebastian; Hasanpour, Sadegh; Sow, Pradeep Kumar; Phillion, André B.; Mérida, Walter

2016-07-01

The interfacial morphology between the catalyst layer (CL) and micro porous layer (MPL) influences the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Here we report a direct method to investigate the CL-MPL interfacial morphology of stacked and compressed gas diffusion layer (GDL with MPL)-catalyst coated membrane (CCM) assemblies. The area, origin and dimensions of interfacial gaps are studied with high-resolution X-ray micro computed tomography (X-μCT). The projected gap area (fraction of the CL-MPL interface separated by gaps) is higher for GDL-CCM assemblies with large differences in the surface roughness between CL and MPL but reduces with increasing compression and similarity in roughness. Relatively large continuous gaps are found in proximity to cracks in the MPL. These are hypothesized to form due to the presence of large pores on the surface of the GDL. Smaller gaps are induced by the surface roughness features throughout the CL-MPL interface. By modification of the pore sizes on the GDL surface serving as substrate for the MPL, the number and dimension of MPL crack induced gaps can be manipulated. Moreover, adjusting the CL and MPL surface roughness parameters to achieve similar orders of roughness can improve the surface mating characteristics of these two components.

Quantitative determination of the lateral density and intermolecular correlation between proteins anchored on the membrane surfaces using grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering and grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence.

PubMed

Abuillan, Wasim; Vorobiev, Alexei; Hartel, Andreas; Jones, Nicola G; Engstler, Markus; Tanaka, Motomu

2012-11-28

As a physical model of the surface of cells coated with densely packed, non-crystalline proteins coupled to lipid anchors, we functionalized the surface of phospholipid membranes by coupling of neutravidin to biotinylated lipid anchors. After the characterization of fine structures perpendicular to the plane of membrane using specular X-ray reflectivity, the same membrane was characterized by grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). Within the framework of distorted wave Born approximation and two-dimensional Percus-Yevick function, we can analyze the form and structure factors of the non-crystalline, membrane-anchored proteins for the first time. As a new experimental technique to quantify the surface density of proteins on the membrane surface, we utilized grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence (GIXF). Here, the mean intermolecular distance between proteins from the sulfur peak intensities can be calculated by applying Abelé's matrix formalism. The characteristic correlation distance between non-crystalline neutravidin obtained by the GISAXS analysis agrees well with the intermolecular distance calculated by GIXF, suggesting a large potential of the combination of GISAXS and GIXF in probing the lateral density and correlation of non-crystalline proteins displayed on the membrane surface.

Switchable hydrophobic/hydrophilic surface of electrospun poly (l-lactide) membranes obtained by CF₄microwave plasma treatment

DOE PAGES

Yue, Mengyao; Zhou, Baoming; Jiao, Kunyan; ...

2014-11-29

A switchable surface that promotes either hydrophobic or hydrophilic wettability of poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) microfibrous membranes is obtained by CF₄ microwave plasma treatment in this paper. The results indicated that both etching and grafting process occurred during the CF₄ plasma treatment and these two factors synergistically affected the final surface wettability of PLLA membranes. When plasma treatment was taken under a relatively low power, the surface wettability of PLLA membranes turned from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Especially when CF₄ plasma treatment was taken under 100 W for 10 min and 150 W for 5 min, the water contact angle sharply decreasedmore » from 116 ± 3.0° to ~0°. According to Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) results, the PLLA fibers were notably etched by CF₄ plasma treatment. Combined with the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, only a few fluorine-containing groups were grafted onto the surface, so the etching effect directly affected the surface wettability of PLLA membranes in low plasma power condition. However, with the plasma power increasing to 200 W, the PLLA membrane surface turned to hydrophobic again. In contrast, the morphology changes of PLLA fiber surfaces were not obvious while a large number of fluorine-containing groups grafted onto the surface. So the grafting effect gradually became the major factor for the final surface wettability.« less

Preliminary design notes on a low F-number EMR

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mihora, D. J.

1982-01-01

Conceptual design studies were completed on a new Electrostatic Membrane Reflector, EMR. This new model incorporates both a preformed, curved membrane reflector and membrane control surface. This improved model is the second step toward a high precision large space antenna that could eventually exhibit a performance in terms of aperture diameter to surface quality exceeding 1,000,000. Design trades indicate that the goal of a low ratio of focal length to aperture diameter (f sub n) can be achieved while operating in a humid sea-level environment. A nominal surface quality of 1.0 mm (RMS) is possible using available off-the-shelf commercial membranes. Both the membrane reflector and control electrode surface are fabricated from 12 gore segments and attached to the available 12 sided, 4.88 m diameter rim. The preferred conceptual design has a f sub n = 1.0. The 4.88 m aperture is performed with a centerline displacement of 0.306 m. The nominal spacing between the membrane reflector and the electrode control surface is 50.8 mm. The centerline membrane displacement from its performed to its tensioned, smooth shape is about 3 mm. The membrane tensioning is achieved by application of an electrostatic pressure of 2.6 N/sq cm and a voltage of about 38 kV.

Surface modification of PTMSP membranes by plasma treatment: Asymmetry of transport in organic solvent nanofiltration.

PubMed

Volkov, A V; Tsarkov, S E; Gilman, A B; Khotimsky, V S; Roldughin, V I; Volkov, V V

2015-08-01

For the first time, the effect of asymmetry of the membrane transport was studied for organic solvents and solutes upon their nanofiltration through the plasma-modified membranes based on poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP). Plasma treatment is shown to provide a marked hydrophilization of the hydrophobic PTMSP surface (the contact angle of water decreases from 88 down to 20°) and leads to the development of a negative charge of -5.2 nC/cm(2). The XPS measurements prove the formation of the oxygen-containing groups (Si-O and C-O) due to the surface modification. The AFM images show that the small-scale surface roughness of the plasma-treated PTMSP sample is reduced but the large-scale surface heterogeneities become more pronounced. The modified membranes retain their hydrophilic surface properties even after the nanofiltration tests and 30-day storage under ambient conditions. The results of the filtration tests show that when the membrane is oriented so that its modified layer contacts the feed solution, the membrane permeability for linear alcohols (methanol-propanol) and acetone decreases nearly two times. When the modified membrane surface faces the permeate, the membrane is seen to regain its transport characteristics: the flux becomes equal to that of the unmodified PTMSP. The well-pronounced effect of the transport asymmetry is observed for the solution of the neutral dye Solvent Blue 35 in methanol, ethanol, and acetone. For example, the initial membrane shows the negative retention for the Solvent Blue 35 dye (-16%) upon its filtration from the ethanol solution whereas, for the modified PTMSP membrane, the retention increases up to 17%. Various effects contributing to the asymmetry of the membrane transport characteristics are discussed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surface-enhanced separation performance of porous inorganic membranes for biomass-to-biofuel conversion applications

DOE PAGES

Hu, Michael Z.; Engtrakul, Chaiwat; Bischoff, Brian L.; ...

2016-11-14

A new class of inorganic-based membranes, i.e., High-Performance Architectured Surface Selective (HiPAS) membranes, is introduced to provide high perm-selective flux by exploiting unique separation mechanisms induced by superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic surface interactions and confined capillary condensation in enlarged membrane pores (~8 nm). The super-hydro-tunable HiPAS membranes were originally developed for the purpose of bio-oil/biofuel processing to achieve selective separations at higher flux relative to size selective porous membranes (e.g., inorganic zeolite-based membranes) and better high-temperature tolerance than polymer membranes (>250 C) for hot vapor processing. Due to surface-enhanced separation selectivity, HiPAS membranes can thus possibly enable larger pores to facilitatemore » large-flux separations by increasing from sub-nanometer pores to mesopores (2-50 nm) for vapor phase or micron-scale pores for liquid phase separations. In this paper, we describe an innovative membrane concept and a materials synthesis strategy to fabricate HiPAS membranes, and demonstrate selective permeation in both vapor- and liquid-phase applications. High permeability and selectivity were demonstrated using surrogate mixtures, such as ethanol-water, toluene-water, and toluene-phenol-water. The overall membrane evaluation results show promise for the future processing of biomass pyrolysis and upgraded product vapors and condensed liquid bio-oil intermediates.« less

Membrane processes in biotechnology: an overview.

PubMed

Charcosset, Catherine

2006-01-01

Membrane processes are increasingly reported for various applications in both upstream and downstream technology, such as the established ultrafiltration and microfiltration, and emerging processes as membrane bioreactors, membrane chromatography, and membrane contactors for the preparation of emulsions and particles. Membrane systems exploit the inherent properties of high selectivity, high surface-area-per-unit-volume, and their potential for controlling the level of contact and/or mixing between two phases. This review presents these various membrane processes by focusing more precisely on membrane materials, module design, operating parameters and the large range of possible applications.

Construction of Hierarchical Fouling Resistance Surfaces onto Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Membranes for Combating Membrane Biofouling.

PubMed

Li, Xue; Hu, Xuefeng; Cai, Tao

2017-05-09

Owing to the highly hydrophobic nature, fluoropolymer membranes usually suffer from serious fouling problem, and therefore largely limited their practical applications. Also, the development of environmentally benign and nonreleasing antifouling coatings onto the inert fluoropolymer membranes remains a great challenge and is of prime importance for various scientific interests and industrial applications. In the present work, a facile and effective approach for the construction of hierarchical fouling resistance surfaces onto the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes was developed. Graft copolymers of PVDF with poly(hyperbranched polyglycerol methacrylamide) side chains (PVDF-g-PHPGMA copolymers) were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) graft copolymerization of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate (PFMA) with the ozone-preactivated PVDF, followed by activated ester-amine reaction of PPFMA chains with amino-terminated hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG-NH 2 ). The copolymers could be simply processed into microfiltration (MF) membranes with surface-tethered PHPGMA side chains on the membrane and pore surfaces by nonsolvent induced phase inversion. Furthermore, the PVDF-g-PHPGMA-g-PSBMA membrane was prepared via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of zwitterionic monomer, N-(3-sulfopropyl)-N-(methacryloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium betaine (SBMA) from the PVDF-g-PHPGMA membrane and pore surfaces. Arise from a synergistic effect of the dendritic architecture of PHPGMA branches and "superhydrophilic" nature of PSBMA brushes, the PVDF-g-PHPGMA-g-PSBMA membranes exhibit superior resistance to protein and bacteria adhesion with insignificant cytotoxicity effects, making the membranes potentially useful for water treatment and biomedical applications. One may find the present study a general and effective method for the fabrication of antifouling fluoropolymer membranes in a controllable and green manner.

Thermodynamic analysis of membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor and its implications.

PubMed

Hong, Huachang; Peng, Wei; Zhang, Meijia; Chen, Jianrong; He, Yiming; Wang, Fangyuan; Weng, Xuexiang; Yu, Haiying; Lin, Hongjun

2013-10-01

The thermodynamic interactions between membrane and sludge flocs in a submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) were investigated. It was found that Lewis acid-base (AB) interaction predominated in the total interactions. The interaction energy composition of membrane-sludge flocs combination was quite similar to that of membrane-bovine serum albumin (BSA) combination, indicating the critical role of proteins in adhesion process. Detailed analysis revealed the existence of a repulsive energy barrier in membrane-foulants interaction. Calculation results demonstrated that small flocs possessed higher attractive interaction energy per unit mass, and therefore adhered to membrane surface more easily as compared to large flocs. Meanwhile, initial sludge adhesion would facilitate the following adhesion due to the reduced repulsive energy barrier. Membrane with high electron donor surface tension component was a favor option for membrane fouling abatement. These findings offered new insights into membrane fouling, and also provided significant implications for fouling control in MBRs. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efficient Preparation of Super Antifouling PVDF Ultrafiltration Membrane with One Step Fabricated Zwitterionic Surface.

PubMed

Zhao, Xinzhen; He, Chunju

2015-08-19

On the basis of the excellent fouling resistance of zwitterionic materials, the super antifouling polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was efficiently prepared though one-step sulfonation of PVDF and polyaniline blend membrane in situ. The self-doped sulfonated polyaniline (SPANI) was generated as a novel zwitterionic polymer to improve the antifouling property of PVDF ultrafiltration membrane used in sewage treatment. Surface attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface zeta potential, and water contact angle demonstrated the successful fabrication of zwitterionic interface by convenient sulfonation modification. The static adsorption fouling test showed the quantified adsorption mass of bovine serum albumin (BSA) pollutant on the PVDF/SPANI membrane surface decreases to 3(±2) μg/cm(2), and the water flux recovery ratio (FRR) values were no less than 95% for the three model pollutants of BSA, sodium alginate (SA), and humic acid (HA), which were corresponding hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and natural pollutants in sewage, respectively. This Research Article demonstrated the antifouling advantages of zwitterionic SPANI and aimed to provide a simple method for the large scale preparation of zwitterionic antifouling ultrafiltration membranes.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yue, Mengyao; Zhou, Baoming; Jiao, Kunyan

A switchable surface that promotes either hydrophobic or hydrophilic wettability of poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) microfibrous membranes is obtained by CF₄ microwave plasma treatment in this paper. The results indicated that both etching and grafting process occurred during the CF₄ plasma treatment and these two factors synergistically affected the final surface wettability of PLLA membranes. When plasma treatment was taken under a relatively low power, the surface wettability of PLLA membranes turned from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Especially when CF₄ plasma treatment was taken under 100 W for 10 min and 150 W for 5 min, the water contact angle sharply decreasedmore » from 116 ± 3.0° to ~0°. According to Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) results, the PLLA fibers were notably etched by CF₄ plasma treatment. Combined with the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, only a few fluorine-containing groups were grafted onto the surface, so the etching effect directly affected the surface wettability of PLLA membranes in low plasma power condition. However, with the plasma power increasing to 200 W, the PLLA membrane surface turned to hydrophobic again. In contrast, the morphology changes of PLLA fiber surfaces were not obvious while a large number of fluorine-containing groups grafted onto the surface. So the grafting effect gradually became the major factor for the final surface wettability.« less

Human liver plasma membranes contain receptors for the hepatitis B virus pre-S1 region and, via polymerized human serum albumin, for the pre-S2 region.

PubMed Central

Pontisso, P; Petit, M A; Bankowski, M J; Peeples, M E

1989-01-01

Hepatitis B virus particles contain three related viral envelope proteins, the small, middle, and large S (surface) proteins. All three proteins contain the small S amino acid sequence at their carboxyl terminus. It is not clear which of these S proteins functions as the viral attachment protein, binding to a target cell receptor and initiating infection. In this report, recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) particles, which contain only virus envelope proteins, were radioactively labeled, and their attachment to human liver membranes was examined. Only the rHBsAg particles containing the large S protein were capable of directly attaching to liver plasma membranes. The attachment was saturable and could be prevented by competition with unlabeled particles or by a monoclonal antibody specific for the large S protein. In the presence of polymerized human serum albumin, both large and middle S protein-containing rHBsAg particles were capable of attaching to the liver plasma membranes. Small S protein-containing rHBsAg particles were not able to attach even in the presence of polymerized human serum albumin. These results indicate that the large S protein may be the viral attachment protein for hepatocytes, binding directly to liver plasma membranes by its unique amino-terminal (pre-S1) sequence. These results also indicate that polymerized human serum albumin or a similar molecule could act as an intermediate receptor, attaching to liver plasma membranes and to the amino acid sequence (pre-S2) shared by the middle and large S proteins but not contained in the small S protein. Images PMID:2649690

Sutureless Fixation of Amniotic Membrane for Therapy of Ocular Surface Disorders

PubMed Central

Kotomin, Ilya; Valtink, Monika; Hofmann, Kai; Frenzel, Annika; Morawietz, Henning; Werner, Carsten; Funk, Richard H. W.; Engelmann, Katrin

2015-01-01

Amniotic membrane is applied to the diseased ocular surface to stimulate wound healing and tissue repair, because it releases supportive growth factors and cytokines. These effects fade within about a week after application, necessitating repeated application. Generally, amniotic membrane is fixed with sutures to the ocular surface, but surgical intervention at the inflamed or diseased site can be detrimental. Therefore, we have developed a system for the mounting of amniotic membrane between two rings for application to a diseased ocular surface without surgical intervention (sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation). With this system, AmnioClip, amniotic membrane can be applied like a large contact lens. First prototypes were tested in an experiment on oneself for wearing comfort. The final system was tested on 7 patients in a pilot study. A possible influence of the ring system on the biological effects of amniotic membrane was analyzed by histochemistry and by analyzing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF 2) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) from amniotic membranes before and after therapeutic application. The final product, AmnioClip, showed good tolerance and did not impair the biological effects of amniotic membrane. VEGF-A and PEDF mRNA was expressed in amniotic membrane after storage and mounting before transplantation, but was undetectable after a 7-day application period. Consequently, transplantation of amniotic membranes with AmnioClip provides a sutureless and hence improved therapeutic strategy for corneal surface disorders. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02168790 PMID:25955359

Self-assembling layers created by membrane proteins on gold.

PubMed

Shah, D S; Thomas, M B; Phillips, S; Cisneros, D A; Le Brun, A P; Holt, S A; Lakey, J H

2007-06-01

Membrane systems are based on several types of organization. First, amphiphilic lipids are able to create monolayer and bilayer structures which may be flat, vesicular or micellar. Into these structures membrane proteins can be inserted which use the membrane to provide signals for lateral and orientational organization. Furthermore, the proteins are the product of highly specific self-assembly otherwise known as folding, which mostly places individual atoms at precise places in three dimensions. These structures all have dimensions in the nanoscale, except for the size of membrane planes which may extend for millimetres in large liposomes or centimetres on planar surfaces such as monolayers at the air/water interface. Membrane systems can be assembled on to surfaces to create supported bilayers and these have uses in biosensors and in electrical measurements using modified ion channels. The supported systems also allow for measurements using spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance and atomic force microscopy. By combining the roles of lipids and proteins, highly ordered and specific structures can be self-assembled in aqueous solution at the nanoscale.

Modeling the dynamics of shape generation and sensing by proteins on lipid membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walani, Nikhil; Arroyo, Marino

Lipid membranes are fluid surfaces with flexural resistance that interact with proteins to perform their function in a biological context. A set of these proteins are responsible for shaping the lipid membranes, or of sensing curvature. A large body of work has examined the curvature sensing and generation properties of these proteins. Even though such processes are fundamentally dynamical in cells and in in vitro reconstituted systems, theoretical and computational studies have largely focussed on equilibrium thermodynamics. In this work, we propose a theoretical framework based on Onsager's variational principle of irreversible thermodynamics that captures the dynamics of adsorption, diffusion, and shape generation or sensing of proteins on lipid surfaces. We acknowledge the funds from European Research Council CoG- 681434 to support this research.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Michael Z.; Engtrakul, Chaiwat; Bischoff, Brian L.

A new class of inorganic-based membranes, i.e., High-Performance Architectured Surface Selective (HiPAS) membranes, is introduced to provide high perm-selective flux by exploiting unique separation mechanisms induced by superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic surface interactions and confined capillary condensation in enlarged membrane pores (~8 nm). The super-hydro-tunable HiPAS membranes were originally developed for the purpose of bio-oil/biofuel processing to achieve selective separations at higher flux relative to size selective porous membranes (e.g., inorganic zeolite-based membranes) and better high-temperature tolerance than polymer membranes (>250 C) for hot vapor processing. Due to surface-enhanced separation selectivity, HiPAS membranes can thus possibly enable larger pores to facilitatemore » large-flux separations by increasing from sub-nanometer pores to mesopores (2-50 nm) for vapor phase or micron-scale pores for liquid phase separations. In this paper, we describe an innovative membrane concept and a materials synthesis strategy to fabricate HiPAS membranes, and demonstrate selective permeation in both vapor- and liquid-phase applications. High permeability and selectivity were demonstrated using surrogate mixtures, such as ethanol-water, toluene-water, and toluene-phenol-water. The overall membrane evaluation results show promise for the future processing of biomass pyrolysis and upgraded product vapors and condensed liquid bio-oil intermediates.« less

Fabrication of free standing anodic titanium oxide membranes with clean surface using recycling process.

PubMed

Meng, Xianhui; Lee, Tae-Young; Chen, Huiyu; Shin, Dong-Wook; Kwon, Kee-Won; Kwon, Sang Jik; Yoo, Ji-Beom

2010-07-01

Large area of self-organized, free standing anodic titanium oxide (ATO) nanotube membranes with clean surfaces were facilely prepared to desired lengths via electrochemical anodization of highly pure Ti sheets in an ethylene glycol electrolyte, with a small amount of NH4F and H2O at 50 V, followed by self-detachment of the ATO membrane from the Ti substrate using recycling processes. In the first anodization step, the nanowire oxide layer existed over the well-arranged ATO nanotube. After sufficiently rinsing with water, the whole ATO layer was removed from the Ti sheet by high pressure N2 gas, and a well-patterned dimple layer with a thickness of about 30 nm existed on the Ti substrate. By using these naturally formed nano-scale pits as templates, in the second and third anodization process, highly ordered, vertically aligned, and free standing ATO membranes with the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO)-like clean surface were obtained. The inter-pore distance and diameter was 154 +/- 2 nm and 91+/- 2 nm, the tube arrays lengths for 25 and 46 hours were 44 and 70 microm, respectively. The present study demonstrates a simple approach to producing high quality, length controllable, large area TiO2 membrane.

Research on automatic Hartmann test of membrane mirror

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Xing; Jin, Guang; Liu, Chunyu; Zhang, Peng

2010-10-01

Electrostatic membrane mirror is ultra-lightweight and easy to acquire a large diameter comparing with traditional optical elements, so its development and usage is the trend of future large mirrors. In order to research the control method of the static stretching membrane mirror, the surface configuration must be tested. However, membrane mirror's shape is always changed by variable voltages on the electrodes, and the optical properties of membrane materials using in our experiment are poor, so it is difficult to test membrane mirror by interferometer and null compensator method. To solve this problem, an automatic optical test procedure for membrane mirror is designed based on Hartmann screen method. The optical path includes point light source, CCD camera, splitter and diffuse transmittance screen. The spots' positions on the diffuse transmittance screen are pictured by CCD camera connected with computer, and image segmentation and centroid solving is auto processed. The CCD camera's lens distortion is measured, and fixing coefficients are given to eliminate the spots' positions recording error caused by lens distortion. To process the low sampling Hartmann test results, Zernike polynomial fitting method is applied to smooth the wave front. So low frequency error of the membrane mirror can be measured then. Errors affecting the test accuracy are also analyzed in this paper. The method proposed in this paper provides a reference for surface shape detection in membrane mirror research.

Enhanced methanol utilization in direct methanol fuel cell

DOEpatents

Ren, Xiaoming; Gottesfeld, Shimshon

2001-10-02

The fuel utilization of a direct methanol fuel cell is enhanced for improved cell efficiency. Distribution plates at the anode and cathode of the fuel cell are configured to distribute reactants vertically and laterally uniformly over a catalyzed membrane surface of the fuel cell. A conductive sheet between the anode distribution plate and the anodic membrane surface forms a mass transport barrier to the methanol fuel that is large relative to a mass transport barrier for a gaseous hydrogen fuel cell. In a preferred embodiment, the distribution plate is a perforated corrugated sheet. The mass transport barrier may be conveniently increased by increasing the thickness of an anode conductive sheet adjacent the membrane surface of the fuel cell.

Colloidal inverse bicontinuous cubic membranes of block copolymers with tunable surface functional groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

La, Yunju; Park, Chiyoung; Shin, Tae Joo; Joo, Sang Hoon; Kang, Sebyung; Kim, Kyoung Taek

2014-06-01

Analogous to the complex membranes found in cellular organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, the inverse cubic mesophases of lipids and their colloidal forms (cubosomes) possess internal networks of water channels arranged in crystalline order, which provide a unique nanospace for membrane-protein crystallization and guest encapsulation. Polymeric analogues of cubosomes formed by the direct self-assembly of block copolymers in solution could provide new polymeric mesoporous materials with a three-dimensionally organized internal maze of large water channels. Here we report the self-assembly of amphiphilic dendritic-linear block copolymers into polymer cubosomes in aqueous solution. The presence of precisely defined bulky dendritic blocks drives the block copolymers to form spontaneously highly curved bilayers in aqueous solution. This results in the formation of colloidal inverse bicontinuous cubic mesophases. The internal networks of water channels provide a high surface area with tunable surface functional groups that can serve as anchoring points for large guests such as proteins and enzymes.

Polymer surfaces structured with random or aligned electrospun nanofibers to promote the adhesion of blood platelets.

PubMed

Wan, Ling-Shu; Xu, Zhi-Kang

2009-04-01

Fibrous membranes (nonwoven meshes) prepared via electrospinning technique have great potential in tissue engineering. This work is the first study on the behaviors of blood platelets at the nanostructured surface generated by electrospinning. Poly[acrylonitrile-co-(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)] (PANCNVP) that shows excellent antiplatelet adhesion ability was directly electrospun onto its dense membrane surface. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) samples were used as controls. The depth as well as the density of the nanofibers can be easily controlled. The results showed that the PANCNVP dense membrane certainly suppressed the activation and adhesion of platelets. However, whether the nanofibers and underlying membranes were composed of PAN or PANCNVP, the nanostructured surfaces promoted the activation, adhesion, and orientation of platelets. It was also found that, if the space between fibers was too large or the depth of fibers was too small, the nanostructured surface did not change the property of antiplatelet adhesion of PANCNVP. The promotion of activation and adhesion of platelets was obviously due to the presence of nanofibers, which induced the changes of surface topography and charge. Copyright 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Loss of electrostatic cell-surface repulsion mediates myelin membrane adhesion and compaction in the central nervous system.

PubMed

Bakhti, Mostafa; Snaidero, Nicolas; Schneider, David; Aggarwal, Shweta; Möbius, Wiebke; Janshoff, Andreas; Eckhardt, Matthias; Nave, Klaus-Armin; Simons, Mikael

2013-02-19

During the development of the central nervous system (CNS), oligodendrocytes wrap their plasma membrane around axons to form a multilayered stack of tightly attached membranes. Although intracellular myelin compaction and the role of myelin basic protein has been investigated, the forces that mediate the close interaction of myelin membranes at their external surfaces are poorly understood. Such extensive bilayer-bilayer interactions are usually prevented by repulsive forces generated by the glycocalyx, a dense and confluent layer of large and negatively charged oligosaccharides. Here we investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying myelin adhesion and compaction in the CNS. We revisit the role of the proteolipid protein and analyze the contribution of oligosaccharides using cellular assays, biophysical tools, and transgenic mice. We observe that differentiation of oligodendrocytes is accompanied by a striking down-regulation of components of their glycocalyx. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the adhesive properties of the proteolipid protein, along with the reduction of sialic acid residues from the cell surface, orchestrate myelin membrane adhesion and compaction in the CNS. We suggest that loss of electrostatic cell-surface repulsion uncovers weak and unspecific attractive forces in the bilayer that bring the extracellular surfaces of a membrane into close contact over long distances.

The Sperm-surface glycoprotein, SGP, is necessary for fertilization in the frog, Xenopus laevis.

PubMed

Nagai, Keita; Ishida, Takuya; Hashimoto, Takafumi; Harada, Yuichirou; Ueno, Shuichi; Ueda, Yasushi; Kubo, Hideo; Iwao, Yasuhiro

2009-06-01

To identify a molecule involved in sperm-egg plasma membrane binding at fertilization, a monoclonal antibody against a sperm-surface glycoprotein (SGP) was obtained by immunizing mice with a sperm membrane fraction of the frog, Xenopus laevis, followed by screening of the culture supernatants based on their inhibitory activity against fertilization. The fertilization of both jellied and denuded eggs was effectively inhibited by pretreatment of sperm with intact anti-SGP antibody as well as its Fab fragment, indicating that the antibody recognizes a molecule on the sperm's surface that is necessary for fertilization. On Western blots, the anti-SGP antibody recognized large molecules, with molecular masses of 65-150 kDa and minor smaller molecules with masses of 20-28 kDa in the sperm membrane vesicles. SGP was distributed over nearly the entire surface of the sperm, probably as an integral membrane protein in close association with microfilaments. More membrane vesicles containing SGP bound to the surface were found in the animal hemisphere compared with the vegetal hemisphere in unfertilized eggs, but the vesicle-binding was not observed in fertilized eggs. These results indicate that SGP mediates sperm-egg membrane binding and is responsible for the establishment of fertilization in Xenopus.

Helical image reconstruction of the outward-open human erythrocyte band 3 membrane domain in tubular crystals.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, Tomohiro; Fujii, Takashi; Abe, Yoshito; Hirai, Teruhisa; Kang, Dongchon; Namba, Keiichi; Hamasaki, Naotaka; Mitsuoka, Kaoru

2010-03-01

The C-terminal membrane domain of erythrocyte band 3 functions as an anion exchanger. Here, we report the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the membrane domain in an inhibitor-stabilized, outward-open conformation at 18A resolution. Unstained, frozen-hydrated tubular crystals containing the membrane domain of band 3 purified from human red blood cells (hB3MD) were examined using cryo-electron microscopy and iterative helical real-space reconstruction (IHRSR). The 3D image reconstruction of the tubular crystals showed the molecular packing of hB3MD dimers with dimensions of 60 x 110 A in the membrane plane and a thickness of 70A across the membrane. Immunoelectron microscopy and carboxyl-terminal digestion demonstrated that the intracellular surface of hB3MD was exposed on the outer surface of the tubular crystal. A 3D density map revealed that hB3MD consists of at least two subdomains and that the outward-open form is characterized by a large hollow area on the extracellular surface and continuous density on the intracellular surface. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

LOCATING AND REPAIRING LEAKS IN LANDFILL/IMPOUNDMENT FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE LINERS

EPA Science Inventory

In the United States, the large quantities of solid and hazardous wastes generated each year are commonly disposed of in landfills and surface impoundments. Geomembrane liners (flexible membrane liners, FMLs) are often used to form an impermeable barrier to prevent migration of c...

Membrane contactor/separator for an advanced ozone membrane reactor for treatment of recalcitrant organic pollutants in water

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chan, Wai Kit, E-mail: kekyeung@ust.hk; Joueet, Justine; Heng, Samuel

An advanced ozone membrane reactor that synergistically combines membrane distributor for ozone gas, membrane contactor for pollutant adsorption and reaction, and membrane separator for clean water production is described. The membrane reactor represents an order of magnitude improvement over traditional semibatch reactor design and is capable of complete conversion of recalcitrant endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in water at less than three minutes residence time. Coating the membrane contactor with alumina and hydrotalcite (Mg/Al=3) adsorbs and traps the organics in the reaction zone resulting in 30% increase of total organic carbon (TOC) removal. Large surface area coating that diffuses surface chargesmore » from adsorbed polar organic molecules is preferred as it reduces membrane polarization that is detrimental to separation. - Graphical abstract: Advanced ozone membrane reactor synergistically combines membrane distributor for ozone, membrane contactor for sorption and reaction and membrane separator for clean water production to achieve an order of magnitude enhancement in treatment performance compared to traditional ozone reactor. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Novel reactor using membranes for ozone distributor, reaction contactor and water separator. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Designed to achieve an order of magnitude enhancement over traditional reactor. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and hydrotalcite coatings capture and trap pollutants giving additional 30% TOC removal. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer High surface area coating prevents polarization and improves membrane separation and life.« less

A Prototype Actuator Concept for Membrane Boundary Vibration Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Solter, Micah J.

2005-01-01

In conjunction with the research in ultra-lightweight deployable spacecraft and membrane structures is an underlying need for shape and vibration control. For thin film membrane structures, fundamental modes of vibration for the membrane can be excited through station keeping, attitude adjustments, orbital maneuvers, or contact with space junk or micrometeorites. In order to maintain structural integrity as well as surface shape contour, which may be essential for inflatable antennas, reflective surfaces, or solar sails; vibration damping is a necessary component. This paper discusses development of an actuator attached at the membrane boundary, containing two types of piezoelectric elements, which can be used to perform active control of vibration from the boundary of a membrane. The actuator is designed to control the membrane out-of-plane displacement and in-plane tension by varying the boundary conditions. Results from an initial experimental evaluation of the concept are presented with bench tests of the actuator alone, and with the actuator connected to a large membrane.

Energetics and Partition of Two Cecropin-Melittin Hybrid Peptides to Model Membranes of Different Composition

PubMed Central

Bastos, Margarida; Bai, Guangyue; Gomes, Paula; Andreu, David; Goormaghtigh, Erik; Prieto, Manuel

2008-01-01

The energetics and partition of two hybrid peptides of cecropin A and melittin (CA(1–8)M(1–18) and CA(1–7)M(2–9)) with liposomes of different composition were studied by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and surface plasmon resonance. The study was carried out with large unilamellar vesicles of three different lipid compositions: 1,2-dimyristoil-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (DMPG), and a 3:1 binary mixture of DMPC/DMPG in a wide range of peptide/lipid ratios. The results are compatible with a model involving a strong electrostatic surface interaction between the peptides and the negatively charged liposomes, giving rise to aggregation and precipitation. A correlation is observed in the calorimetric experiments between the observed events and charge neutralization for negatively charged and mixed membranes. In the case of zwitterionic membranes, a very interesting case study was obtained with the smaller peptide, CA(1–7)M(2–9). The calorimetric results obtained for this peptide in a large range of peptide/lipid ratios can be interpreted on the basis of an initial and progressive surface coverage until a threshold concentration, where the orientation changes from parallel to perpendicular to the membrane, followed by pore formation and eventually membrane disruption. The importance of negatively charged lipids on the discrimination between bacterial and eukaryotic membranes is emphasized. PMID:18032555

Wirelessly Controllable Inflated Electroactive Polymer (EAP) Reflectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bao, Xiaoqi; Bar-Cohen, Yoseph; Chang, Zensheu; Sherrit, Stewart; Badescu, Mircea

2005-01-01

Inflatable membrane reflectors are attractive for deployable, large aperture, lightweight optical and microwave systems in micro-gravity space environment. However, any fabrication flaw or temperature variation may results in significant aberration of the surface. Even for a perfectly fabricated inflatable membrane mirror with uniform thickness, theory shows it will form a Hencky curve surface but a desired parabolic or spherical surface. Precision control of the surfaceshape of extremely flexible membrane structures is a critical challenge for the success of this technology. Wirelessly controllable inflated reflectors made of electroactive polymers (EAP) are proposed in this paper. A finite element model was configured to predict the behavior of the inflatable EAP membranes under pre-strains, pressures and distributed electric charges on the surface. To explore the controllability of the inflatable EAP reflectors, an iteration algorism was developed to find the required electric actuation for correcting the aberration of the Hencky curve to the desired parabolic curve. The correction capability of the reflectors with available EAP materials was explored numerically and is presented in this paper.

Ceramic membrane defouling (cleaning) by air Nano Bubbles.

PubMed

Ghadimkhani, Aliasghar; Zhang, Wen; Marhaba, Taha

2016-03-01

Ceramic membranes are among the most promising technologies for membrane applications, owing to their excellent resistance to mechanical, chemical, and thermal stresses. However, membrane fouling is still an issue that hampers the applications at large scales. Air Nano Bubbles (NBs), due to high mass transfer efficiency, could potentially prevent fouling of ceramic membrane filtration processes. In this study, bench and pilot scale ceramic membrane filtration was performed with air NBs to resist fouling. To simulate fouling, humic acid, as an organic foulant, was applied to the membrane flat sheet surface. Complete membrane clogging was achieved in less than 6 h. Membrane defouling (cleaning) was performed by directly feeding of air NBs to the membrane cells. The surface of the ceramic membrane was superbly cleaned by air NBs, as revealed by atomic force microscope (AFM) images before and after the treatment. The permeate flux recovered to its initial level (e.g., 26.7 × 10(-9) m(3)/m(2)/s at applied pressure of 275.8 kPa), which indicated that NBs successfully unclogged the pores of the membrane. The integrated ceramic membrane and air NBs system holds potential as an innovative sustainable technology. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of tethered lipid assemblies for membrane protein reconstitution (Review).

PubMed

Veneziano, Rémi; Rossi, Claire; Chenal, Alexandre; Brenner, Catherine; Ladant, Daniel; Chopineau, Joël

2017-09-28

Biological membranes and their related molecular mechanisms are essential for all living organisms. Membranes host numerous proteins and are responsible for the exchange of molecules and ions, cell signaling, and cell compartmentation. Indeed, the plasma membrane delimits the intracellular compartment from the extracellular environment and intracellular membranes. Biological membranes also play a major role in metabolism regulation and cellular physiology (e.g., mitochondrial membranes). The elaboration of membrane based biomimetic systems allows us to reconstitute and investigate, in controlled conditions, biological events occurring at the membrane interface. A whole variety of model membrane systems have been developed in the last few decades. Among these models, supported membranes were developed on various hydrophilic supports. The use of solid supports enables the direct use of surface sensitive techniques (e.g., surface plasmon resonance, quartz crystal microbalance, and atomic force microscopy) to monitor and quantify events occurring at the membrane surface. Tethered bilayer membranes (tBLMs) could be considered as an achievement of the first solid supported membranes described by the McConnell group. Tethered bilayers on solid supports were designed to delimit an inside compartment from an outside one. They were used for measuring interactions with ligands or incorporating large membrane proteins or complexes without interference with the support. In this context, the authors developed an easy concept of versatile tBLMs assembled on amino coated substrates that are formed upon the vesicle fusion rupture process applicable to protein-free vesicles as well as proteoliposomes. The phospholipid bilayer (natural or synthetic lipids) incorporated 5% of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly ethylene glycol-N-hydroxy succinimide to ensure the anchorage of the bilayer to the amino coated surface. The conditions for the formation of tBLMs on amino-coated gold and glass were optimized for protein-free vesicles. This biomimetic membrane delimits an inside "trans" compartment separated from an outside reservoir "cis." Using this tBLM construction, the authors were interested in deciphering two complex molecular mechanisms involving membrane-associated proteins. The first one concerns two mitochondrial proteins, i.e., the porin voltage dependent anion channel (VDAC) embedded in the outer membrane and the nucleotide transporter (adenine nucleotide translocase) that interacts dynamically during mitochondrial pathophysiology. The purified VDAC porin was first reconstituted in proteoliposomes that were subsequently assembled on an amino coated support to form a biomimetic membrane. As a major result, VDAC was reconstituted in this tBLM and calcium channeling was demonstrated across the lipid bilayer. The same two-compartment biomimetic membrane design was further engineered to study the translocation mechanism of a bacterial toxin, the adenylate cyclase toxin, CyaA, from Bordetella pertussis. As a result, the authors developed an elegant in vitro translocation toolkit applicable to potentially a large panel of proteins transported across membranes.

New insights into the effects of biomaterial chemistry and topography on the morphology of kidney epithelial cells.

PubMed

Hulshof, Frits; Schophuizen, Carolien; Mihajlovic, Milos; van Blitterswijk, Clemens; Masereeuw, Rosalinde; de Boer, Jan; Stamatialis, Dimitrios

2018-02-01

Increasing incidence of renal pathology in the western world calls for innovative research for the development of cell-based therapies such as a bioartificial kidney (BAK) device. To fulfil the multitude of kidney functions, the core component of the BAK is a living membrane consisting of a tight kidney cell monolayer with preserved functional organic ion transporters cultured on a polymeric membrane surface. This membrane, on one side, is in contact with blood and therefore should have excellent blood compatibility, whereas the other side should facilitate functional monolayer formation. This work investigated the effect of membrane chemistry and surface topography on kidney epithelial cells to improve the formation of a functional monolayer. To achieve this, microtopographies were fabricated with high resolution and reproducibility on polystyrene films and on polyethersulfone-polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PES-PVP) porous membranes. A conditionally immortalized proximal tubule epithelial cell line (ciPTEC) was cultured on both, and subsequently, the cell morphology and monolayer formation were assessed. Our results showed that L-dopamine coating of the PES-PVP was sufficient to support ciPTEC monolayer formation. The polystyrene topographies with large features were able to align the cells in various patterns without significantly disruption of monolayer formation; however, the PES-PVP topographies with large features disrupted the monolayer. In contrast, the PES-PVP membranes with small features and with large spacing supported well the ciPTEC monolayer formation. In addition, the topographical PES-PVP membranes were compatible as a substrate membrane to measure organic cation transporter activity in Transwell® systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Positively charged and bipolar layered poly(ether imide) nanofiltration membranes for water softening applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gassara, S.; Abdelkafi, A.; Quémener, D.; Amar, R. Ben; Deratani, A.

2015-07-01

Poly(ether imide) (PEI) ultrafiltration membranes were chemically modified with branched poly(ethyleneimine) to obtain nanofiltration (NF) membrane Cat PEI with a positive charge in the pH range below 9. An oppositely charged polyelectrolyte layer was deposited on the resulting membrane surface by using sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSSNa) and sodium polyvinyl sulfonate (PVSNa) to prepare a bipolar layered membrane NF Cat PEI_PSS and Cat PEI_PVS having a negatively charged surface and positively charged pores. Cat PEI exhibited good performance to remove multivalent cations (more than 90% of Ca2+) from single salt solutions except in presence of sulfate ions. Adding an anionic polyelectrolyte layer onto the positively charged surface resulted in a significant enhancement of rejection performance even in presence of sulfate anions. Application of the prepared membranes in water softening of natural complex mixtures was successful for the different studied membranes and a large decrease of hardness was obtained. Moreover, Cat PEI_PSS showed a good selectivity for nitrate removal. Fouling experiments were carried out with bovine serum albumin, as model protein foulant. Cat PEI_PSS showed much better fouling resistance than Cat PEI with a quantitative flux recovery ratio.

Investigation of membrane mechanics using spring networks: application to red-blood-cell modelling.

PubMed

Chen, Mingzhu; Boyle, Fergal J

2014-10-01

In recent years a number of red-blood-cell (RBC) models have been proposed using spring networks to represent the RBC membrane. Some results predicted by these models agree well with experimental measurements. However, the suitability of these membrane models has been questioned. The RBC membrane, like a continuum membrane, is mechanically isotropic throughout its surface, but the mechanical properties of a spring network vary on the network surface and change with deformation. In this work spring-network mechanics are investigated in large deformation for the first time via an assessment of the effect of network parameters, i.e. network mesh, spring type and surface constraint. It is found that a spring network is conditionally equivalent to a continuum membrane. In addition, spring networks are employed for RBC modelling to replicate the optical tweezers test. It is found that a spring network is sufficient for modelling the RBC membrane but strain-hardening springs are required. Moreover, the deformation profile of a spring network is presented for the first time via the degree of shear. It is found that spring-network deformation approaches continuous as the mesh density increases. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanocellulose based asymmetric composite membrane for the multiple functions in cell encapsulation.

PubMed

Park, Minsung; Shin, Sungchul; Cheng, Jie; Hyun, Jinho

2017-02-20

We describe the nanocomposite membrane for cell encapsulation using nanocelluose hydrogels. One of the surfaces of bacterial cellulose (BC) pellicles was coated with collagen to enhance cell adhesion and the opposite side of the BC pellicles was coated with alginate to protect transplanted cells from immune rejection by the reduced pore size of the composite membrane. The morphology of nanocomposite membrane was observed by scanning electron microscopy and the permeability of the membrane was estimated by the release test using different molecular weights of polymer solution. The nanocomposite membrane was permeable to small molecules but impermeable to large molecules such as IgG antibodies inferring the potential use in cell implantation. In addition, the BC-based nanocomposite membrane showed a superior mechanical property due to the incorporation of compared with alginate membranes. The cells attached efficiently to the surface of BC composite membranes with a high level of cell viability as well as bioactivity. Cells grown on the BC composite membrane kit released dopamine freely to the medium through the membrane, which showed that the BC composite membrane would be a promising cell encapsulation material in implantation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sonoporation at Small and Large Length Scales: Effect of Cavitation Bubble Collapse on Membranes.

PubMed

Fu, Haohao; Comer, Jeffrey; Cai, Wensheng; Chipot, Christophe

2015-02-05

Ultrasound has emerged as a promising means to effect controlled delivery of therapeutic agents through cell membranes. One possible mechanism that explains the enhanced permeability of lipid bilayers is the fast contraction of cavitation bubbles produced on the membrane surface, thereby generating large impulses, which, in turn, enhance the permeability of the bilayer to small molecules. In the present contribution, we investigate the collapse of bubbles of different diameters, using atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the force exerted on the membrane. The total impulse can be computed rigorously in numerical simulations, revealing a superlinear dependence of the impulse on the radius of the bubble. The collapse affects the structure of a nearby immobilized membrane, and leads to partial membrane invagination and increased water permeation. The results of the present study are envisioned to help optimize the use of ultrasound, notably for the delivery of drugs.

Positive zeta potential of a negatively charged semi-permeable plasma membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinha, Shayandev; Jing, Haoyuan; Das, Siddhartha

2017-08-01

The negative charge of the plasma membrane (PM) severely affects the nature of moieties that may enter or leave the cells and controls a large number of ion-interaction-mediated intracellular and extracellular events. In this letter, we report our discovery of a most fascinating scenario, where one interface (e.g., membrane-cytosol interface) of the negatively charged PM shows a positive surface (or ζ) potential, while the other interface (e.g., membrane-electrolyte interface) still shows a negative ζ potential. Therefore, we encounter a completely unexpected situation where an interface (e.g., membrane-cytosol interface) that has a negative surface charge density demonstrates a positive ζ potential. We establish that the attainment of such a property by the membrane can be ascribed to an interplay of the nature of the membrane semi-permeability and the electrostatics of the electric double layer established on either side of the charged membrane. We anticipate that such a membrane property can lead to such capabilities of the cell (in terms of accepting or releasing certain kinds of moieties as well regulating cellular signaling) that was hitherto inconceivable.

Shape adjustment optimization and experiment of cable-membrane reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Jingli; Gu, Yongzhen; Bao, Hong; Wang, Congsi; Chen, Xiaofeng

2018-05-01

Cable-membrane structures are widely employed for large space reflectors due to their lightweight, compact and easy package. In these structures, membranes are attached to cable net, serving as reflectors themselves or as supporting structures for other reflective surface. The cable length and membrane shape have to be carefully designed and fabricated to guarantee the desired reflector surface shape. However, due to inevitable error in cable length and membrane shape during the manufacture and assembly of cable-membrane reflectors, some cables have to be designed to be capable of length adjustment. By carefully adjusting the length of these cables, the degeneration in reflector shape precision due to this inevitable error can be effectively reduced. In the paper a shape adjustment algorithm for cable-membrane reflectors is proposed. Meanwhile, model updating is employed during shape adjustment to decrease the discrepancy of the numerical model with respect to the actual reflector. This discrepancy has to be considered because during attaching membranes to cable net, the accuracy of the membrane shape is hard to guarantee. Numerical examples and experimental results demonstrate the proposed method.

Domain Formation Induced by the Adsorption of Charged Proteins on Mixed Lipid Membranes

PubMed Central

Mbamala, Emmanuel C.; Ben-Shaul, Avinoam; May, Sylvio

2005-01-01

Peripheral proteins can trigger the formation of domains in mixed fluid-like lipid membranes. We analyze the mechanism underlying this process for proteins that bind electrostatically onto a flat two-component membrane, composed of charged and neutral lipid species. Of particular interest are membranes in which the hydrocarbon lipid tails tend to segregate owing to nonideal chain mixing, but the (protein-free) lipid membrane is nevertheless stable due to the electrostatic repulsion between the charged lipid headgroups. The adsorption of charged, say basic, proteins onto a membrane containing anionic lipids induces local lipid demixing, whereby charged lipids migrate toward (or away from) the adsorption site, so as to minimize the electrostatic binding free energy. Apart from reducing lipid headgroup repulsion, this process creates a gradient in lipid composition around the adsorption zone, and hence a line energy whose magnitude depends on the protein's size and charge and the extent of lipid chain nonideality. Above a certain critical lipid nonideality, the line energy is large enough to induce domain formation, i.e., protein aggregation and, concomitantly, macroscopic lipid phase separation. We quantitatively analyze the thermodynamic stability of the dressed membrane based on nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann theory, accounting for both the microscopic characteristics of the proteins and lipid composition modulations at and around the adsorption zone. Spinodal surfaces and critical points of the dressed membranes are calculated for several different model proteins of spherical and disk-like shapes. Among the models studied we find the most substantial protein-induced membrane destabilization for disk-like proteins whose charges are concentrated in the membrane-facing surface. If additional charges reside on the side faces of the proteins, direct protein-protein repulsion diminishes considerably the propensity for domain formation. Generally, a highly charged flat face of a macroion appears most efficient in inducing large compositional gradients, hence a large and unfavorable line energy and consequently lateral macroion aggregation and, concomitantly, macroscopic lipid phase separation. PMID:15626713

The interaction of an antiparasitic peptide active against African sleeping sickness with cell membrane models.

PubMed

Pascholati, Cauê P; Lopera, Esteban Parra; Pavinatto, Felippe J; Caseli, Luciano; Nobre, Thatyane M; Zaniquelli, Maria E D; Viitala, Tapani; D'Silva, Claudius; Oliveira, Osvaldo N

2009-12-01

Zwitterionic peptides with trypanocidal activity are promising lead compounds for the treatment of African Sleeping Sickness, and have motivated research into the design of compounds capable of disrupting the protozoan membrane. In this study, we use the Langmuir monolayer technique to investigate the surface properties of an antiparasitic peptide, namely S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione di-2-propyl ester, and its interaction with a model membrane comprising a phospholipid monolayer. The drug formed stable Langmuir monolayers, whose main feature was a phase transition accompanied by a negative surface elasticity. This was attributed to aggregation upon compression due to intermolecular bond associations of the molecules, inferred from surface pressure and surface potential isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) images, infrared spectroscopy and dynamic elasticity measurements. When co-spread with dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC), the drug affected both the surface pressure and the monolayer morphology, even at high surface pressures and with low amounts of the drug. The results were interpreted by assuming a repulsive, cooperative interaction between the drug and DPPC molecules. Such repulsive interaction and the large changes in fluidity arising from drug aggregation may be related to the disruption of the membrane, which is key for the parasite killing property.

Dual-Electrode CMUT With Non-Uniform Membranes for High Electromechanical Coupling Coefficient and High Bandwidth Operation

PubMed Central

Guldiken, Rasim O.; Zahorian, Jaime; Yamaner, F. Y.; Degertekin, F. L.

2010-01-01

In this paper, we report measurement results on dual-electrode CMUT demonstrating electromechanical coupling coefficient (k2) of 0.82 at 90% of collapse voltage as well as 136% 3 dB one-way fractional bandwidth at the transducer surface around the design frequency of 8 MHz. These results are within 5% of the predictions of the finite element simulations. The large bandwidth is achieved mainly by utilizing a non-uniform membrane, introducing center mass to the design, whereas the dual-electrode structure provides high coupling coefficient in a large dc bias range without collapsing the membrane. In addition, the non-uniform membrane structure improves the transmit sensitivity of the dual-electrode CMUT by about 2dB as compared with a dual electrode CMUT with uniform membrane. PMID:19574135

Membrane Shell Reflector Segment Antenna

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fang, Houfei; Im, Eastwood; Lin, John; Moore, James

2012-01-01

The mesh reflector is the only type of large, in-space deployable antenna that has successfully flown in space. However, state-of-the-art large deployable mesh antenna systems are RF-frequency-limited by both global shape accuracy and local surface quality. The limitations of mesh reflectors stem from two factors. First, at higher frequencies, the porosity and surface roughness of the mesh results in loss and scattering of the signal. Second, the mesh material does not have any bending stiffness and thus cannot be formed into true parabolic (or other desired) shapes. To advance the deployable reflector technology at high RF frequencies from the current state-of-the-art, significant improvements need to be made in three major aspects: a high-stability and highprecision deployable truss; a continuously curved RF reflecting surface (the function of the surface as well as its first derivative are both continuous); and the RF reflecting surface should be made of a continuous material. To meet these three requirements, the Membrane Shell Reflector Segment (MSRS) antenna was developed.

Response of MG63 osteoblast-like cells onto polycarbonate membrane surfaces with different micropore sizes.

PubMed

Lee, Sang Jin; Choi, Jin San; Park, Ki Suk; Khang, Gilson; Lee, Young Moo; Lee, Hai Bang

2004-08-01

Response of different types of cells on materials is important for the applications of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. It is recognized that the behavior of the cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation on materials depends largely on surface characteristics such as wettability, chemistry, charge, rigidity, and roughness. In this study, we examined the behavior of MG63 osteoblast-like cells cultured on a polycarbonate (PC) membrane surfaces with different micropore sizes (0.2-8.0 microm in diameter). Cell adhesion and proliferation to the PC membrane surfaces were determined by cell counting and MTT assay. The effect of surface micropore on the MG63 cells was evaluated by cell morphology, protein content, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) specific activity. It seems that the cell adhesion and proliferation were progressively inhibited as the PC membranes had micropores with increasing size, probably due to surface discontinuities produced by track-etched pores. Increasing micropore size of the PC membrane results in improved protein synthesis and ALP specific activity in isolated cells. There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between different micropore sizes. The MG63 cells also maintained their phenotype under conditions that support a round cell shape. RT-PCR analysis further confirmed the osteogenic phenotype of the MG63 cells onto the PC membranes with different micropore sizes. In results, as micropore size is getting larger, cell number is reduced and cell differentiation and matrix production is increased. This study demonstrated that the surface topography plays an important role for phenotypic expression of the MG63 osteoblast-like cells.

Bacterial attachment to RO membranes surface-modified by concentration-polarization-enhanced graft polymerization.

PubMed

Bernstein, Roy; Belfer, Sofia; Freger, Viatcheslav

2011-07-15

Concentration polarization-enhanced radical graft polymerization, a facile surface modification technique, was examined as an approach to reduce bacterial deposition onto RO membranes and thus contribute to mitigation of biofouling. For this purpose an RO membrane ESPA-1 was surface-grafted with a zwitterionic and negatively and positively charged monomers. The low monomer concentrations and low degrees of grafting employed in modifications moderately reduced flux (by 20-40%) and did not affect salt rejection, yet produced substantial changes in surface chemistry, charge and hydrophilicity. The propensity to bacterial attachment of original and modified membranes was assessed using bacterial deposition tests carried out in a parallel plate flow setup using a fluorescent strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens. Compared to unmodified ESPA-1 the deposition (mass transfer) coefficient was significantly increased for modification with the positively charged monomer. On the other hand, a substantial reduction in bacterial deposition rates was observed for membranes modified with zwitterionic monomer and, still more, with very hydrophilic negatively charged monomers. This trend is well explained by the effects of surface charge (as measured by ζ-potential) and hydrophilicity (contact angle). It also well correlated with force distance measurements by AFM using surrogate spherical probes with a negative surface charge mimicking the bacterial surface. The positively charged surface showed a strong hysteresis with a large adhesion force, which was weaker for unmodified ESPA-1 and still weaker for zwitterionic surface, while negatively charged surface showed a long-range repulsion and negligible hysteresis. These results demonstrate the potential of using the proposed surface- modification approach for varying surface characteristics, charge and hydrophilicity, and thus minimizing bacterial deposition and potentially reducing propensity biofouling.

High-Precision Shape Control of In-Space Deployable Large Membrane/Thin-Shell Reflectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watkins, Ronald; Goebel, Dan; Hofer, Richard

2010-01-01

This innovation has been developed to improve the resolutions of future spacebased active and passive microwave antennas for earth-science remote sensing missions by maintaining surface figure precisions of large membrane/thin-shell reflectors during orbiting. The intention is for these sensing instruments to be deployable at orbit altitudes one or two orders of magnitude higher than Low Earth Orbit (LEO), but still being able to acquire measurements at spatial resolution and sensitivity similar to those of LEO. Because active and passive microwave remote sensors are able to penetrate through clouds to acquire vertical profile measurements of geophysical parameters, it is desirable to elevate them to the higher orbits to obtain orbital geometries that offer large spatial coverage and more frequent observations. This capability is essential for monitoring and for detailed understanding of the life cycles of natural hazards, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, flash floods, and tsunamis. Major components of this high-precision antenna-surface-control system include a membrane/thin shell reflector, a metrology sensor, a controller, actuators, and corresponding power amplifier and signal conditioning electronics (see figure). Actuators are attached to the back of the reflector to produce contraction/ expansion forces to adjust the shape of the thin-material reflector. The wavefront-sensing metrology system continuously measures the surface figure of the reflector, converts the surface figure to digital data and feeds the data to the controller. The controller determines the control parameters and generates commands to the actuator system. The flexible, piezoelectric polymer actuators are thus activated, providing the control forces needed to correct any distortions that exist in the reflector surface. Piezoelectric polymer actuators are very thin and flexible. They can be implemented on the back of the membrane/thin-shell reflector without introducing significant amounts of mass or stiffness to the reflector. They can be rolled up or folded to accommodate the packaging needed for launch. An analytical model of the system, which includes the membrane reflector, actuator, and controller has been developed to investigate the functionality of this control system on a 35-meter-diameter membrane reflector. The performance of this system under external disturbances such as in space thermal loads and W-error due to inflation has been investigated. A subscale breadboard has been developed, and the functionality of this control concept has been demonstrated by this breadboard.

Fluid-membrane tethers: minimal surfaces and elastic boundary layers.

PubMed

Powers, Thomas R; Huber, Greg; Goldstein, Raymond E

2002-04-01

Thin cylindrical tethers are common lipid bilayer membrane structures, arising in situations ranging from micromanipulation experiments on artificial vesicles to the dynamic structure of the Golgi apparatus. We study the shape and formation of a tether in terms of the classical soap-film problem, which is applied to the case of a membrane disk under tension subject to a point force. A tether forms from the elastic boundary layer near the point of application of the force, for sufficiently large displacement. Analytic results for various aspects of the membrane shape are given.

Change in the fouling propensity of sludge in membrane bioreactors (MBR) in relation to the accumulation of biopolymer clusters.

PubMed

Sun, Fei-yun; Wang, Xiao-mao; Li, Xiao-yan

2011-04-01

A membrane bioreactor (MBR) and an activated sludge process (ASP) were operated side by side to evaluate the change of sludge supernatant characteristics and the evolution of the sludge fouling propensity. The MBR sludge had a higher organic concentration and more biopolymer clusters (BPC) in the supernatant compared with ASP. BPC increased in both concentration and size in the MBR. The results show that the change in the liquid-phase property had a profound effect on the sludge fouling propensity. MBR operation transformed typical activated sludge to MBR sludge with a higher fouling propensity. Distinct from the ASP, membrane filtration retained soluble microbial products (SMP) within the MBR, and the vast membrane surface provided a unique environment for the transformation of SMP to large size BPC, leading to further sludge deposition on the membrane surface. Thus, membrane filtration is the crucial cause of the inevitable fouling problem in submerged MBRs. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

X-ray Reflectivity Characterization of Ion Distribution at Biomimetic Membrane Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krüger, Peter; Pittler, Jens; Vaknin, David; Lösche, Mathias

2003-03-01

Ions at cell membrane surfaces may control the function and conformation of nearby biomolecules, thus playing an important role in inter- and intracellular transport as well as in biorecognition processes. Moreover, charge patterns at membrane surfaces may direct the growth of inorganic crystals in biomineralization. Langmuir monolayers are widely employed as model systems for studying charge distribution and growth processes at the organic/inorganic interface. We present a novel x-ray reflectivity technique that provides detailed information on ion distribution at biomembrane surfaces by using monochromatic x-rays at various energies at and away from the ion x-ray absorption edges. As a model, the interaction of Ba^2+ with DMPA^- (dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid) monolayers at the aqueous surface was studied. We find an unexpectedly large concentration of the cations near the interface where they form a Stern layer of bound ions. These studies have been complemented with conventional x-ray reflectivity measurements and extended to other anionic lipid species (DMPS, DMPG) and cations (Ca^2+).

Molecular-Scale Hybrid Membranes Derived from Metal-Organic Polyhedra for Gas Separation.

PubMed

Liu, Xinlei; Wang, Xuerui; Bavykina, Anastasiya V; Chu, Liangyong; Shan, Meixia; Sabetghadam, Anahid; Miro, Hozanna; Kapteijn, Freek; Gascon, Jorge

2018-06-13

The preparation and the performance of mixed matrix membranes based on metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) are reported. MOP fillers can be dispersed as discrete molecular units (average 9 nm in diameter) when low filler cargos are used. In spite of the low doping amount (1.6 wt %), a large performance enhancement in permeability, aging resistance, and selectivity can be achieved. We rationalize this effect on the basis of the large surface to volume ratio of the filler, which leads to excellent dispersion at low concentrations and thus alters polymer packing. Although membranes based only on the polymer component age quickly with time, the performance of the resulting MOP-containing membranes meets the commercial target for postcombustion CO 2 capture for more than 100 days.

Tools for phospho- and glycoproteomics of plasma membranes.

PubMed

Wiśniewski, Jacek R

2011-07-01

Analysis of plasma membrane proteins and their posttranslational modifications is considered as important for identification of disease markers and targets for drug treatment. Due to their insolubility in water, studying of plasma membrane proteins using mass spectrometry has been difficult for a long time. Recent technological developments in sample preparation together with important improvements in mass spectrometric analysis have facilitated analysis of these proteins and their posttranslational modifications. Now, large scale proteomic analyses allow identification of thousands of membrane proteins from minute amounts of sample. Optimized protocols for affinity enrichment of phosphorylated and glycosylated peptides have set new dimensions in the depth of characterization of these posttranslational modifications of plasma membrane proteins. Here, I summarize recent advances in proteomic technology for the characterization of the cell surface proteins and their modifications. In the focus are approaches allowing large scale mapping rather than analytical methods suitable for studying individual proteins or non-complex mixtures.

Preparation of Hierarchical Highly Ordered Porous Films of Brominated Poly(phenylene oxide) and Hydrophilic SiO2/C Membrane via the Breath Figure Method

PubMed Central

Yuan, Hua; Yu, Bing; Chi, Ming; Cheng, Yuanzhe; Lv, Chunxin

2018-01-01

Porous permeable films materials have very broad prospects in the treatment of sludge-containing waste water due to their large surface area and good microfiltration. In this work, highly ordered porous membranes have been prepared successfully on ice substrates using a poly(phenylene oxide) (BPPO)-SiO2 nanoparticle (NP) mixture by the breath figure method. Based on the theory of Pickering emulsion system and capillary flow, particle assisted membrane formation was analyzed. Another two sorts of new membranes SiO2/C membrane and hierarchical porous polymer (HPP) membrane, which were obtained by modification of the BPPO-SiO2 membrane by calcination and etching, were set up in a further study. Their properties were investigated through the methods of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), ultraviolet spectrum (UV), capillary electrophoresis (CE), contact angle, and water flux tests. All these results demonstrate that both surface hydrophilicity and fouling resistance of the membrane would be improved by using SiO2 as a filler. The membranes with high permeability and antifouling properties were used for microfiltration applications. PMID:29570622

Mechanoprotection by skeletal muscle caveolae.

PubMed

Lo, Harriet P; Hall, Thomas E; Parton, Robert G

2016-01-01

Caveolae, small bulb-like pits, are the most abundant surface feature of many vertebrate cell types. The relationship of the structure of caveolae to their function has been a subject of considerable scientific interest in view of the association of caveolar dysfunction with human disease. In a recent study Lo et al. (1) investigated the organization and function of caveolae in skeletal muscle. Using quantitative 3D electron microscopy caveolae were shown to be predominantly organized into multilobed structures which provide a large reservoir of surface-connected membrane underlying the sarcolemma. These structures were preferentially disassembled in response to changes in membrane tension. Perturbation or loss of caveolae in mouse and zebrafish models suggested that caveolae can protect the muscle sarcolemma against damage in response to excessive membrane activity. Flattening of caveolae to release membrane into the bulk plasma membrane in response to increased membrane tension can allow cell shape changes and prevent membrane rupture. In addition, disassembly of caveolae can have widespread effects on lipid-based plasma membrane organization. These findings suggest that the ability of the caveolar membrane system to respond to mechanical forces is a crucial evolutionarily-conserved process which is compromised in disease conditions associated with mutations in key caveolar components.

Mechanoprotection by skeletal muscle caveolae

PubMed Central

Lo, Harriet P; Hall, Thomas E; Parton, Robert G

2016-01-01

abstract Caveolae, small bulb-like pits, are the most abundant surface feature of many vertebrate cell types. The relationship of the structure of caveolae to their function has been a subject of considerable scientific interest in view of the association of caveolar dysfunction with human disease. In a recent study Lo et al.1 investigated the organization and function of caveolae in skeletal muscle. Using quantitative 3D electron microscopy caveolae were shown to be predominantly organized into multilobed structures which provide a large reservoir of surface-connected membrane underlying the sarcolemma. These structures were preferentially disassembled in response to changes in membrane tension. Perturbation or loss of caveolae in mouse and zebrafish models suggested that caveolae can protect the muscle sarcolemma against damage in response to excessive membrane activity. Flattening of caveolae to release membrane into the bulk plasma membrane in response to increased membrane tension can allow cell shape changes and prevent membrane rupture. In addition, disassembly of caveolae can have widespread effects on lipid-based plasma membrane organization. These findings suggest that the ability of the caveolar membrane system to respond to mechanical forces is a crucial evolutionarily-conserved process which is compromised in disease conditions associated with mutations in key caveolar components. PMID:26760312

Adaptive lenticular microlens array based on voltage-induced waves at the surface of polyvinyl chloride/dibutyl phthalate gels.

PubMed

Xu, Miao; Jin, Boya; He, Rui; Ren, Hongwen

2016-04-18

We report a new approach to preparing a lenticular microlens array (LMA) using polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/dibutyl phthalate (DBP) gels. The PVD/DBP gels coated on a glass substrate form a membrane. With the aid of electrostatic repulsive force, the surface of the membrane can be reconfigured with sinusoidal waves by a DC voltage. The membrane with wavy surface functions as a LMA. By switching over the anode and cathode, the convex shape of each lenticular microlens in the array can be converted to the concave shape. Therefore, the LMA can present a large dynamic range. The response time is relatively fast and the driving voltage is low. With the advantages of compact structure, optical isotropy, and good mechanical stability, our LMA has potential applications in imaging, information processing, biometrics, and displays.

Fouling and long-term durability of an integrated forward osmosis and membrane distillation system.

PubMed

Husnain, T; Mi, B; Riffat, R

2015-01-01

An integrated forward osmosis (FO) and membrane distillation (MD) system has great potential for sustainable wastewater reuse. However, the fouling and long-term durability of the system remains largely unknown. This study investigates the fouling behaviour and efficiency of cleaning procedures of FO and MD membranes used for treating domestic wastewater. Results showed that a significant decline in flux of both FO and MD membranes were observed during treatment of wastewater with organic foulants. However, shear force generated by the increased cross-flow physically removed the loosely attached foulants from the FO membrane surface and resulted in 86-88% recovery of flux by cleaning with tap water. For the MD membrane, almost no flux recovery was achieved due to adsorption of organic foulants on the hydrophobic membrane surface, thus indicating significant irreversible fouling/wetting, which may not be effectively cleaned even with chemical reagents. Long-term (10 d) tests showed consistent performance of the FO membrane by rejecting the contaminants. However, organic foulants reduced the hydrophobicity of the MD membrane, caused wetting problems and allowed contaminants to pass through. The results demonstrate that combination of the FO and MD processes can effectively reduce irreversible membrane fouling and solve the wetting problem of the MD membrane.

Recent Developments in Carbon Nanotube Membranes for Water Purification and Gas Separation

PubMed Central

Sears, Kallista; Dumée, Ludovic; Schütz, Jürg; She, Mary; Huynh, Chi; Hawkins, Stephen; Duke, Mikel; Gray, Stephen

2010-01-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nanoscale cylinders of graphene with exceptional properties such as high mechanical strength, high aspect ratio and large specific surface area. To exploit these properties for membranes, macroscopic structures need to be designed with controlled porosity and pore size. This manuscript reviews recent progress on two such structures: (i) CNT Bucky-papers, a non-woven, paper like structure of randomly entangled CNTs, and (ii) isoporous CNT membranes, where the hollow CNT interior acts as a membrane pore. The construction of these two types of membranes will be discussed, characterization and permeance results compared, and some promising applications presented.

Fish Gill Inspired Crossflow for Efficient and Continuous Collection of Spilled Oil.

PubMed

Dou, Yuhai; Tian, Dongliang; Sun, Ziqi; Liu, Qiannan; Zhang, Na; Kim, Jung Ho; Jiang, Lei; Dou, Shi Xue

2017-03-28

Developing an effective system to clean up large-scale oil spills is of great significance due to their contribution to severe environmental pollution and destruction. Superwetting membranes have been widely studied for oil/water separation. The separation, however, adopts a gravity-driven approach that is inefficient and discontinuous due to quick fouling of the membrane by oil. Herein, inspired by the crossflow filtration behavior in fish gills, we propose a crossflow approach via a hydrophilic, tilted gradient membrane for spilled oil collection. In crossflow collection, as the oil/water flows parallel to the hydrophilic membrane surface, water is gradually filtered through the pores, while oil is repelled, transported, and finally collected for storage. Owing to the selective gating behavior of the water-sealed gradient membrane, the large pores at the bottom with high water flux favor fast water filtration, while the small pores at the top with strong oil repellency allow easy oil transportation. In addition, the gradient membrane exhibits excellent antifouling properties due to the protection of the water layer. Therefore, this bioinspired crossflow approach enables highly efficient and continuous spilled oil collection, which is very promising for the cleanup of large-scale oil spills.

Artificial membrane-binding proteins stimulate oxygenation of stem cells during engineering of large cartilage tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armstrong, James P. K.; Shakur, Rameen; Horne, Joseph P.; Dickinson, Sally C.; Armstrong, Craig T.; Lau, Katherine; Kadiwala, Juned; Lowe, Robert; Seddon, Annela; Mann, Stephen; Anderson, J. L. Ross; Perriman, Adam W.; Hollander, Anthony P.

2015-06-01

Restricted oxygen diffusion can result in central cell necrosis in engineered tissue, a problem that is exacerbated when engineering large tissue constructs for clinical application. Here we show that pre-treating human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with synthetic membrane-active myoglobin-polymer-surfactant complexes can provide a reservoir of oxygen capable of alleviating necrosis at the centre of hyaline cartilage. This is achieved through the development of a new cell functionalization methodology based on polymer-surfactant conjugation, which allows the delivery of functional proteins to the hMSC membrane. This new approach circumvents the need for cell surface engineering using protein chimerization or genetic transfection, and we demonstrate that the surface-modified hMSCs retain their ability to proliferate and to undergo multilineage differentiation. The functionalization technology is facile, versatile and non-disruptive, and in addition to tissue oxygenation, it should have far-reaching application in a host of tissue engineering and cell-based therapies.

Fabrication of bioinspired composite nanofiber membranes with robust superhydrophobicity for direct contact membrane distillation.

PubMed

Liao, Yuan; Wang, Rong; Fane, Anthony G

2014-06-03

The practical application of membrane distillation (MD) for water purification is hindered by the absence of desirable membranes that can fulfill the special requirements of the MD process. Compared to the membranes fabricated by other methods, nanofiber membranes produced by electrospinning are of great interest due to their high porosity, low tortuosity, large surface pore size, and high surface hydrophobicity. However, the stable performance of the nanofiber membranes in the MD process is still unsatisfactory. Inspired by the unique structure of the lotus leaf, this study aimed to develop a strategy to construct superhydrophobic composite nanofiber membranes with robust superhydrophobicity and high porosity suitable for use in MD. The newly developed membrane consists of a superhydrophobic silica-PVDF composite selective skin formed on a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) porous nanofiber scaffold via electrospinning. This fabrication method could be easily scaled up due to its simple preparation procedures. The effects of silica diameter and concentration on membrane contact angle, sliding angle, and MD performance were investigated thoroughly. For the first time, the direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) tests demonstrate that the newly developed membranes are able to present stable high performance over 50 h of testing time, and the superhydrophobic selective layer exhibits excellent durability in ultrasonic treatment and a continuous DCMD test. It is believed that this novel design strategy has great potential for MD membrane fabrication.

Status of stretched-membrane heliostats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alpert, D. J.; Houser, R. M.; Heckes, A. A.

1990-01-01

Since the early 1980s, Sandia National Laboratories has been developing stretched-membrane heliostats for solar central receiver power plants. They differ from conventional glass-mirror heliostats in that the optical surface is a stretched membrane -- a thin metal foil stretched over both sides of a large diameter ring. The reflective surface is provided by either a silvered-acrylic film or thin glass mirrors attached to the front membrane. Heliostats with single 14 m diameter (150 sq meter) stretched-membrane reflectors have been designed. Because of their simplicity and light weight, stretched-membrane heliostats are expected to cost up to one-third less than conventional glass-mirror designs. Two generations of 50 sq meter prototype stretched-membrane mirror modules have been built and evaluated at Sandia's Central Receiver Test Facility in Albuquerque, NM. They demonstrated that the optical performance of membrane heliostats rivals that of glass-mirror heliostats. The durability of the silvered-acrylic reflective film has improved so that a lifetime of at least 5 years is likely; methods of replacing the film in the field are being investigated. Sandia recently initiated the final phase of development: the design of fully integrated, market-ready heliostats. Field tests of these heliostats are planned to begin in FY90.

Preparation of graphene oxide modified poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) nanofiltration membrane with improved water flux and antifouling property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Mei; Zhao, Changwei; Zhang, Shaofeng; Li, Pei; Hou, Deyin

2017-02-01

Poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide)/graphene oxide (PMIA/GO) composite nanofiltartion (NF) membranes were prepared via a facile phase inversion method. Structures, surface properties and hydrophilicities of the membrane were analyzed using FT-IR, XPS, AFM, SEM, water contact angle and Zeta-potential measurements. FTIR spectra indicated the existence of hydrophilic carboxylic acid and hydroxyl groups in the GO molecules. SEM pictures revealed the large and finger-like micro-voids formed in the sublayer of the NF membranes after adding GO. The zeta-potential and water contact angle results proved that PMIA/GO composite membranes had more negatively charged and greater hydrophilic surfaces. The pure water flux of the PMIA/GO (0.3 wt% GO) composite membrane (125.2 (L/m2/h)) was 2.6 times as high as that of the pristine PMIA NF membrane (48.3 (L/m2/h)) at 0.8 MPa with slightly higher rejections to all tested dyes and better fouling resistance to bovine serum albumin (BSA). This study gave an effective method for preparing composite PMIA NF membranes with high water flux and excellent antifouling property, which showed potential application in water treatment.

Coupled Segmentation of Nuclear and Membrane-bound Macromolecules through Voting and Multiphase Level Set

PubMed Central

Wen, Quan

2014-01-01

Membrane-bound macromolecules play an important role in tissue architecture and cell-cell communication, and is regulated by almost one-third of the genome. At the optical scale, one group of membrane proteins expresses themselves as linear structures along the cell surface boundaries, while others are sequestered; and this paper targets the former group. Segmentation of these membrane proteins on a cell-by-cell basis enables the quantitative assessment of localization for comparative analysis. However, such membrane proteins typically lack continuity, and their intensity distributions are often very heterogeneous; moreover, nuclei can form large clump, which further impedes the quantification of membrane signals on a cell-by-cell basis. To tackle these problems, we introduce a three-step process to (i) regularize the membrane signal through iterative tangential voting, (ii) constrain the location of surface proteins by nuclear features, where clumps of nuclei are segmented through a delaunay triangulation approach, and (iii) assign membrane-bound macromolecules to individual cells through an application of multi-phase geodesic level-set. We have validated our method using both synthetic data and a dataset of 200 images, and are able to demonstrate the efficacy of our approach with superior performance. PMID:25530633

Crystallographic studies of the anthrax lethal toxin. Final report, 1 July 1994-31 December 1996

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Frederick, C.A.

1997-01-01

Protective Antigen (PA) is the central component of the three-part protein toxin secreted by Bacillus anthraces, the organism responsible for anthrax. Following proteolytic activation on the host cell surface, PA forms a membrane-inserting heptamer that translocates the toxic enzymes into the cytosol. We have solved the crystal structure of monomeric PA at 2.1 A resolution and the water-soluble heptamer at 4.5 A resolution. The monomer is organized mainly into antiparallel b-sheets and has four domains: an N-terminal domain containing two calcium ions; a heptamerization domain containing a large flexible loop implicated in membrane insertion; a small domain of unknown function;more » and a C-terminal receptor-binding domain. Removal of a 20 kDa fragment from the N-terminal domain permits assembly of the heptamer, a ring-shaped structure with a negatively charged lumen, and exposes a large hydrophobic surface for binding the toxic enzymes. We present a model of pH-dependent membrane insertion involving formation of a porin-like membrane-spanning b barrel. These studies greatly enhance current understanding of the mechanism of anthrax intoxication, and will be useful in the design of recombinant anthrax vaccines.« less

The scope of phage display for membrane proteins.

PubMed

Vithayathil, Rosemarie; Hooy, Richard M; Cocco, Melanie J; Weiss, Gregory A

2011-12-09

Numerous examples of phage display applied to soluble proteins demonstrate the power of the technique for protein engineering, affinity reagent discovery and structure-function studies. Recent reports have expanded phage display to include membrane proteins (MPs). The scope and limitations of MP display remain undefined. Therefore, we report data from the phage display of representative types of membrane-associated proteins including plasma, nuclear, peripheral, single and multipass. The peripheral MP neuromodulin displays robustly with packaging by conventional M13-KO7 helper phage. The monotopic MP Nogo-66 can also display on the phage surface, if packaged by the modified M13-KO7(+) helper phage. The modified phage coat of KO7(+) can better mimic the zwitterionic character of the plasma membrane. Four examples of putatively α-helical, integral MPs failed to express as fusions to an anchoring phage coat protein and therefore did not display on the phage surface. However, the β-barrel MPs ShuA (Shigella heme uptake A) and MOMP (major outer membrane protein), which pass through the membrane 22 and 16 times, respectively, can display surprisingly well on the surfaces of both conventional and KO7(+) phages. The results provide a guide for protein engineering and large-scale mutagenesis enabled by the phage display of MPs. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Membrane-Based Emitter for Coupling Microfluidics with Ultrasensitive Nanoelectrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

PubMed Central

Sun, Xuefei; Kelly, Ryan T.; Tang, Keqi; Smith, Richard D.

2011-01-01

An integrated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membrane-based microfluidic emitter for high performance nanoelectrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) has been fabricated and evaluated. The ~100-μm-thick emitter was created by cutting a PDMS membrane that protrudes beyond the bulk substrate. The reduced surface area at the emitter enhances the electric field and reduces wetting of the surface by the electrospray solvent. As such, the emitter enables highly stable electrosprays at flow rates as low as 10 nL/min, and is compatible with electrospray solvents containing a large organic component (e.g., 90% methanol). This approach enables facile emitter construction, and provides excellent stability, reproducibility and sensitivity, as well as compatibility with multilayer soft lithography. PMID:21657269

Multichannel Discriminative Detection of Explosive Vapors with an Array of Nanofibrous Membranes Loaded with Quantum Dots.

PubMed

Wu, Zhaofeng; Duan, Haiming; Li, Zhijun; Guo, Jixi; Zhong, Furu; Cao, Yali; Jia, Dianzeng

2017-11-20

The multichannel fluorescent sensor array based on nanofibrous membranes loaded with ZnS quantum dots (QDs) was created and demonstrated for the discriminative detection of explosives. The synergistic effect of the high surface-to-volume ratio of QDs, the good permeability of nanofibrous membranes and the differential response introduced by surface ligands was played by constructing the sensing array using nanofibrous membranes loaded with ZnS QDs featuring several surface ligands. Interestingly, although the fluorescence quenching of the nanofibrous membranes is not linearly related to the exposure time, the fingerprint of each explosive at different times is very similar in shape, and the fingerprints of the three explosives show different shapes. Three saturated vapors of nitroaromatic explosives could be reliably detected and discriminated by the array at room temperature. This work is the first step toward devising a monitoring system for explosives in the field of public security and defense. It could, for example, be coupled with the technology of image recognition and large data analysis for a rapid diagnostic test of explosives. This work further highlights the power of differential, multichannel arrays for the rapid and discriminative detection of a wide range of chemicals.

Multichannel Discriminative Detection of Explosive Vapors with an Array of Nanofibrous Membranes Loaded with Quantum Dots

PubMed Central

Wu, Zhaofeng; Duan, Haiming; Li, Zhijun; Guo, Jixi; Zhong, Furu; Cao, Yali; Jia, Dianzeng

2017-01-01

The multichannel fluorescent sensor array based on nanofibrous membranes loaded with ZnS quantum dots (QDs) was created and demonstrated for the discriminative detection of explosives. The synergistic effect of the high surface-to-volume ratio of QDs, the good permeability of nanofibrous membranes and the differential response introduced by surface ligands was played by constructing the sensing array using nanofibrous membranes loaded with ZnS QDs featuring several surface ligands. Interestingly, although the fluorescence quenching of the nanofibrous membranes is not linearly related to the exposure time, the fingerprint of each explosive at different times is very similar in shape, and the fingerprints of the three explosives show different shapes. Three saturated vapors of nitroaromatic explosives could be reliably detected and discriminated by the array at room temperature. This work is the first step toward devising a monitoring system for explosives in the field of public security and defense. It could, for example, be coupled with the technology of image recognition and large data analysis for a rapid diagnostic test of explosives. This work further highlights the power of differential, multichannel arrays for the rapid and discriminative detection of a wide range of chemicals. PMID:29156627

Silicon-on-insulator based nanopore cavity arrays for lipid membrane investigation.

PubMed

Buchholz, K; Tinazli, A; Kleefen, A; Dorfner, D; Pedone, D; Rant, U; Tampé, R; Abstreiter, G; Tornow, M

2008-11-05

We present the fabrication and characterization of nanopore microcavities for the investigation of transport processes in suspended lipid membranes. The cavities are situated below the surface of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. Single cavities and large area arrays were prepared using high resolution electron-beam lithography in combination with reactive ion etching (RIE) and wet chemical sacrificial underetching. The locally separated compartments have a circular shape and allow the enclosure of picoliter volume aqueous solutions. They are sealed at their top by a 250 nm thin Si membrane featuring pores with diameters from 2 µm down to 220 nm. The Si surface exhibits excellent smoothness and homogeneity as verified by AFM analysis. As biophysical test system we deposited lipid membranes by vesicle fusion, and demonstrated their fluid-like properties by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. As clearly indicated by AFM measurements in aqueous buffer solution, intact lipid membranes successfully spanned the pores. The nanopore cavity arrays have potential applications in diagnostics and pharmaceutical research on transmembrane proteins.

STRUCTURE OF MEMBRANE HOLES IN OSMOTIC AND SAPONIN HEMOLYSIS

PubMed Central

Seeman, P.; Cheng, D.; Iles, G. H.

1973-01-01

Serial section electron microscopy of hemolysing erythrocytes (fixed at 12 s after the onset of osmotic hemolysis) revealed long slits and holes in the membrane, extending to around 1 µm in length. Many but not all of the slits and holes (about 100–1000 Å wide) were confluent with one another. Ferritin and colloidal gold (added after fixation) only permeated those cells containing membrane defects. No such large holes or slits were seen in saponin-treated erythrocytes, and the membrane was highly invaginated, giving the ghost a scalloped outline. Freeze-etch electron microscopy of saponin-treated membranes revealed 40–50 Å-wide pits in the extracellular surface of the membrane. If these pits represent regions from which cholesterol was extracted, then cholesterol is uniformly distributed over the entire erythrocyte membrane. PMID:4566525

Facile fabrication of homogeneous 3D silver nanostructures on gold-supported polyaniline membranes as promising SERS substrates.

PubMed

Xu, Ping; Mack, Nathan H; Jeon, Sea-Ho; Doorn, Stephen K; Han, Xijiang; Wang, Hsing-Lin

2010-06-01

We report a facile synthesis of large-area homogeneous three-dimensional (3D) Ag nanostructures on Au-supported polyaniline (PANI) membranes through a direct chemical reduction of metal ions by PANI. The citric acid absorbed on the Au nuclei that are prefabricated on PANI membranes directs Ag nanoaprticles (AgNPs) to self-assemble into 3D Ag nanosheet structures. The fabricated hybrid metal nanostructures display uniform surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) responses throughout the whole surface area, with an average enhancement factor of 10(6)-10(7). The nanocavities formed by the stereotypical stacking of these Ag nanosheets and the junctions and gaps between two neighboring AgNPs are believed to be responsible for the strong SERS response upon plasmon absorption. These homogeneous metal nanostructure decorated PANI membranes can be used as highly efficient SERS substrates for sensitive detection of chemical and biological analytes.

Nanowire membrane-based nanothermite: towards processable and tunable interfacial diffusion for solid state reactions.

PubMed

Yang, Yong; Wang, Peng-peng; Zhang, Zhi-cheng; Liu, Hui-ling; Zhang, Jingchao; Zhuang, Jing; Wang, Xun

2013-01-01

Interfacial diffusion is of great importance in determining the performance of solid-state reactions. For nanometer sized particles, some solid-state reactions can be triggered accidently by mechanical stress owing to their large surface-to-volume ratio compared with the bulk ones. Therefore, a great challenge is the control of interfacial diffusion for solid state reactions, especially for energetic materials. Here we demonstrate, through the example of nanowire-based thermite membrane, that the thermite solid-state reaction can be easily tuned via the introduction of low-surface-energy coating layer. Moreover, this silicon-coated thermite membrane exhibit controlled wetting behavior ranging from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic and, simultaneously, to significantly reduce the friction sensitivity of thermite membrane. This effect enables to increase interfacial resistance by increasing the amount of coating material. Indeed, our results described here make it possible to tune the solid-state reactions through the manipulation of interfacial diffusion between the reactants.

Nanowire Membrane-based Nanothermite: towards Processable and Tunable Interfacial Diffusion for Solid State Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yong; Wang, Peng-Peng; Zhang, Zhi-Cheng; Liu, Hui-Ling; Zhang, Jingchao; Zhuang, Jing; Wang, Xun

2013-04-01

Interfacial diffusion is of great importance in determining the performance of solid-state reactions. For nanometer sized particles, some solid-state reactions can be triggered accidently by mechanical stress owing to their large surface-to-volume ratio compared with the bulk ones. Therefore, a great challenge is the control of interfacial diffusion for solid state reactions, especially for energetic materials. Here we demonstrate, through the example of nanowire-based thermite membrane, that the thermite solid-state reaction can be easily tuned via the introduction of low-surface-energy coating layer. Moreover, this silicon-coated thermite membrane exhibit controlled wetting behavior ranging from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic and, simultaneously, to significantly reduce the friction sensitivity of thermite membrane. This effect enables to increase interfacial resistance by increasing the amount of coating material. Indeed, our results described here make it possible to tune the solid-state reactions through the manipulation of interfacial diffusion between the reactants.

Surface heat shock protein 90 serves as a potential receptor for calcium oxalate crystal on apical membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells.

PubMed

Fong-Ngern, Kedsarin; Sueksakit, Kanyarat; Thongboonkerd, Visith

2016-07-01

Adhesion of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals on renal tubular epithelial cells is a crucial step in kidney stone formation. Finding potential crystal receptors on the apical membrane of the cells may lead to a novel approach to prevent kidney stone disease. Our previous study identified a large number of crystal-binding proteins on the apical membrane of MDCK cells. However, their functional role as potential crystal receptors had not been validated. The present study aimed to address the potential role of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) as a COM crystal receptor. The apical membrane was isolated from polarized MDCK cells by the peeling method and recovered proteins were incubated with COM crystals. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of HSP90 in the apical membrane and the crystal-bound fraction. Immunofluorescence staining without permeabilization and laser-scanning confocal microscopy confirmed the surface HSP90 expression on the apical membrane of the intact cells. Crystal adhesion assay showed that blocking surface HSP90 by specific anti-HSP90 antibody and knockdown of HSP90 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) dramatically reduced crystal binding on the apical surface of MDCK cells (by approximately 1/2 and 2/3, respectively). Additionally, crystal internalization assay revealed the presence of HSP90 on the membrane of endocytic vesicle containing the internalized COM crystal. Moreover, pretreatment of MDCK cells with anti-HSP90 antibody significantly reduced crystal internalization (by approximately 1/3). Taken together, our data indicate that HSP90 serves as a potential receptor for COM crystals on the apical membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells and is involved in endocytosis/internalization of the crystals into the cells.

Recent progress on lipid lateral heterogeneity in plasma membranes: from rafts to submicrometric domains

PubMed Central

Carquin, Mélanie; D'Auria, Ludovic; Pollet, Hélène; Bongarzone, Ernesto R.; Tyteca, Donatienne

2016-01-01

The concept of transient nanometric domains known as lipid rafts has brought interest to reassess the validity of the Singer-Nicholson model of a fluid bilayer for cell membranes. However, this new view is still insufficient to explain the cellular control of surface lipid diversity or membrane deformability. During the past decade, the hypothesis that some lipids form large (submicrometric/mesoscale vs nanometric rafts) and stable (> min vs sec) membrane domains has emerged, largely based on indirect methods. Morphological evidence for stable submicrometric lipid domains, well-accepted for artificial and highly specialized biological membranes, was further reported for a variety of living cells from prokaryotes to yeast and mammalian cells. However, results remained questioned based on limitations of available fluorescent tools, use of poor lipid fixatives, and imaging artifacts due to non-resolved membrane projections. In this review, we will discuss recent evidence generated using powerful and innovative approaches such as lipid-specific toxin fragments that support the existence of submicrometric domains. We will integrate documented mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of these domains, and provide a perspective on their relevance on membrane deformability and regulation of membrane protein distribution. PMID:26738447

Life at the border: Adaptation of proteins to anisotropic membrane environment

PubMed Central

Pogozheva, Irina D; Mosberg, Henry I; Lomize, Andrei L

2014-01-01

This review discusses main features of transmembrane (TM) proteins which distinguish them from water-soluble proteins and allow their adaptation to the anisotropic membrane environment. We overview the structural limitations on membrane protein architecture, spatial arrangement of proteins in membranes and their intrinsic hydrophobic thickness, co-translational and post-translational folding and insertion into lipid bilayers, topogenesis, high propensity to form oligomers, and large-scale conformational transitions during membrane insertion and transport function. Special attention is paid to the polarity of TM protein surfaces described by profiles of dipolarity/polarizability and hydrogen-bonding capacity parameters that match polarity of the lipid environment. Analysis of distributions of Trp resides on surfaces of TM proteins from different biological membranes indicates that interfacial membrane regions with preferential accumulation of Trp indole rings correspond to the outer part of the lipid acyl chain region—between double bonds and carbonyl groups of lipids. These “midpolar” regions are not always symmetric in proteins from natural membranes. We also examined the hydrophobic effect that drives insertion of proteins into lipid bilayer and different free energy contributions to TM protein stability, including attractive van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds, side-chain conformational entropy, the hydrophobic mismatch, membrane deformations, and specific protein–lipid binding. PMID:24947665

Organic colloids and their influence on low-pressure membrane filtration.

PubMed

Laabs, C; Amy, G; Jekel, M

2004-01-01

Wastewater treatment by low-pressure membrane filtration (MF and UF) is affected to a large extent by macromolecules and colloids. In order to investigate the influence of organic colloids on the membrane filtration process, colloids were isolated from a wastewater treatment plant effluent using a rotary-evaporation pre-concentration step followed by dialysis. Stirred cell tests were carried out using redissolved colloids, with and without additional glass fiber filtration. After constant pressure membrane filtration of 190 L/m2, the initial flux had declined by 50% for colloids > 6-8 kD (glass fiber filtered) with a hydrophilic MF membrane and for colloids > 12-14 kD (glass fiber filtered) with a hydrophobic MF membrane. For the non-filtered colloidal solutions, the flux decline was even steeper with the flux being below 10% of the initial flux after 190 L/m2 were passed through the membranes. As with larger particles, colloids form a filtration cake layer on top of the membrane surface when used as isolates without prior filtration. This filtration cake is easily removed during backwashing. However, polysaccharides as a macromolecular component of the colloid isolate cause severe fouling by the formation of a gel layer on the membrane surface that is difficult to remove completely.

Block copolymer self-assembly derived ultrafiltration membranes: From science to start-up

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiesner, Ulrich

In the last ten years a novel method to generate asymmetric ultrafiltration membranes has been established. It is based on the combination of block copolymer self-assembly with non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) and is now referred to as SNIPS. NIPS as an industry proven method for the formation of phase inversion membranes opening a pathway to scale up and commercialization of these membranes. The combination of NIPS with block copolymer self-assembly leads to asymmetric membranes with narrow pore size distributions in the top surface layer (so called isoporous membranes) as well as high pore densities, thereby potentially combining high resolution with high flux in membrane separation processes. Such membranes have potential applications in the biopharmaceutical industry where a large fraction of the costs are currently associated with time-consuming non-membrane based separation processes. This talk will describe a family of isoporous ultrafiltration membranes based on the self-assembly behavior of an ABC triblock terpolymer which has led to the formation of a start-up company out of Cornell University. After introduction of the SNIPS process in general, and its application to such ABC triblock terpolymers in particular, open scientific questions associated with the formation mechanisms of the top surface separation layer in such membranes is discussed, which is at the heart of enabling high performance separation behavior. Furthermore, challenges translating scientific work into industrial settings are highlighted.

Peptide:lipid ratio and membrane surface charge determine the mechanism of action of the antimicrobial peptide BP100. Conformational and functional studies.

PubMed

Manzini, Mariana C; Perez, Katia R; Riske, Karin A; Bozelli, José C; Santos, Talita L; da Silva, Marcia A; Saraiva, Greice K V; Politi, Mario J; Valente, Ana P; Almeida, Fábio C L; Chaimovich, Hernan; Rodrigues, Magali A; Bemquerer, Marcelo P; Schreier, Shirley; Cuccovia, Iolanda M

2014-07-01

The cecropin-melittin hybrid antimicrobial peptide BP100 (H-KKLFKKILKYL-NH2) is selective for Gram-negative bacteria, negatively charged membranes, and weakly hemolytic. We studied BP100 conformational and functional properties upon interaction with large unilamellar vesicles, LUVs, and giant unilamellar vesicles, GUVs, containing variable proportions of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and negatively charged phosphatidylglycerol (PG). CD and NMR spectra showed that upon binding to PG-containing LUVs BP100 acquires α-helical conformation, the helix spanning residues 3-11. Theoretical analyses indicated that the helix is amphipathic and surface-seeking. CD and dynamic light scattering data evinced peptide and/or vesicle aggregation, modulated by peptide:lipid ratio and PG content. BP100 decreased the absolute value of the zeta potential (ζ) of LUVs with low PG contents; for higher PG, binding was analyzed as an ion-exchange process. At high salt, BP100-induced LUVS leakage requires higher peptide concentration, indicating that both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions contribute to peptide binding. While a gradual release took place at low peptide:lipid ratios, instantaneous loss occurred at high ratios, suggesting vesicle disruption. Optical microscopy of GUVs confirmed BP100-promoted disruption of negatively charged membranes. The mechanism of action of BP100 is determined by both peptide:lipid ratio and negatively charged lipid content. While gradual release results from membrane perturbation by a small number of peptide molecules giving rise to changes in acyl chain packing, lipid clustering (leading to membrane defects), and/or membrane thinning, membrane disruption results from a sequence of events - large-scale peptide and lipid clustering, giving rise to peptide-lipid patches that eventually would leave the membrane in a carpet-like mechanism. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Out-coupling membrane for large-size organic light-emitting panels with high efficiency and improved uniformity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Lei; Wang, Lu-Wei; Zhou, Lei; Zhang, Fang-hui

2016-12-01

An out-coupling membrane embedded with a scattering film of SiO2 spheres and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic was successfully developed for 150 × 150 mm2 green OLEDs. Comparing with a reference OLED panel, an approximately 1-fold enhancement in the forward emission was obtained with an out-coupling membrane adhered to the surface of the external glass substrate of the panel. Moreover, it was verified that the emission color at different viewing angles can be stabilized without apparent spectral distortion. Particularly, the uniformity of the large-area OLEDs was greatly improved. Theoretical calculation clarified that the improved performance of the lighting panels is primarily attributed to the effect of particle scattering.

Cholesterol Promotes Protein Binding by Affecting Membrane Electrostatics and Solvation Properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doktorova, Milka; Heberle, Frederick A.; Kingston, Richard L.

Binding of the retroviral structural protein Gag to the cellular plasma membrane is mediated by the protein’s matrix (MA) domain. Prominent among MA-PM interactions is electrostatic attraction between the positively charged MA domain and the negatively charged plasma membrane inner leaflet. Previously, we reported that membrane association of HIV-1 Gag, as well as purified Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) MA and Gag, depends strongly on the presence of acidic lipids and is enhanced by cholesterol (Chol). The mechanism underlying this enhancement was unclear. Here in this paper, using a broad set of in vitro and in silico techniques we addressed molecularmore » mechanisms of association between RSV MA and model membranes, and investigated how Chol enhances this association. In neutron scattering experiments with liposomes in the presence or absence of Chol, MA preferentially interacted with preexisting POPS-rich clusters formed by nonideal lipid mixing, binding peripherally to the lipid headgroups with minimal perturbation to the bilayer structure. Molecular dynamics simulations showed a stronger MA-bilayer interaction in the presence of Chol, and a large Chol-driven increase in lipid packing and membrane surface charge density. Although in vitro MA-liposome association is influenced by disparate variables, including ionic strength and concentrations of Chol and charged lipids, continuum electrostatic theory revealed an underlying dependence on membrane surface potential. Together, these results conclusively show that Chol affects RSV MA-membrane association by making the electrostatic potential at the membrane surface more negative, while decreasing the penalty for lipid headgroup desolvation. The presented approach can be applied to other viral and nonviral proteins.« less

Cholesterol Promotes Protein Binding by Affecting Membrane Electrostatics and Solvation Properties

DOE PAGES

Doktorova, Milka; Heberle, Frederick A.; Kingston, Richard L.; ...

2017-11-07

Binding of the retroviral structural protein Gag to the cellular plasma membrane is mediated by the protein’s matrix (MA) domain. Prominent among MA-PM interactions is electrostatic attraction between the positively charged MA domain and the negatively charged plasma membrane inner leaflet. Previously, we reported that membrane association of HIV-1 Gag, as well as purified Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) MA and Gag, depends strongly on the presence of acidic lipids and is enhanced by cholesterol (Chol). The mechanism underlying this enhancement was unclear. Here in this paper, using a broad set of in vitro and in silico techniques we addressed molecularmore » mechanisms of association between RSV MA and model membranes, and investigated how Chol enhances this association. In neutron scattering experiments with liposomes in the presence or absence of Chol, MA preferentially interacted with preexisting POPS-rich clusters formed by nonideal lipid mixing, binding peripherally to the lipid headgroups with minimal perturbation to the bilayer structure. Molecular dynamics simulations showed a stronger MA-bilayer interaction in the presence of Chol, and a large Chol-driven increase in lipid packing and membrane surface charge density. Although in vitro MA-liposome association is influenced by disparate variables, including ionic strength and concentrations of Chol and charged lipids, continuum electrostatic theory revealed an underlying dependence on membrane surface potential. Together, these results conclusively show that Chol affects RSV MA-membrane association by making the electrostatic potential at the membrane surface more negative, while decreasing the penalty for lipid headgroup desolvation. The presented approach can be applied to other viral and nonviral proteins.« less

Antibacterial action mode of quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan/poly(amidoamine) dendrimer core-shell nanoparticles against Escherichia coli correlated with molecular chain conformation.

PubMed

Wen, Yan; Yao, Fanglian; Sun, Fang; Tan, Zhilei; Tian, Liang; Xie, Lei; Song, Qingchao

2015-03-01

The action mode of quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan/poly(amidoamine) dendrimer core-shell nanoparticles (CM-HTCC/PAMAM) against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was investigated via a combination of approaches including measurements of cell membrane integrity, outer membrane (OM) and inner membrane (IM) permeability, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CM-HTCC/PAMAM dendrimer nanoparticles likely acted in a sequent event-driven mechanism, beginning with the binding of positively charged groups from nanoparticle surface with negative cell surface, thereby causing the disorganization of cell membrane, and subsequent leakage of intracellular components which might ultimately lead to cell death. Moreover, the chain conformation of polymers was taken into account for a better understanding of the antibacterial action mode by means of viscosity and GPC measurements. High utilization ratio of positive charge and large specific surface area generated from a compacted conformation of CM-HTCC/PAMAM, significantly different from the extended conformation of HTCC, were proposed to be involved in the antibacterial action. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Kinematics of red cell aspiration by fluorescence-imaged microdeformation.

PubMed

Discher, D E; Mohandas, N

1996-10-01

Maps of fluorescing red cell membrane components on a pipette-aspirated projection are quantitated in an effort to elucidate and unify the heterogeneous kinematics of deformation. Transient gradients of diffusing fluorescent lipid first demonstrate the fluidity of an otherwise uniform-density bilayer and corroborate a "universal" calibration scale for relative surface density. A steep but smooth and stable gradient in the densities of the skeleton components spectrin, actin, and protein 4.1 is used to estimate large elastic strains along the aspirated skeleton. The deformation fields are argued to be an unhindered response to loading in the surface normal direction. Density maps intermediate to those of the compressible skeleton and fluid bilayer are exhibited by particular transmembrane proteins (e.g., Band 3) and yield estimates for the skeleton-connected fractions. Such connected proteins appear to occupy a significant proportion of the undeformed membrane surface and can lead to steric exclusion of unconnected integral membrane proteins from regions of network condensation. Consistent with membrane repatterning kinematics in reversible deformation, final vesiculation of the projection tip produces a cell fragment concentrated in freely diffusing proteins but depleted of skeleton.

The Electrophysiology of Electric Organs of Marine Electric Fishes

PubMed Central

Bennett, M. V. L.; Wurzel, M.; Grundfest, H.

1961-01-01

Single electroplaques of Torpedo nobiliana have been studied with microelectrode recording. Direct evidence is presented that the only electrogenically reactive membrane of the cells is on the innervated surface and that this membrane is electrically inexcitable. Responses are not evoked by depolarizing currents applied to this membrane, but only by stimulating the innervating nerve fibers. The responses arise after a latency of 1 to 3 msec. This latency is not affected by large depolarizing or hyperpolarizing changes in membrane potential. Various properties that have been theoretically associated with electrically inexcitable responses have been also demonstrated to occur in the electroplaques. The neurally evoked response is not propagated actively in the membrane and may have different amplitudes and forms in closely adjacent regions. The maximal responses frequently are slightly larger than the recorded resting potential but the apparent small overshoot may be due to difficulty in recording the full resting potential. The responses are subject to electrochemical gradation and appear inverted in sign on applying strong outward currents across the innervated membrane. This membrane is cholinoceptive and shows marked desensitization. The membrane of the uninnervated surface has a very low resistance, a factor that aids maximum output of current during the discharge of the electric organ. PMID:19873534

Solutocapillary Convection Effects on Polymeric Membrane Morphology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krantz, William B.; Todd, Paul W.; Kinagurthu, Sanjay

1996-01-01

Macro voids are undesirable large pores in membranes used for purification. They form when membranes are cast as thin films on a smooth surface by evaporating solvent (acetone) from a polymer solution. There are two un-tested hypotheses explaining the growth of macro voids. One states that diffusion of the non-solvent (water) is solely responsible, while the other states that solutocapillary convection is the primary cause of macro void growth. Solutocapillary convection is flow-caused by a concentration induced surface-tension gradient. Macrovoid growth in the former hypothesis is gravity independent, while in the latter it is opposed by gravity. To distinguish between these two hypotheses, experiments were designed to cast membranes in zero-gravity. A semi-automated apparatus was designed and built for casting membranes during the 20 secs of zero-g time available in parabolic aircraft flight such as NASA's KC-135. The phase changes were monitored optically, and membrane morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These studies appear to be the first quantitative studies of membrane casting in micro-gravity which incorporate real-time data acquisition. Morphological studies of membranes cast at 0, 1, and 1.8 g revealed the presence of numerous, sparse and no macrovoids respectively. These results are consistent with the predictions of the solutocapillary hypothesis of macrovoid growth.

Comparison of interleukin-6 removal properties among hemofilters consisting of varying membrane materials and surface areas: an in vitro study.

PubMed

Hirayama, Yo; Oda, Shigeto; Wakabayashi, Kiyohito; Sadahiro, Tomohito; Nakamura, Masataka; Watanabe, Eizo; Tateishi, Yoshihisa

2011-01-01

We sought to identify the most relevant hemofilter for cytokine removal based on the mechanisms of filtration and adsorption. Ascites were filtered using four types of hemofilters composed of different membrane materials (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA, cellulose triacetate, CTA, or polysulfone, PS) and different surface areas (1.0 or 2.1 m(2)) to investigate the rate of interleukin-6 (IL-6) filtration. Next, ascites were perfused through each hemofilter without obtaining a filtrate to study each filter's adsorptive capability. The PMMA hemofilters resulted in a marginal observed IL-6 filtration rates, whereas the CTA and PS hemofilters resulted in highly effective IL-6 filtration. Regarding the IL-6 adsorptive capabilities of the filters, the PMMA hemofilter with a large surface area showed the highest level of IL-6 clearance. The present findings suggest that when cytokine removal based on filtration is desired, CTA or PS hemofilters should be selected. When IL-6 removal based on adsorption is desired, a PMMA hemofilter with a large surface area should be selected. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Fundamental and Applied Studies of Polymer Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imbrogno, Joseph

Four major areas have been studied in this research: 1) synthesizing novel monomers, e.g. chiral monomers, to produce new types of functionalized membranes for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, 2) hydrophobic brush membranes for desalinating brackish water, sea water, and separating organics, 3) fundamental studies of water interactions at surfaces using sum frequency generation (SFG), and 4) discovering new surface chemistries that will control the growth and differentiation of stem cells. We have developed a novel synthesis method in order to increase the breadth of our high throughput screening library. This library was generated using maleimide chemistry to react a common methacrylate linker with a variety of different functions groups (R groups) in order to form new monomers that were grafted from the surface of PES ultrafiltration membranes. From this work, we discovered that the chirality of a membrane can affect performance when separating chiral feed streams. This effect was observed when filtering bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ovalbumin in a high salt phosphate buffered saline (PBS, 150 mM salt). The Phe grafted membranes showed a large difference in performance when filtering BSA with selectivity of 1.13 and 1.00 for (S) and (R) Phe, respectively. However, when filtering ovalbumin, the (S) and (R) modified surfaces showed selectivity of 2.06 and 2.31, respectively. The higher selectivity enantiomer switched for the two different proteins. Permeability when filtering BSA was 3.06 LMH kPa-1 and 4.31 LMH kPa -1 for (S)- and (R)- Phe, respectively, and 2.65 LMH kPa -1 and 2.10 LMH kPa-1 when filtering ovalbumin for (S)- and (R)- Phe, respectively. Additionally, these effects were no longer present when using a low salt phosphate buffer (PB, 10 mM salt). Since, to our knowledge, membrane chirality is not considered in current industrial systems, this discovery could have a large impact on the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We have developed hydrophobic brush membranes that were able to selectively separate valuable organics (isobutanol) from water, while rejecting other undesirable species, such as enzymes, using pervaporation (PV). These membranes (grafted from nanofiltration (NF) support membranes) had a selectivity ˜1.5x higher than the current industrial standard, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), with alpha = 10.1 +/- 0.9 for our brush membranes and alpha = 6.7 +/- 0.1 for PDMS membranes. Since the mechanism of pervaporation is based on the solution diffusion (SD) model, these membranes may be used to desalinate water or fractionate gases since they are also based on the SD mechanism. We have discovered that hydrophobic brush membranes are able to reject monovalent salt ions. This type of membrane is analogous to carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are believed to have extremely high water fluxes through them due to near frictionless flow caused by a lack of hydrogen bonding. Using these brush membranes we were able to achieve 42% monovalent (NaCl) salt rejection of simulated seawater (32,000 ppm salt). These membranes are easier to scale-up than current composite membranes produced using interfacial polymerization. We have been using SFG to study interfacial water on membrane surfaces. We believe that water interactions with the membrane surface and with the feed species, e.g. proteins, play a critical role during the fouling process. Relevant buffers, such as phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and phosphate buffer, contain ions that are known to restructure water at interfaces. Sum frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) was used to characterize interfacial water structure at poly(ether sulfone) (PES) thin films in the presence of 0.01 M phosphate buffer (low salt) and 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline (high salt). Three model surfaces were studied: unmodified PES, hydrophobic alkane (C18) modified PES, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modified PES. In the presence of the low salt phosphate buffer (10 mM salt), phosphate anions were excluded from the PEG-modified PES film. This led to a charge separation between the phosphate anions and sodium cations, creating a surface potential which strongly ordered water molecules into the bulk. When using high salt PBS (138 mM salt) the sodium chloride ions screened this charge and reduced water ordering. Interestingly, this effect was the greatest for the PEG modified surface, with minor or no effects observed for the C18 modified PES and unmodified PES, respectively. Using our high throughput screening platform, we were able to determine that (N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl] methacrylamide), DMAPMA, supported strong attachment and long-term self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells while preventing differentiation (maintaining pluripotency). After developing this platform, it was used to screen for a surface that could instead induce differentiation of bovine and human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells while promoting cell growth. Several PEG based surfaces were able to induce cobblestone morphology of the RPE cells, which is indicative of differentiation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Free Flow Zonal Electrophoresis for Fractionation of Plant Membrane Compartments Prior to Proteomic Analysis.

PubMed

Barkla, Bronwyn J

2018-01-01

Free flow zonal electrophoresis (FFZE) is a versatile, reproducible, and potentially high-throughput technique for the separation of plant organelles and membranes by differences in membrane surface charge. It offers considerable benefits over traditional fractionation techniques, such as density gradient centrifugation and two-phase partitioning, as it is relatively fast, sample recovery is high, and the method provides unparalleled sample purity. It has been used to successfully purify chloroplasts and mitochondria from plants but also, to obtain highly pure fractions of plasma membrane, tonoplast, ER, Golgi, and thylakoid membranes. Application of the technique can significantly improve protein coverage in large-scale proteomics studies by decreasing sample complexity. Here, we describe the method for the fractionation of plant cellular membranes from leaves by FFZE.

Large apparent electric size of solid-state nanopores due to spatially extended surface conduction.

PubMed

Lee, Choongyeop; Joly, Laurent; Siria, Alessandro; Biance, Anne-Laure; Fulcrand, Rémy; Bocquet, Lydéric

2012-08-08

Ion transport through nanopores drilled in thin membranes is central to numerous applications, including biosensing and ion selective membranes. This paper reports experiments, numerical calculations, and theoretical predictions demonstrating an unexpectedly large ionic conduction in solid-state nanopores, taking its origin in anomalous entrance effects. In contrast to naive expectations based on analogies with electric circuits, the surface conductance inside the nanopore is shown to perturb the three-dimensional electric current streamlines far outside the nanopore in order to meet charge conservation at the pore entrance. This unexpected contribution to the ionic conductance can be interpreted in terms of an apparent electric size of the solid-state nanopore, which is much larger than its geometric counterpart whenever the number of charges carried by the nanopore surface exceeds its bulk counterpart. This apparent electric size, which can reach hundreds of nanometers, can have a major impact on the electrical detection of translocation events through nanopores, as well as for ionic transport in biological nanopores.

Advances in Mechanical Architectures of Large Precision Space Apertures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Datashvili, Leri; Maghaldadze, Nikoloz; Endler, Stephan; Pauw, Julian; He, Peng; Baier, Horst; Ihle, Alexander; Santiago Prowlad, Julian

2014-06-01

Recent advances in development of mechanical architectures of large deployable reflectors (LDRs) through the projects of the European Space Agency are addressed in this paper. Two different directions of LDR architectures are being investigated and developed at LSS and LLB. These are LDRs with knitted metal mesh and with flexible shell-membrane reflecting surfaces. The first direction is matured and required advancing of the novel architecture of the supporting structure that provides deployment and final shape accuracy of the metal mesh is underway. The second direction is rather new and its current development stage is focused on investigations of dimensional stability of the flexible shell-membrane reflecting surface. In both directions 5 m diameter functional models will be built to demonstrate achieved performances, which shall prepare the basis for further improvement of their technology readiness levels.

Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Water Photo-Electrolysis

PubMed Central

Aricò, Antonino S.; Girolamo, Mariarita; Siracusano, Stefania; Sebastian, David; Baglio, Vincenzo; Schuster, Michael

2017-01-01

Water-fed photo-electrolysis cells equipped with perfluorosulfonic acid (Nafion® 115) and quaternary ammonium-based (Fumatech® FAA3) ion exchange membranes as separator for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions were investigated. Protonic or anionic ionomer dispersions were deposited on the electrodes to extend the interface with the electrolyte. The photo-anode consisted of a large band-gap Ti-oxide semiconductor. The effect of membrane characteristics on the photo-electrochemical conversion of solar energy was investigated for photo-voltage-driven electrolysis cells. Photo-electrolysis cells were also studied for operation under electrical bias-assisted mode. The pH of the membrane/ionomer had a paramount effect on the photo-electrolytic conversion. The anionic membrane showed enhanced performance compared to the Nafion®-based cell when just TiO2 anatase was used as photo-anode. This was associated with better oxygen evolution kinetics in alkaline conditions compared to acidic environment. However, oxygen evolution kinetics in acidic conditions were significantly enhanced by using a Ti sub-oxide as surface promoter in order to facilitate the adsorption of OH species as precursors of oxygen evolution. However, the same surface promoter appeared to inhibit oxygen evolution in an alkaline environment probably as a consequence of the strong adsorption of OH species on the surface under such conditions. These results show that a proper combination of photo-anode and polymer electrolyte membrane is essential to maximize photo-electrolytic conversion. PMID:28468242

Induction of Caveolae in the Apical Plasma Membrane of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells

PubMed Central

Verkade, Paul; Harder, Thomas; Lafont, Frank; Simons, Kai

2000-01-01

In this paper, we have analyzed the behavior of antibody cross-linked raft-associated proteins on the surface of MDCK cells. We observed that cross-linking of membrane proteins gave different results depending on whether cross-linking occurred on the apical or basolateral plasma membrane. Whereas antibody cross-linking induced the formation of large clusters on the basolateral membrane, resembling those observed on the surface of fibroblasts (Harder, T., P. Scheiffele, P. Verkade, and K. Simons. 1998. J. Cell Biol. 929–942), only small (∼100 nm) clusters formed on the apical plasma membrane. Cross-linked apical raft proteins e.g., GPI-anchored placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), influenza hemagglutinin, and gp114 coclustered and were internalized slowly (∼10% after 60 min). Endocytosis occurred through surface invaginations that corresponded in size to caveolae and were labeled with caveolin-1 antibodies. Upon cholesterol depletion the internalization of PLAP was completely inhibited. In contrast, when a non-raft protein, the mutant LDL receptor LDLR-CT22, was cross-linked, it was excluded from the clusters of raft proteins and was rapidly internalized via clathrin-coated pits. Since caveolae are normally present on the basolateral membrane but lacking from the apical side, our data demonstrate that antibody cross-linking induced the formation of caveolae, which slowly internalized cross-linked clusters of raft-associated proteins. PMID:10684254

Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Water Photo-Electrolysis.

PubMed

Aricò, Antonino S; Girolamo, Mariarita; Siracusano, Stefania; Sebastian, David; Baglio, Vincenzo; Schuster, Michael

2017-04-29

Water-fed photo-electrolysis cells equipped with perfluorosulfonic acid (Nafion ® 115) and quaternary ammonium-based (Fumatech ® FAA3) ion exchange membranes as separator for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions were investigated. Protonic or anionic ionomer dispersions were deposited on the electrodes to extend the interface with the electrolyte. The photo-anode consisted of a large band-gap Ti-oxide semiconductor. The effect of membrane characteristics on the photo-electrochemical conversion of solar energy was investigated for photo-voltage-driven electrolysis cells. Photo-electrolysis cells were also studied for operation under electrical bias-assisted mode. The pH of the membrane/ionomer had a paramount effect on the photo-electrolytic conversion. The anionic membrane showed enhanced performance compared to the Nafion ® -based cell when just TiO₂ anatase was used as photo-anode. This was associated with better oxygen evolution kinetics in alkaline conditions compared to acidic environment. However, oxygen evolution kinetics in acidic conditions were significantly enhanced by using a Ti sub-oxide as surface promoter in order to facilitate the adsorption of OH species as precursors of oxygen evolution. However, the same surface promoter appeared to inhibit oxygen evolution in an alkaline environment probably as a consequence of the strong adsorption of OH species on the surface under such conditions. These results show that a proper combination of photo-anode and polymer electrolyte membrane is essential to maximize photo-electrolytic conversion.

Ultra-large suspended graphene as a highly elastic membrane for capacitive pressure sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yu-Min; He, Shih-Ming; Huang, Chi-Hsien; Huang, Cheng-Chun; Shih, Wen-Pin; Chu, Chun-Lin; Kong, Jing; Li, Ju; Su, Ching-Yuan

2016-02-01

In this work, we fabricate ultra-large suspended graphene membranes, where stacks of a few layers of graphene could be suspended over a circular hole with a diameter of up to 1.5 mm, with a diameter to thickness aspect ratio of 3 × 105, which is the record for free-standing graphene membranes. The process is based on large crystalline graphene (~55 μm) obtained using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, followed by a gradual solvent replacement technique. Combining a hydrogen bubbling transfer approach with thermal annealing to reduce polymer residue results in an extremely clean surface, where the ultra-large suspended graphene retains the intrinsic features of graphene, including phonon response and an enhanced carrier mobility (200% higher than that of graphene on a substrate). The highly elastic mechanical properties of the graphene membrane are demonstrated, and the Q-factor under 2 MHz stimulation is measured to be 200-300. A graphene-based capacitive pressure sensor is fabricated, where it shows a linear response and a high sensitivity of 15.15 aF Pa-1, which is 770% higher than that of frequently used silicon-based membranes. The reported approach is universal, which could be employed to fabricate other suspended 2D materials with macro-scale sizes on versatile support substrates, such as arrays of Si nano-pillars and deep trenches.In this work, we fabricate ultra-large suspended graphene membranes, where stacks of a few layers of graphene could be suspended over a circular hole with a diameter of up to 1.5 mm, with a diameter to thickness aspect ratio of 3 × 105, which is the record for free-standing graphene membranes. The process is based on large crystalline graphene (~55 μm) obtained using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, followed by a gradual solvent replacement technique. Combining a hydrogen bubbling transfer approach with thermal annealing to reduce polymer residue results in an extremely clean surface, where the ultra-large suspended graphene retains the intrinsic features of graphene, including phonon response and an enhanced carrier mobility (200% higher than that of graphene on a substrate). The highly elastic mechanical properties of the graphene membrane are demonstrated, and the Q-factor under 2 MHz stimulation is measured to be 200-300. A graphene-based capacitive pressure sensor is fabricated, where it shows a linear response and a high sensitivity of 15.15 aF Pa-1, which is 770% higher than that of frequently used silicon-based membranes. The reported approach is universal, which could be employed to fabricate other suspended 2D materials with macro-scale sizes on versatile support substrates, such as arrays of Si nano-pillars and deep trenches. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: The detailed process/recipe for CVD-grown graphene and the transferring process, SEM and TEM images, contact angles, force curves, and movie clips. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08668j

The development of manganese oxide coated ceramic membranes for combined catalytic ozonation and ultrafiltration of drinking water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corneal, Lindsay Marie

A novel method for the preparation of hydrated MnO2 by the ozonation of MnCl2 in water is described. The hydrated MnO 2 was used to coat titania water filtration membranes using a layer-by-layer technique. The coated membranes were then sintered in air at 500°C for 45 minutes. Upon sintering, the MnO2 is converted to alpha-Mn 2O3 (as characterized by x-ray and electron diffraction). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging showed no significant change in the roughness or height of the surface features of coated membranes, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging showed an increase in grain size with increasing number of coating layers. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping and line scans revealed manganese present throughout the membrane, indicating that manganese dispersed into the porous membrane during the coating process and diffused into the titania grains during sintering. Selected area diffraction (SAD) of the coated and sintered membrane was used to index the surface layer as alpha-Mn2O3. The surface layer was uneven, although there was a trend of increasing thickness with increasing coating layers. The coating acts as a catalyst for the oxidation of organic matter when coated membranes are used in a hybrid ozonation-membrane filtration system. A trend of decreasing total organic carbon (TOC) in the permeate water was observed with increasing number of coating layers. The catalytic activity also manifests itself as improved recovery of the water flux due to oxidation of foulants on the membrane surface. Ceramic nanoparticle coatings on ceramic water filtration membranes must undergo high temperature sintering. However, this means that the underlying membrane, which has been engineered for a given molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), also undergoes a high temperature heat treatment that serves to increase pore size that have resulted in increases in permeability of titania membranes. Coating the titania membrane with manganese oxide followed by sintering in air at 500°C maintains the MWCO of the membranes, with high DI water permeability, which may be favorable in terms of membrane use. SEM micrographs of titania membrane samples sintered between 500°C to 900°C were analyzed to identify a statistically significant increase in grain size with increasing sintering temperature. The grains however, generally retain a uniform shape until the 900°C sintering temperature, where large, irregularly shaped grains were observed. AFM analysis showed a corresponding increase in the surface roughness of the membrane for the sample sintered at 900°C.

Zwitterionic materials for antifouling membrane surface construction.

PubMed

He, Mingrui; Gao, Kang; Zhou, Linjie; Jiao, Zhiwei; Wu, Mengyuan; Cao, Jialin; You, Xinda; Cai, Ziyi; Su, Yanlei; Jiang, Zhongyi

2016-08-01

Membrane separation processes are often perplexed by severe and ubiquitous membrane fouling. Zwitterionic materials, keeping electric neutrality with equivalent positive and negative charged groups, are well known for their superior antifouling properties and have been broadly utilized to construct antifouling surfaces for medical devices, biosensors and marine coatings applications. In recent years, zwitterionic materials have been more and more frequently utilized for constructing antifouling membrane surfaces. In this review, the antifouling mechanisms of zwitterionic materials as well as their biomimetic prototypes in cell membranes will be discussed, followed by the survey of common approaches to incorporate zwitterionic materials onto membrane surfaces including surface grafting, surface segregation, biomimetic adhesion, surface coating and so on. The potential applications of these antifouling membranes are also embedded. Finally, we will present a brief perspective on the future development of zwitterionic materials modified antifouling membranes. Membrane fouling is a severe problem hampering the application of membrane separation technology. The properties of membrane surfaces play a critical role in membrane fouling and antifouling behavior/performance. Antifouling membrane surface construction has evolved as a hot research issue for the development of membrane processes. Zwitterionic modification of membrane surfaces has been recognized as an effective strategy to resist membrane fouling. This review summarizes the antifouling mechanisms of zwitterionic materials inspired by cell membranes as well as the popular approaches to incorporate them onto membrane surfaces. It can help form a comprehensive knowledge about the principles and methods of modifying membrane surfaces with zwitterionic materials. Finally, we propose the possible future research directions of zwitterionic materials modified antifouling membranes. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electro-Mechanical Simulation of a Large Aperture MOEMS Fabry-Perot Tunable Filter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuhn, Jonathan L.; Barclay, Richard B.; Greenhouse, Matthew A.; Mott, D. Brent; Satyapal, Shobita; Powers, Edward I. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

We are developing a micro-machined electrostatically actuated Fabry-Perot tunable filter with a large clear aperture for application in high through-put wide-field imaging spectroscopy and lidar systems. In the first phase of this effort, we are developing key components based on coupled electro-mechanical simulations. In particular, the movable etalon plate design leverages high coating stresses to yield a flat surface in drum-head tension over a large diameter (12.5 mm). In this approach, the cylindrical silicon movable plate is back etched, resulting in an optically coated membrane that is suspended from a thick silicon support ring. Understanding the interaction between the support ring, suspended membrane, and coating is critical to developing surfaces that are flat to within stringent etalon requirements. In this work, we present the simulations used to develop the movable plate, spring suspension system, and electrostatic actuation mechanism. We also present results from tests of fabricated proof of concept components.

Biological coating of EPDM-membranes of fine bubble diffusers.

PubMed

Wagner, M; von Hoessle, R

2004-01-01

Biological coatings on EPDM-membranes are a problem on many large wastewater treatment plants, as the oxygen supply of the micro-organisms is no longer guaranteed. Investigations prove that the pressure loss and the Shore A-hardness of the EPDM-membranes increase while on the other hand their softener content decreases accordingly. The detected coatings on the membrane surfaces and in the slits or holes of the membranes show extra-cellular organic substances (EPS), which, compared with fibrillar/filamented EPS usually found on surfaces in wastewater treatment plants, are viscous to a much greater extent. As, besides primary organic parts (carbon), the coatings on the membranes as well as in the slits or holes also consist of inorganic constituents (magnesium, silicon, and others), the authors assume that, the separating agent (and also inactive filler) talcum (magnesium silicate), used when producing the membranes, supports at least a first beginning of the coating. Superfine dust constituents and fibres, input via the compressed air, will build up inside the coating and consequently lead to a gradual clogging of the holes or slits. Besides chemical cleaning measures, the exchange of the EPDM-membranes against membranes of silicone would also be a possible measure to solve this problem. The market will decide, if, in the future, a cleaning or an exchange of the EPDM-membranes against membranes of silicone will be applied, but it has to be considered that the loss of softener is irreversible.

Cholesterol Promotes Protein Binding by Affecting Membrane Electrostatics and Solvation Properties.

PubMed

Doktorova, Milka; Heberle, Frederick A; Kingston, Richard L; Khelashvili, George; Cuendet, Michel A; Wen, Yi; Katsaras, John; Feigenson, Gerald W; Vogt, Volker M; Dick, Robert A

2017-11-07

Binding of the retroviral structural protein Gag to the cellular plasma membrane is mediated by the protein's matrix (MA) domain. Prominent among MA-PM interactions is electrostatic attraction between the positively charged MA domain and the negatively charged plasma membrane inner leaflet. Previously, we reported that membrane association of HIV-1 Gag, as well as purified Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) MA and Gag, depends strongly on the presence of acidic lipids and is enhanced by cholesterol (Chol). The mechanism underlying this enhancement was unclear. Here, using a broad set of in vitro and in silico techniques we addressed molecular mechanisms of association between RSV MA and model membranes, and investigated how Chol enhances this association. In neutron scattering experiments with liposomes in the presence or absence of Chol, MA preferentially interacted with preexisting POPS-rich clusters formed by nonideal lipid mixing, binding peripherally to the lipid headgroups with minimal perturbation to the bilayer structure. Molecular dynamics simulations showed a stronger MA-bilayer interaction in the presence of Chol, and a large Chol-driven increase in lipid packing and membrane surface charge density. Although in vitro MA-liposome association is influenced by disparate variables, including ionic strength and concentrations of Chol and charged lipids, continuum electrostatic theory revealed an underlying dependence on membrane surface potential. Together, these results conclusively show that Chol affects RSV MA-membrane association by making the electrostatic potential at the membrane surface more negative, while decreasing the penalty for lipid headgroup desolvation. The presented approach can be applied to other viral and nonviral proteins. Copyright © 2017 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Highly stable and self-repairing membrane-mimetic 2D nanomaterials assembled from lipid-like peptoids

PubMed Central

Jin, Haibao; Jiao, Fang; Daily, Michael D.; Chen, Yulin; Yan, Feng; Ding, Yan-Huai; Zhang, Xin; Robertson, Ellen J.; Baer, Marcel D.; Chen, Chun-Long

2016-01-01

An ability to develop sequence-defined synthetic polymers that both mimic lipid amphiphilicity for self-assembly of highly stable membrane-mimetic 2D nanomaterials and exhibit protein-like functionality would revolutionize the development of biomimetic membranes. Here we report the assembly of lipid-like peptoids into highly stable, crystalline, free-standing and self-repairing membrane-mimetic 2D nanomaterials through a facile crystallization process. Both experimental and molecular dynamics simulation results show that peptoids assemble into membranes through an anisotropic formation process. We further demonstrated the use of peptoid membranes as a robust platform to incorporate and pattern functional objects through large side-chain diversity and/or co-crystallization approaches. Similar to lipid membranes, peptoid membranes exhibit changes in thickness upon exposure to external stimuli; they can coat surfaces in single layers and self-repair. We anticipate that this new class of membrane-mimetic 2D nanomaterials will provide a robust matrix for development of biomimetic membranes tailored to specific applications. PMID:27402325

Engineering Surface Energy and Nanostructure of Microporous Films for Expanded Membrane Distillation Applications.

PubMed

Boo, Chanhee; Lee, Jongho; Elimelech, Menachem

2016-08-02

We investigated the factors that determine surface omniphobicity of microporous membranes and evaluated the potential application of these membranes in desalination of low surface tension wastewaters by membrane distillation (MD). Specifically, the effects of surface morphology and surface energy on membrane surface omniphobicity were systematically investigated by evaluating wetting resistance to low surface tension liquids. Single and multilevel re-entrant structures were achieved by using cylindrical glass fibers as a membrane substrate and grafting silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) on the fibers. Surface energy of the membrane was tuned by functionalizing the fiber substrate with fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) having two different lengths of fluoroalkyl chains. Results show that surface omniphobicity of the modified fibrous membrane increased with higher level of re-entrant structure and with lower surface energy. The secondary re-entrant structure achieved by SiNP coating on the cylindrical fibers was found to play a critical role in enhancing the surface omniphobicity. Membranes coated with SiNPs and chemically modified by the FAS with a longer fluoroalkyl chain (or lower surface energy) exhibited excellent surface omniphobicity and showed wetting resistance to low surface tension liquids such as ethanol (22.1 mN m(-1)). We further evaluated performance of the membranes in desalination of saline feed solutions with varying surface tensions by membrane distillation (MD). The engineered membranes exhibited stable MD performance with low surface tension feed waters, demonstrating the potential application omniphobic membranes in desalinating complex, high salinity industrial wastewaters.

Layer by Layer, Nano-particle "Only" Surface Modification of Filtration Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Escobar-Ferrand, Luis

Layer by Layer (LbL) deposition using primarily inorganic silica nanoparticles is employed for the modification of polymeric micro and ultrafiltration (MF/UF) membranes to produce thin film composites (TFC) with potential nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) capabilities.. A variety of porous substrate membranes with different membrane surface characteristics are employed, but exhibiting in common that wicking of water does not readily occur into the pore structure, including polycarbonate track etched (PCTE), polyethersulfone (PES) and sulfonated PES (SPEES) MF/UF membranes. Both spherical (cationic/anionic) and eccentric elongated (anionic) silica nanoparticles are deposited using conditions similar to those reported by Lee et al. Appropriate selection of the pH's for anionic and cationic particle deposition enables the construction of nanoparticle only layers 100--1200 nm in thickness atop the original membrane substrates. The surface layer thickness varies monotonically with the number of bilayers (anionic/cationic deposition cycles) as expected. The deposition process is optimized to eliminate drying induced cracking and to improve mechanical durability via thickness control and post-deposition hydro-thermal treatment. The hydrodynamic permeability of these TFC membranes is measured to evaluate their performance under typical NF operating conditions using dead-end permeation experiments and their performance compared quantitatively with realistic hydrodynamic models, with favorable results. For track etched polycarbonate MF substrates, surface modification causes a permeability reduction of approximately two orders of magnitude with respect to the bare substrates, to values comparable to those for typical commercial NF membranes. Good quantitative agreement with hydrodynamic models with no adjustable parameters was also established for this case, providing indirect confirmation that the LbL deposited surface layers are largely defect (crack) free. Imaging of our TFC membranes after permeation tests confirmed that no significant mechanical damage resulted, indicating integrity and robustness of the LbL deposited surface layers in typical applications. The selectivity of these novel TFC membranes was also tested using standard "rejection" tests normally used to characterize NF and RO membranes for their capabilities in typical applications, such as water softening or desalination. We report the dextran standards molecular weight "cut-off" (MWCO) using mixed dextrans from 1.5 to 500 KDa in dead-end stir cells, and the percentage of rejection of standard bivalent and monovalent salt solutions using steady cross flow permeation experiments. The results confirm rejection of at least 60% of even the smallest dextrans, an estimated dextran MWCO of 20 KDa, and rejection of 10% and 20% for monovalent (NaCl) and bivalent (MgSO4) salts, respectively, for all the TFC membranes studied, while the unmodified membranes showed no rejection capability at all. The work supports that nanoparticle based LbL surface modification of MF/UF membranes can produce filtration quality media for important water purification applications, such as nanofiltration (NF) softening processes, natural organic matter (NOM) elimination and possibly reverse osmosis (RO) desalination.

Prefission Constriction of Golgi Tubular Carriers Driven by Local Lipid Metabolism: A Theoretical Model

PubMed Central

Shemesh, Tom; Luini, Alberto; Malhotra, Vivek; Burger, Koert N. J.; Kozlov, Michael M.

2003-01-01

Membrane transport within mammalian cells is mediated by small vesicular as well as large pleiomorphic transport carriers (TCs). A major step in the formation of TCs is the creation and subsequent narrowing of a membrane neck connecting the emerging carrier with the initial membrane. In the case of small vesicular TCs, neck formation may be directly induced by the coat proteins that cover the emerging vesicle. However, the mechanism underlying the creation and narrowing of a membrane neck in the generation of large TCs remains unknown. We present a theoretical model for neck formation based on the elastic model of membranes. Our calculations suggest a lipid-driven mechanism with a central role for diacylglycerol (DAG). The model is applied to a well-characterized in vitro system that reconstitutes TC formation from the Golgi complex, namely the pearling and fission of Golgi tubules induced by CtBP/BARS, a protein that catalyzes the conversion of lysophosphatidic acid into phosphatidic acid. In view of the importance of a PA-DAG cycle in the formation of Golgi TCs, we assume that the newly formed phosphatidic acid undergoes rapid dephosphorylation into DAG. DAG possesses a unique molecular shape characterized by an extremely large negative spontaneous curvature, and it redistributes rapidly between the membrane monolayers and along the membrane surface. Coupling between local membrane curvature and local lipid composition results, by mutual enhancement, in constrictions of the tubule into membrane necks, and a related inhomogeneous lateral partitioning of DAG. Our theoretical model predicts the exact dimensions of the constrictions observed in the pearling Golgi tubules. Moreover, the model is able to explain membrane neck formation by physiologically relevant mole fractions of DAG. PMID:14645071

Analysis of the 3D structure og agglutinated erythrocyte using CellScan and confocal microscopy: characterization by FLIM-FRET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riquelme, Bibiana D.; Dumas, Dominique; Valverde de Rasia, Juana; Rasia, Rodolfo J.; Stoltz, Jean Francois

2003-10-01

We report the adhesion of human erythrocyte membranes mediated by monoclonal antibodies anti-glycophorin. The distribution of the linked antibodies on membrane was identified with selective fluorescence labels. To analyze the antibody distribution on interfacial region between two cells agglutinated and on its surface, three types of fluorescence marked strategy were evaluated. The 3D images were obtained in a CellScan and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy CLSM. We considered the FRET signal to characterize the agglutination of Red Blood Cells (RBC) by specific monoclonal antibodies (anti-glycophorin A or B). The fluorescence labeling demonstrated that distribution of antibody on erythrocyte membranes is not homogeneous. The fluorescence intensity on contact region in the agglutinated is bigger than the intensity on exterior surface. Tentatively, we interpreted these intensity differences in terms of the mobility of antibody linked to the glycocalix on cell surface. Such mobility has a large consequence in the morphology of cellular agglutinated.

Structure of colicin I receptor bound to the R-domain of colicin Ia: implications for protein import

PubMed Central

Buchanan, Susan K; Lukacik, Petra; Grizot, Sylvestre; Ghirlando, Rodolfo; Ali, Maruf M U; Barnard, Travis J; Jakes, Karen S; Kienker, Paul K; Esser, Lothar

2007-01-01

Colicin Ia is a 69 kDa protein that kills susceptible Escherichia coli cells by binding to a specific receptor in the outer membrane, colicin I receptor (70 kDa), and subsequently translocating its channel forming domain across the periplasmic space, where it inserts into the inner membrane and forms a voltage-dependent ion channel. We determined crystal structures of colicin I receptor alone and in complex with the receptor binding domain of colicin Ia. The receptor undergoes large and unusual conformational changes upon colicin binding, opening at the cell surface and positioning the receptor binding domain of colicin Ia directly above it. We modelled the interaction with full-length colicin Ia to show that the channel forming domain is initially positioned 150 Å above the cell surface. Functional data using full-length colicin Ia show that colicin I receptor is necessary for cell surface binding, and suggest that the receptor participates in translocation of colicin Ia across the outer membrane. PMID:17464289

The Role of Membrane Curvature in Nanoscale Topography-Induced Intracellular Signaling.

PubMed

Lou, Hsin-Ya; Zhao, Wenting; Zeng, Yongpeng; Cui, Bianxiao

2018-05-15

Over the past decade, there has been growing interest in developing biosensors and devices with nanoscale and vertical topography. Vertical nanostructures induce spontaneous cell engulfment, which enhances the cell-probe coupling efficiency and the sensitivity of biosensors. Although local membranes in contact with the nanostructures are found to be fully fluidic for lipid and membrane protein diffusions, cells appear to actively sense and respond to the surface topography presented by vertical nanostructures. For future development of biodevices, it is important to understand how cells interact with these nanostructures and how their presence modulates cellular function and activities. How cells recognize nanoscale surface topography has been an area of active research for two decades before the recent biosensor works. Extensive studies show that surface topographies in the range of tens to hundreds of nanometers can significantly affect cell functions, behaviors, and ultimately the cell fate. For example, titanium implants having rough surfaces are better for osteoblast attachment and host-implant integration than those with smooth surfaces. At the cellular level, nanoscale surface topography has been shown by a large number of studies to modulate cell attachment, activity, and differentiation. However, a mechanistic understanding of how cells interact and respond to nanoscale topographic features is still lacking. In this Account, we focus on some recent studies that support a new mechanism that local membrane curvature induced by nanoscale topography directly acts as a biochemical signal to induce intracellular signaling, which we refer to as the curvature hypothesis. The curvature hypothesis proposes that some intracellular proteins can recognize membrane curvatures of a certain range at the cell-to-material interface. These proteins then recruit and activate downstream components to modulate cell signaling and behavior. We discuss current technologies allowing the visualization of membrane deformation at the cell membrane-to-substrate interface with nanometer precision and demonstrate that vertical nanostructures induce local curvatures on the plasma membrane. These local curvatures enhance the process of clathrin-mediated endocytosis and affect actin dynamics. We also present evidence that vertical nanostructures can induce significant deformation of the nuclear membrane, which can affect chromatin distribution and gene expression. Finally, we provide a brief perspective on the curvature hypothesis and the challenges and opportunities for the design of nanotopography for manipulating cell behavior.

Easy Fabrication of Thin Membranes with Through Holes. Application to Protein Patterning

PubMed Central

Arasi, Bakya; Gauthier, Nils; Viasnoff, Virgile

2012-01-01

Since protein patterning on 2D surfaces has emerged as an important tool in cell biology, the development of easy patterning methods has gained importance in biology labs. In this paper we present a simple, rapid and reliable technique to fabricate thin layers of UV curable polymer with through holes. These membranes are as easy to fabricate as microcontact printing stamps and can be readily used for stencil patterning. We show how this microfabrication scheme allows highly reproducible and highly homogeneous protein patterning with micron sized resolution on surfaces as large as 10 cm2. Using these stencils, fragile proteins were patterned without loss of function in a fully hydrated state. We further demonstrate how intricate patterns of multiple proteins can be achieved by stacking the stencil membranes. We termed this approach microserigraphy. PMID:22952944

Nanowire Membrane-based Nanothermite: towards Processable and Tunable Interfacial Diffusion for Solid State Reactions

PubMed Central

Yang, Yong; Wang, Peng-peng; Zhang, Zhi-cheng; Liu, Hui-ling; Zhang, Jingchao; Zhuang, Jing; Wang, Xun

2013-01-01

Interfacial diffusion is of great importance in determining the performance of solid-state reactions. For nanometer sized particles, some solid-state reactions can be triggered accidently by mechanical stress owing to their large surface-to-volume ratio compared with the bulk ones. Therefore, a great challenge is the control of interfacial diffusion for solid state reactions, especially for energetic materials. Here we demonstrate, through the example of nanowire-based thermite membrane, that the thermite solid-state reaction can be easily tuned via the introduction of low-surface-energy coating layer. Moreover, this silicon-coated thermite membrane exhibit controlled wetting behavior ranging from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic and, simultaneously, to significantly reduce the friction sensitivity of thermite membrane. This effect enables to increase interfacial resistance by increasing the amount of coating material. Indeed, our results described here make it possible to tune the solid-state reactions through the manipulation of interfacial diffusion between the reactants. PMID:23603809

Nanoscale current imaging of the conducting channels in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

PubMed

Bussian, David A; O'Dea, James R; Metiu, Horia; Buratto, Steven K

2007-02-01

The electrochemically active area of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is investigated using conductive probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM). A platinum-coated AFM tip is used as a nanoscale cathode in an operating PEMFC. We present results that show highly inhomogeneous distributions of conductive surface domains at several length scales. At length scales on the order of the aqueous domains of the membrane, approximately 50 nm, we observe single channel electrochemistry. I-V curves for single conducting channels are obtained, which yield insight into the nature of conductive regions across the PEM. In addition, we demonstrate a new characterization technique, phase current correlation microscopy, which gives a direct measure of the electrochemical activity for each aqueous domain. This shows that a large number ( approximately 60%) of the aqueous domains present at the surface of an operating Nafion membrane are inactive. We attribute this to a combination of limited aqueous domain connectivity and catalyst accessibility.

Influence of molecular weight and pH on adsorption of chitosan at the surface of large and giant vesicles.

PubMed

Quemeneur, Francois; Rinaudo, Marguerite; Pépin-Donat, Brigitte

2008-01-01

This paper describes the mechanisms of adsorption of chitosan, a positively charged polyelectrolyte, on the DOPC lipid membrane of large and giant unilamellar vesicles (respectively, LUVs and GUVs). We observe that the variation of the zeta potential of LUVs as a function of chitosan concentration is independent on the chitosan molecular weight (Mw). This result is interpreted in terms of electrostatic interactions, which induce a flat adsorption of the chitosan on the surface of the membrane. The role of electrostatic interactions is further studied by observing the variation of the zeta potential as a function of the chitosan concentration for two different charge densities tuned by the pH. Results show a stronger chitosan-membrane affinity at pH 6 (lipids are negatively charged, and 40% chitosan amino groups are protonated) than at pH 3.4 (100% of protonated amino groups but zwitterionic lipids are positively charged) which confirms that adsorption is of electrostatic origin. Then, we investigate the stability of decorated LUVs and GUVs in a large range of pH (6.0 < pH < 12.0) in order to complete a previous study made in acidic conditions [Quemeneur et al. Biomacromolecules 2007, 8, 2512-2519]. A comparative study of the variation of the zeta potential as a function of the pH (2.0 < pH < 12.0) reveals a difference in behavior between naked and chitosan-decorated LUVs. This result is further confirmed by a comparative observation by optical microscopy of naked and chitosan-decorated GUVs in basic conditions (6.0 < pH < 12.0): at pH > 10.0, in the absence of chitosan, the vesicles present complex shapes, contrary to the chitosan-decorated vesicles which remain spherical, confirming thus that chitosan remains adsorbed on vesicles in basic conditions up to pH = 12.0. These results, in addition with our previous data, show that the chitosan-decorated vesicles are stable over a very broad range of pH (2.0 < pH < 12.0), which holds promise for their in vivo applications. Finally, the quantification of the chitosan adsorption on a LUV membrane is performed by zeta potential and fluorescence measurements. The fraction of membrane surface covered by chitosan is estimated to be lower than 40 %, which corresponds to the formation of a flat layer of chitosan on the membrane surface on an electrostatic basis.

Retention of prominin in microvilli reveals distinct cholesterol-based lipid micro-domains in the apical plasma membrane.

PubMed

Röper, K; Corbeil, D; Huttner, W B

2000-09-01

Membrane cholesterol-sphingolipid 'rafts', which are characterized by their insolubility in the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 in the cold, have been implicated in the sorting of certain membrane proteins, such as placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), to the apical plasma membrane domain of epithelial cells. Here we show that prominin, an apically sorted pentaspan membrane protein, becomes associated in the trans-Golgi network with a lipid raft that is soluble in Triton X-100 but insoluble in another non-ionic detergent, Lubrol WX. At the cell surface, prominin remains insoluble in Lubrol WX and is selectively associated with microvilli, being largely segregated from the membrane subdomains containing PLAP. Cholesterol depletion results in the loss of prominin's microvillus-specific localization but does not lead to its complete intermixing with PLAP. We propose the coexistence within a membrane domain, such as the apical plasma membrane, of different cholesterol-based lipid rafts, which underlie the generation and maintenance of membrane subdomains.

Self-assembled virus-membrane complexes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Lihua; Liang, Hongjun; Angelini, Thomas

Anionic polyelectrolytes and cationic lipid membranes can self-assemble into lamellar structures ranging from alternating layers of membranes and polyelectrolytes to 'missing layer' superlattice structures. We show that these structural differences can be understood in terms of the surface-charge-density mismatch between the polyelectrolyte and membrane components by examining complexes between cationic membranes and highly charged M13 viruses, a system that allowed us to vary the polyelectrolyte diameter independently of the charge density. Such virus-membrane complexes have pore sizes that are about ten times larger in area than DNA-membrane complexes, and can be used to package and organize large functional molecules; correlatedmore » arrays of Ru(bpy){sub 3}{sup 2+} macroionic dyes have been directly observed within the virus-membrane complexes using an electron-density reconstruction. These observations elucidate fundamental design rules for rational control of self-assembled polyelectrolyte-membrane structures, which have applications ranging from non-viral gene therapy to biomolecular templates for nanofabrication.« less

Adsorption and transport of charged vs. neutral hydrophobic molecules at the membrane of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells.

PubMed

Zeng, Jia; Eckenrode, Heather M; Dai, Hai-Lung; Wilhelm, Michael J

2015-03-01

The adsorption and transport of hydrophobic molecules at the membrane surface of pre- and post-DMSO induced differentiated murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells were examined by time- and wavelength-resolved second harmonic light scattering. Two medium (<600 Da) hydrophobic molecules, cationic malachite green (MG) and neutral bromocresol purple (BCP), were investigated. While it was observed that the MG cation adsorbs onto the surface of the MEL cell, neutral BCP does not. It is suggested that an electrostatic interaction between the opposite charges of the cation and the MEL cell surface is the primary driving force for adsorption. Comparisons of adsorption density and free energy, measured at different pH and cell morphology, indicate that the interaction is predominantly through sialic acid carboxyl groups. MG cation adsorption densities have been determined as (0.6±0.3)×10(6) μm(-2) on the surface of undifferentiated MEL cells, and (1.8±0.5)×10(7) μm(-2) on differentiated MEL cells, while the deduced adsorption free energies are effectively identical (ca. -10.9±0.1 and -10.8±0.1 kcal mol(-1), respectively). The measured MG densities indicate that the total number of surface carboxyl groups is largely conserved following differentiation, and therefore the density of carboxylic groups is much larger on the differentiated cell surface than the undifferentiated one. Finally, in contrast to synthetic liposomes and bacterial membranes, surface adsorbed MG cations are unable to traverse the MEL cell membrane. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Controlled Patterning of Plasmonic Dimers by Using an Ultrathin Nanoporous Alumina Membrane as a Shadow Mask.

PubMed

Hao, Qi; Huang, Hao; Fan, Xingce; Yin, Yin; Wang, Jiawei; Li, Wan; Qiu, Teng; Ma, Libo; Chu, Paul K; Schmidt, Oliver G

2017-10-18

We report on design and fabrication of patterned plasmonic dimer arrays by using an ultrathin anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane as a shadow mask. This strategy allows for controllable fabrication of plasmonic dimers where the location, size, and orientation of each particle in the dimer pairs can be independently tuned. Particularly, plasmonic dimers with ultrasmall nanogaps down to the sub-10 nm scale as well as a large dimer density up to 1.0 × 10 10 cm -2 are fabricated over a centimeter-sized area. The plasmonic dimers exhibit significant surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement with a polarization-dependent behavior, which is well interpreted by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. Our results reveal a facile approach for controllable fabrication of large-area dimer arrays, which is of fundamental interest for plasmon-based applications in surface-enhanced spectroscopy, biochemical sensing, and optoelectronics.

Polymeric membranes: surface modification for minimizing (bio)colloidal fouling.

PubMed

Kochkodan, Victor; Johnson, Daniel J; Hilal, Nidal

2014-04-01

This paper presents an overview on recent developments in surface modification of polymer membranes for reduction of their fouling with biocolloids and organic colloids in pressure driven membrane processes. First, colloidal interactions such as London-van der Waals, electrical, hydration, hydrophobic, steric forces and membrane surface properties such as hydrophilicity, charge and surface roughness, which affect membrane fouling, have been discussed and the main goals of the membrane surface modification for fouling reduction have been outlined. Thereafter the recent studies on reduction of (bio)colloidal of polymer membranes using ultraviolet/redox initiated surface grafting, physical coating/adsorption of a protective layer on the membrane surface, chemical reactions or surface modification of polymer membranes with nanoparticles as well as using of advanced atomic force microscopy to characterize (bio)colloidal fouling have been critically summarized. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Surface Modification of Polyethersulfone Membrane

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Surface modification of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane surface using UV/ozone-treated grafting and interfacial polymerization on membrane surface was investigated in order to improve the resistance of membrane surface to protein adsorption. These methods of surface modification were compared in te...

Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles Anchored onto Silica Nanofibers for Designing Magnetic and Flexible Nanofibrous Membranes.

PubMed

Hong, Feifei; Yan, Chengcheng; Si, Yang; He, Jianxin; Yu, Jianyong; Ding, Bin

2015-09-16

Many applications proposed for magnetic silica nanofibers require their assembly into a cellular membrane structure. The feature to keep structure stable upon large deformation is crucial for a macroscopic porous material which functions reliably. However, it remains a key issue to realize robust flexibility in two-dimensional (2D) magnetic silica nanofibrous networks. Here, we report that the combination of electrospun silica nanofibers with zein dip-coating can lead to the formation of flexible, magnetic, and hierarchical porous silica nanofibrous membranes (SNM). The 290 nm diameter silica nanofibers act as templates for the uniform anchoring of nickel ferrite nanoparticles (size of 50 nm). Benefiting from the homogeneous and stable nanofiber-nanoparticle composite structure, the resulting magnetic SNM can maintain their structure integrity under repeated bending as high as 180° and can facilely recover. The unique hierarchical structure also provides this new class of silica membrane with integrated properties of ultralow density, high porosity, large surface area, good magnetic responsiveness, robust dye adsorption capacity, and effective emulsion separation performance. Significantly, the synthesis of such fascinating membranes may provide new insight for further application of silica in a self-supporting, structurally adaptive, and 2D membrane form.

Investigating how the attributes of self-associated drug complexes influence the passive transport of molecules through biological membranes.

PubMed

Inacio, R; Barlow, D; Kong, X; Keeble, J; Jones, S A

2016-05-01

Relatively little is known about how drug self-association influences absorption into the human body. This study presented two hydrophobic membranes with a series of solutions containing different types of tetracaine aggregates with the aim of understanding how the attributes of supramolecular aggregate formation influenced passive membrane transport. The data showed that aqueous solutions of the unprotonated form of tetracaine displayed a significantly higher (p<0.05) passive membrane transport compared to solutions with mixtures of the unprotonated and protonated drug microspecies (e.g. transport through the skin was 0.96±0.31μgcm(-2)min(-1) and 1.59±0.26μgcm(-2)min(-1) respectively). However, despite an enhanced rate of drug transport and a better membrane partitioning the unionised molecules showed a significantly longer (p<0.05) lag time to membrane penetration compared solutions rich in the ionised microspecies. Analytical characterisation of the solutions applied to the apical surface of the membranes in the transport studies showed that larger tetracaine aggregates with smaller surface charge gave rise to the longer lag times. These large aggregates demonstrated more extensive intermolecular bonding and therefore, it was suggest that it was the enhanced propensity of the unionised species to form tightly bound drug aggregates that caused the delay in the membrane penetration. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Curvature Forces in Membrane Lipid-Protein Interactions

PubMed Central

Brown, Michael F.

2012-01-01

Membrane biochemists are becoming increasingly aware of the role of lipid-protein interactions in diverse cellular functions. This review describes how conformational changes of membrane proteins—involving folding, stability, and membrane shape transitions—potentially involve elastic remodeling of the lipid bilayer. Evidence suggests that membrane lipids affect proteins through interactions of a relatively long-range nature, extending beyond a single annulus of next-neighbor boundary lipids. It is assumed the distance scale of the forces is large compared to the molecular range of action. Application of the theory of elasticity to flexible soft surfaces derives from classical physics, and explains the polymorphism of both detergents and membrane phospholipids. A flexible surface model (FSM) describes the balance of curvature and hydrophobic forces in lipid-protein interactions. Chemically nonspecific properties of the lipid bilayer modulate the conformational energetics of membrane proteins. The new biomembrane model challenges the standard model (the fluid mosaic model) found in biochemistry texts. The idea of a curvature force field based on data first introduced for rhodopsin gives a bridge between theory and experiment. Influences of bilayer thickness, nonlamellar-forming lipids, detergents, and osmotic stress are all explained by the FSM. An increased awareness of curvature forces suggests that research will accelerate as structural biology becomes more closely entwined with the physical chemistry of lipids in explaining membrane structure and function. PMID:23163284

Antimicrobial metallic copper surfaces kill Staphylococcus haemolyticus via membrane damage.

PubMed

Santo, Christophe Espírito; Quaranta, Davide; Grass, Gregor

2012-03-01

Recently, copper (Cu) in its metallic form has regained interest for its antimicrobial properties. Use of metallic Cu surfaces in worldwide hospital trials resulted in remarkable reductions in surface contaminations. Yet, our understanding of why microbes are killed upon contact to the metal is still limited and different modes of action have been proposed. This knowledge, however, is crucial for sustained use of such surfaces in hospitals and other hygiene-sensitive areas. Here, we report on the molecular mechanisms by which the Gram-positive Staphylococcus haemolyticus is inactivated by metallic Cu. Staphylococcus haemolyticus was killed within minutes on Cu but not on stainless steel demonstrating the antimicrobial efficacy of metallic Cu. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis and in vivo staining with Coppersensor-1 indicated that cells accumulated large amounts of Cu ions from metallic Cu surfaces contributing to lethal damage. Mutation rates of Cu- or steel-exposed cells were similarly low. Instead, live/dead staining indicated cell membrane damage in Cu- but not steel-exposed cells. These findings support a model of the cellular targets of metallic Cu toxicity in bacteria, which suggests that metallic Cu is not genotoxic and does not kill via DNA damage. In contrast, membranes constitute the likely Achilles' heel of Cu surface-exposed cells.

Antimicrobial metallic copper surfaces kill Staphylococcus haemolyticus via membrane damage

PubMed Central

Santo, Christophe Espírito; Quaranta, Davide; Grass, Gregor

2012-01-01

Recently, copper (Cu) in its metallic form has regained interest for its antimicrobial properties. Use of metallic Cu surfaces in worldwide hospital trials resulted in remarkable reductions in surface contaminations. Yet, our understanding of why microbes are killed upon contact to the metal is still limited and different modes of action have been proposed. This knowledge, however, is crucial for sustained use of such surfaces in hospitals and other hygiene-sensitive areas. Here, we report on the molecular mechanisms by which the Gram-positive Staphylococcus haemolyticus is inactivated by metallic Cu. Staphylococcus haemolyticus was killed within minutes on Cu but not on stainless steel demonstrating the antimicrobial efficacy of metallic Cu. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis and in vivo staining with Coppersensor-1 indicated that cells accumulated large amounts of Cu ions from metallic Cu surfaces contributing to lethal damage. Mutation rates of Cu- or steel-exposed cells were similarly low. Instead, live/dead staining indicated cell membrane damage in Cu- but not steel-exposed cells. These findings support a model of the cellular targets of metallic Cu toxicity in bacteria, which suggests that metallic Cu is not genotoxic and does not kill via DNA damage. In contrast, membranes constitute the likely Achilles’ heel of Cu surface-exposed cells. PMID:22950011

Micropollutant sorption to membrane polymers: a review of mechanisms for estrogens.

PubMed

Schäfer, Andrea I; Akanyeti, Ime; Semião, Andrea J C

2011-05-11

Organic micropollutants such as estrogens occur in water in increasing quantities from predominantly anthropogenic sources. In water such micropollutants partition not only to surfaces such as membrane polymers but also to any other natural or treatment related surfaces. Such interactions are often observed as sorption in treatment processes and this phenomenon is exploited in activated carbon filtration, for example. Sorption is important for polymeric materials and this is used for the concentration of such micropollutants for analytical purposes in solid phase extraction. In membrane filtration the mechanism of micropollutant sorption is a relatively new discovery that was facilitated through new analytical techniques. This sorption plays an important role in micropollutant retention by membranes although mechanisms of interaction are to date not understood. This review is focused on sorption of estrogens on polymeric surfaces, specifically membrane polymers. Such sorption has been observed to a large extent with values of up to 1.2 ng/cm(2) measured. Sorption is dependent on the type of polymer, micropollutant characteristics, solution chemistry, membrane operating conditions as well as membrane morphology. Likely contributors to sorption are the surface roughness as well as the microporosity of such polymers. While retention-and/or reflection coefficient as well as solute to effective pore size ratio-controls the access of such micropollutants to the inner surface, pore size, porosity and thickness as well as morphology or shape of inner voids determines the available area for sorption. The interaction mechanisms are governed, most likely, by hydrophobic as well as solvation effects and interplay of molecular and supramolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding, π-cation/anion interactions, π-π stacking, ion-dipole and dipole-dipole interactions, the extent of which is naturally dependent on micropollutant and polymer characteristics. Systematic investigations are required to identify and quantify both relative contributions and strength of such interactions and develop suitable surface characterisation tools. This is a difficult endeavour given the complexity of systems, the possibility of several interactions taking place simultaneously and the generally weaker forces involved. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-performance multilayer composite membranes with mussel-inspired polydopamine as a versatile molecular bridge for CO2 separation.

PubMed

Li, Panyuan; Wang, Zhi; Li, Wen; Liu, Yanni; Wang, Jixiao; Wang, Shichang

2015-07-22

It is desirable to develop high-performance composite membranes for efficient CO2 separation in CO2 capture process. Introduction of a highly permeable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) intermediate layer between a selective layer and a porous support has been considered as a simple but efficient way to enhance gas permeance while maintaining high gas selectivity, because the introduced intermediate layer could benefit the formation of an ultrathin defect-free selective layer owing to the circumvention of pore penetration phenomenon. However, the selection of selective layer materials is unfavorably restricted because of the low surface energy of PDMS. Various highly hydrophilic membrane materials such as amino group-rich polyvinylamine (PVAm), a representative facilitated transport membrane material for CO2 separation, could not be facilely coated over the surface of the hydrophobic PDMS intermediate layer uniformly. Inspired by the hydrophilic nature and strong adhesive ability of polydopamine (PDA), PDA was therefore selected as a versatile molecular bridge between hydrophobic PDMS and hydrophilic PVAm. The PDA coating endows a highly compatible interface between both components with a large surface energy difference via multiple-site cooperative interactions. The resulting multilayer composite membrane with a thin facilitated transport PVAm selective layer exhibits a notably enhanced CO2 permeance (1887 GPU) combined with a slightly improved CO2/N2 selectivity (83), as well as superior structural stability. Similarly, the multilayer composite membrane with a hydrophilic CO2-philic Pebax 1657 selective layer was also developed for enhanced CO2 separation performance.

Towards improved artificial lungs through biocatalysis.

PubMed

Kaar, Joel L; Oh, Heung-Il; Russell, Alan J; Federspiel, William J

2007-07-01

Inefficient CO(2) removal due to limited diffusion represents a significant barrier in the development of artificial lungs and respiratory assist devices, which use hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) as the blood-gas interface and can require large blood-contacting membrane area. To offset the underlying diffusional challenge, "bioactive" HFMs that facilitate CO(2) diffusion were prepared via covalent immobilization of carbonic anhydrase (CA), an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of bicarbonate in blood to CO(2), onto the surface of plasma-modified conventional HFMs. This study examines the impact of enzyme attachment on the diffusional properties and the rate of CO(2) removal of the bioactive membranes. Plasma deposition of surface reactive hydroxyls, to which CA could be attached, did not change gas permeance of the HFMs or generate membrane defects, as determined by scanning electron microscopy, when low plasma discharge power and short exposure times were employed. Cyanogen bromide activation of the surface hydroxyls and subsequent modification with CA resulted in near monolayer enzyme coverage (88%) on the membrane. The effect of increased plasma discharge power and exposure time on enzyme loading was negligible while gas permeance studies showed enzyme attachment did not impede CO(2) or O(2) diffusion. Furthermore, when employed in a model respiratory assist device, the bioactive membranes improved CO(2) removal rates by as much as 75% from physiological bicarbonate solutions with no enzyme leaching. These results demonstrate the potential of bioactive HFMs with immobilized CA to enhance CO(2) exchange in respiratory devices.

Acute ENaC Stimulation by cAMP in a Kidney Cell Line is Mediated by Exocytic Insertion from a Recycling Channel Pool

PubMed Central

Butterworth, Michael B.; Edinger, Robert S.; Johnson, John P.; Frizzell, Raymond A.

2005-01-01

Acute hormonal regulation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in tight epithelia increases transcellular Na+ transport via trafficking of intracellular channels to the apical surface. The fate of the channels removed from the apical surface following agonist washout is less clear. By repetitively stimulating polarized mouse cortical collecting duct (mCCD, MPKCCD14) epithelia, we evaluated the hypothesis that ENaC recycles through an intracellular pool to be available for reinsertion into the apical membrane. Short circuit current (ISC), membrane capacitance (CT), and conductance (GT) were recorded from mCCD epithelia mounted in modified Ussing chambers. Surface biotinylation of ENaC demonstrated an increase in channel number in the apical membrane following cAMP stimulation. This increase was accompanied by a 83 ± 6% (n = 31) increase in ISC and a 15.3 ± 1.5% (n = 15) increase in CT. Selective membrane permeabilization demonstrated that the CT increase was due to an increase in apical membrane capacitance. ISC and CT declined to basal levels on stimulus washout. Repetitive cAMP stimulation and washout (∼1 h each cycle) resulted in response fatigue; ΔISC decreased ∼10% per stimulation–recovery cycle. When channel production was blocked by cycloheximide, ΔISC decreased ∼15% per stimulation cycle, indicating that newly synthesized ENaC contributed a relatively small fraction of the channels mobilized to the apical membrane. Selective block of surface ENaC by benzamil demonstrated that channels inserted from a subapical pool made up >90% of the stimulated ISC, and that on restimulation a large proportion of channels retrieved from the apical surface were reinserted into the apical membrane. Channel recycling was disrupted by brefeldin A, which inhibited ENaC exocytosis, by chloroquine, which inhibited ENaC endocytosis and recycling, and by latrunculin A, which blocked ENaC exocytosis. A compartment model featuring channel populations in the apical membrane and intracellular recycling pool provided an adequate kinetic description of the ISC responses to repetitive stimulation. The model supports the concept of ENaC recycling in response to repetitive cAMP stimulation. PMID:15623897

Acute ENaC stimulation by cAMP in a kidney cell line is mediated by exocytic insertion from a recycling channel pool.

PubMed

Butterworth, Michael B; Edinger, Robert S; Johnson, John P; Frizzell, Raymond A

2005-01-01

Acute hormonal regulation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in tight epithelia increases transcellular Na(+) transport via trafficking of intracellular channels to the apical surface. The fate of the channels removed from the apical surface following agonist washout is less clear. By repetitively stimulating polarized mouse cortical collecting duct (mCCD, (MPK)CCD(14)) epithelia, we evaluated the hypothesis that ENaC recycles through an intracellular pool to be available for reinsertion into the apical membrane. Short circuit current (I(SC)), membrane capacitance (C(T)), and conductance (G(T)) were recorded from mCCD epithelia mounted in modified Ussing chambers. Surface biotinylation of ENaC demonstrated an increase in channel number in the apical membrane following cAMP stimulation. This increase was accompanied by a 83 +/- 6% (n = 31) increase in I(SC) and a 15.3 +/- 1.5% (n = 15) increase in C(T). Selective membrane permeabilization demonstrated that the C(T) increase was due to an increase in apical membrane capacitance. I(SC) and C(T) declined to basal levels on stimulus washout. Repetitive cAMP stimulation and washout (approximately 1 h each cycle) resulted in response fatigue; DeltaI(SC) decreased approximately 10% per stimulation-recovery cycle. When channel production was blocked by cycloheximide, DeltaI(SC) decreased approximately 15% per stimulation cycle, indicating that newly synthesized ENaC contributed a relatively small fraction of the channels mobilized to the apical membrane. Selective block of surface ENaC by benzamil demonstrated that channels inserted from a subapical pool made up >90% of the stimulated I(SC), and that on restimulation a large proportion of channels retrieved from the apical surface were reinserted into the apical membrane. Channel recycling was disrupted by brefeldin A, which inhibited ENaC exocytosis, by chloroquine, which inhibited ENaC endocytosis and recycling, and by latrunculin A, which blocked ENaC exocytosis. A compartment model featuring channel populations in the apical membrane and intracellular recycling pool provided an adequate kinetic description of the I(SC) responses to repetitive stimulation. The model supports the concept of ENaC recycling in response to repetitive cAMP stimulation.

The shape modulation of osteoblast-osteocyte transformation and its correlation with the fibrillar organization in secondary osteons: a SEM study employing the graded osmic maceration technique.

PubMed

Pazzaglia, Ugo E; Congiu, Terenzio; Marchese, Marcella; Dell'Orbo, Carlo

2010-06-01

Cortex fractured surface and graded osmic maceration techniques were used to study the secretory activity of osteoblasts, the transformation of osteoblast to osteocytes, and the structural organization of the matrix around the cells with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A specialized membrane differentiation at the base of the cell was observed with finger-like, flattened processes which formed a diffuse meshwork. These findings suggested that this membrane differentiation below the cells had not only functioned in transporting collagen through the membrane but also in orienting the fibrils once assembled. Thin ramifications arose from the large and flat membrane foldings oriented perpendicular to the plane of the osteoblasts. This meshwork of fine filaments could not be visualized with SEM because they were obscured within the matrix substance. Their 3-D structure, however, should be similar to the canalicular system. The meshwork of large, flattened processes was no more evident in the cells which had completed their transformation into osteocytes.

Relating Silica Scaling in Reverse Osmosis to Membrane Surface Properties.

PubMed

Tong, Tiezheng; Zhao, Song; Boo, Chanhee; Hashmi, Sara M; Elimelech, Menachem

2017-04-18

We investigated the relationship between membrane surface properties and silica scaling in reverse osmosis (RO). The effects of membrane hydrophilicity, free energy for heterogeneous nucleation, and surface charge on silica scaling were examined by comparing thin-film composite polyamide membranes grafted with a variety of polymers. Results show that the rate of silica scaling was independent of both membrane hydrophilicity and free energy for heterogeneous nucleation. In contrast, membrane surface charge demonstrated a strong correlation with the extent of silica scaling (R 2 > 0.95, p < 0.001). Positively charged membranes significantly facilitated silica scaling, whereas a more negative membrane surface charge led to reduced scaling. This observation suggests that deposition of negatively charged silica species on the membrane surface plays a critical role in silica scale formation. Our findings provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms governing silica scaling in reverse osmosis and highlight the potential of membrane surface modification as a strategy to reduce silica scaling.

Biochar composite membrane for high performance pollutant management: Fabrication, structural characteristics and synergistic mechanisms.

PubMed

Ghaffar, Abdul; Zhu, Xiaoying; Chen, Baoliang

2018-02-01

Biochar, a natural sourced carbon-rich material, has been used commonly in particle shape for carbon sequestration, soil fertility and environmental remediation. Here, we report a facile approach to fabricate freestanding biochar composite membranes for the first time. Wood biochars pyrolyzed at 300 °C and 700 °C were blended with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) in three percentages (10%, 30% and 50%) to construct membranes through thermal phase inversion process. The resultant biochar composite membranes possess high mechanical strength and porous structure with uniform distribution of biochar particles throughout the membrane surface and cross-section. The membrane pure water flux was increased with B300 content (4825-5411 ± 21 L m -2 h -1 ) and B700 content (5823-6895 ± 72 L m -2 h -1 ). The membranes with B300 were more hydrophilic with higher surface free energy (58.84-60.31 mJ m -2 ) in comparison to B700 (56.32-51.91 mJ m -2 ). The biochar composite membranes indicated promising adsorption capacities (47-187 mg g -1 ) to Rhodamine B (RhB) dye. The biochar membranes also exhibited high retention (74-93%) for E. coli bacterial suspensions through filtration. After simple physical cleaning, both the adsorption and sieving capabilities of the biochar composite membranes could be effectively recovered. Synergistic mechanisms of biochar/PVdF in the composite membrane are proposed to elucidate the high performance of the membrane in pollutant management. The multifunctional biochar composite membrane not only effectively prevent the problems caused by directly using biochar particle as sorbent but also can be produced in large scale, indicating great potential for practical applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High-resolution AFM topographs of Rubrivivax gelatinosus light-harvesting complex LH2

PubMed Central

Scheuring, Simon; Reiss-Husson, Francoise; Engel, Andreas; Rigaud, Jean-Louis; Ranck, Jean-Luc

2001-01-01

Light-harvesting complexes 2 (LH2) are the accessory antenna proteins in the bacterial photosynthetic apparatus and are built up of αβ-heterodimers containing three bacteriochlorophylls and one carotenoid each. We have used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate reconstituted LH2 from Rubrivivax gelatinosus, which has a C-terminal hydrophobic extension of 21 amino acids on the α-subunit. High-resolution topographs revealed a nonameric organization of the regularly packed cylindrical complexes incorporated into the membrane in both orientations. Native LH2 showed one surface which protruded by ∼6 Å and one that protruded by ∼14 Å from the membrane. Topographs of samples reconstituted with thermolysin-digested LH2 revealed a height reduction of the strongly protruding surface to ∼9 Å, and a change of its surface appearance. These results suggested that the α-subunit of R.gelatinosus comprises a single transmembrane helix and an extrinsic C-terminus, and allowed the periplasmic surface to be assigned. Occasionally, large rings (∼120 Å diameter) surrounded by LH2 rings were observed. Their diameter and appearance suggest the large rings to be LH1 complexes. PMID:11406579

Membrane fouling of forward osmosis (FO) membrane for municipal wastewater treatment: A comparison between direct FO and OMBR.

PubMed

Sun, Yan; Tian, Jiayu; Zhao, Zhiwei; Shi, Wenxin; Liu, Dongmei; Cui, Fuyi

2016-11-01

In this work, membrane fouling behavior in a direct forward osmosis (FO) and an osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR) for municipal wastewater treatment was systematically investigated and compared. During the long-term operation, much severer flux decline was observed for the direct FO than that for the OMBR. The cake layer was found to be much thicker, together with large amounts of microorganisms growing on the membrane surface in direct FO. Interestingly, no obvious attachment of microorganisms on the membrane surface was observed in the OMBR. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and excitation emission matrices (EEM) analyses showed the polysaccharides and proteins were the dominant organic foulants in the fouling layer, and the quantity of the organic substances was also higher in direct FO than that in OMBR. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) results indicated the main inorganic elements in the fouling layer were Ca, Mg, Fe and P, all of which exhibited higher relative percentages in direct FO than that in OMBR. The occurrence of higher contents of microorganisms, organic foulants and inorganic elements in the cake layer caused a higher filtration resistance for the FO membrane in the direct FO. Although more severe membrane fouling was identified in direct FO, the hydraulic and chemical cleaning was more effective on recovering the water permeability of the membrane in direct FO than that in OMBR. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pore channel surface modification for enhancing anti-fouling membrane distillation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Haoran; Peng, Yuelian; Ge, Lei; Villacorta Hernandez, Byron; Zhu, Zhonghua

2018-06-01

Membrane surface modification by forming a functional layer is an effective way to improve the anti-fouling properties of membranes; however, the additional layer and the potential blockage of bulk pores may increase the mass transfer resistance and reduce the permeability. In this study, we applied a novel method of preparing anti-fouling membranes for membrane distillation by dispersing graphene oxide (GO) on the channel surface of polyvinylidene fluoride membranes. The surface morphology and properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscope, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Compared to the membrane surface modification by nanoparticles (e.g. SiO2), GO was mainly located on the pore surface of the membrane bulk, rather than being formed as an individual layer onto the membrane surface. The performance was evaluated via a direct-contact membrane distillation process with anionic and cationic surfactants as the foulants, separately. Compared to the pristine PVDF membrane, the anti-fouling behavior and distillate flux of the GO-modified membranes were improved, especially when using the anionic surfactant as the foulant. The enhanced anti-fouling performance can be attributed to the oxygen containing functional groups in GO and the healing of the membrane pore defects. This method may provide an effective route to manipulate membrane pore surface properties for anti-fouling separation without increasing mass transfer resistance.

Gold/silver coated nanoporous ceramic membranes: a new substrate for SERS studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kassu, A.; Robinson, P.; Sharma, A.; Ruffin, P. B.; Brantley, C.; Edwards, E.

2010-08-01

Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) is a recently discovered powerful technique which has demonstrated sensitivity and selectivity for detecting single molecules of certain chemical species. This is due to an enhancement of Raman scattered light by factors as large as 1015. Gold and Silver-coated substrates fabricated by electron-beam lithography on Silicon are widely used in SERS technique. In this paper, we report the use of nanoporous ceramic membranes for SERS studies. Nanoporous membranes are widely used as a separation membrane in medical devices, fuel cells and other studies. Three different pore diameter sizes of commercially available nanoporous ceramic membranes: 35 nm, 55nm and 80nm are used in the study. To make the membranes SERS active, they are coated with gold/silver using sputtering techniques. We have seen that the membranes coated with gold layer remain unaffected even when immersed in water for several days. The results show that gold coated nanoporous membranes have sensitivity comparable to substrates fabricated by electron-beam lithography on Silicon substrates.

Electrode assembly for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell

DOEpatents

Raistrick, Ian D.

1989-01-01

A gas reaction fuel cell may be provided with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Porous gas diffusion electrodes are formed of carbon particles supporting a catalyst which is effective to enhance the gas reactions. The carbon particles define interstitial spaces exposing the catalyst on a large surface area of the carbon particles. A proton conducting material, such as a perfluorocarbon copolymer or ruthenium dioxide contacts the surface areas of the carbon particles adjacent the interstitial spaces. The proton conducting material enables protons produced by the gas reactions adjacent the supported catalyst to have a conductive path with the electrolyte membrane. The carbon particles provide a conductive path for electrons. A suitable electrode may be formed by dispersing a solution containing a proton conducting material over the surface of the electrode in a manner effective to coat carbon surfaces adjacent the interstitial spaces without impeding gas flow into the interstitial spaces.

Controlling Ionic Transport for Device Design in Synthetic Nanopores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalman, Eric Boyd

Polymer nanopores present a number of behaviors not seen in microscale systems, such as ion current rectification, ionic selectivity, size exclusion and potential dependent ion concentrations in and near the pore. The existence of these effects stems from the small size of nanopores with respect to the characteristic length scales of surface interactions at the interface between the nanopore surface and the solution within it. The large surface-to-volume ratio due to the nanoscale geometry of a nanopore, as well as similarity in scale between geometry and interaction demands the solution interact with the nanopore walls. As surfaces in solution almost always carry residual charge, these surface forces are primarily the electrostatic interactions between the charge groups on the pore surface and the ions in solution. These interactions may be used by the experimentalist to control ionic transport through synthetic nanopores, and use them as a template for the construction of devices. In this research, we present our work on creating a number of ionic analogs to seminal electronic devices, specifically diodes, and transistors, by controlling ionic transport through the electrostatic interactions between a single synthetic nanopore and ions. Control is achieved by "doping" the effective charge carrier concentration in specific regions of the nanopore through manipulation of the pore's surface charge. This manipulation occurs through two mechanisms: chemical modification of the surface charge and electrostatic manipulation of the local internal nanopore potential using a gate electrode. Additionally, the innate selectivity of the charged nanopores walls allows for the separation of charges in solution. This well-known effect, which spawns measureable quantities, the streaming potential and current, has been used to create nanoscale water desalination membranes. We attempt to create a device using membranes with large nanopore densities for the desalination of water which should theoretically outperform currently available devices, as through our previous work we have developed techniques allowing for transport manipulation not current accessible in traditional membrane motifs.

Exploiting Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Photophysics toward Monitoring Real-Time Lipid Membrane-Surface Interaction Dynamics at the Single-Particle Level.

PubMed

Calver, Christina F; Liu, Hsiao-Wei; Cosa, Gonzalo

2015-11-03

Herein we report the real-time observation of the interaction dynamics between cationic liposomes flowing in solution and a surface-immobilized charged scaffolding formed by the deposition of conjugated polyanion poly[5-methoxy-2-(3-sulfopropoxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene (MPS-PPV) onto 100-nm-diameter SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Contact of the freely floating liposomes with the polymer-coated surfaces led to the formation of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs). The interaction of the incoming liposomes with MPS-PPV adsorbed on individual SiO2 nanoparticles promoted the deaggregation of the polymer conformation and led to large emission intensity enhancements. Single-particle total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy studies exploited this phenomenon as a way to monitor the deformation dynamics of liposomes on surface-immobilized NPs. The MPS-PPV emission enhancement (up to 25-fold) reflected on the extent of membrane contact with the surface of the NP and was correlated with the size of the incoming liposome. The time required for the MPS-PPV emission to reach a maximum (ranging from 400 to 1000 ms) revealed the dynamics of membrane deformation and was also correlated with the liposome size. Cryo-TEM experiments complemented these results by yielding a structural view of the process. Immediately following the mixing of liposomes and NPs the majority of NPs had one or more adsorbed liposomes, yet the presence of a fully formed SLB was rare. Prolonged incubation of liposomes and NPs showed completely formed SLBs on all of the NPs, confirming that the liposomes eventually ruptured to form SLBs. We foresee that the single-particle studies we report herein may be readily extended to study membrane dynamics of other lipids including cellular membranes in live cell studies and to monitor the formation of polymer-cushioned SLBs.

Membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor: New method and its applications in interfacial interaction quantification.

PubMed

Hong, Huachang; Cai, Xiang; Shen, Liguo; Li, Renjie; Lin, Hongjun

2017-10-01

Quantification of interfacial interactions between two rough surfaces represents one of the most pressing requirements for membrane fouling prediction and control in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). This study firstly constructed regularly rough membrane and particle surfaces by using rigorous mathematical equations. Thereafter, a new method involving surface element integration (SEI) method, differential geometry and composite Simpson's rule was proposed to quantify the interfacial interactions between the two constructed rough surfaces. This new method were then applied to investigate interfacial interactions in a MBR with the data of surface properties of membrane and foulants experimentally measured. The feasibility of the new method was verified. It was found that asperity amplitude and period of the membrane surface exerted profound effects on the total interaction. The new method had broad potential application fields especially including guiding membrane surface design for membrane fouling mitigation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lightweight 3.66-meter-diameter conical mesh antenna reflector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, D. M.

1974-01-01

A description is given of a 3.66 m diameter nonfurlable conical mesh antenna incorporating the line source feed principle recently developed. The weight of the mesh reflector and its support structure is 162 N. An area weighted RMS surface deviation of 0.28 mm was obtained. The RF performance measurements show a gain of 48.3 db at 8.448 GHz corresponding to an efficiency of 66%. During the design and development of this antenna, the technology for fabricating the large conical membranes of knitted mesh was developed. As part of this technology a FORTRAN computer program, COMESH, was developed which permits the user to predict the surface accuracy of a stretched conical membrane.

Macrophage NADPH oxidase flavocytochrome B localizes to the plasma membrane and Rab11-positive recycling endosomes.

PubMed

Casbon, Amy-Jo; Allen, Lee-Ann H; Dunn, Kenneth W; Dinauer, Mary C

2009-02-15

Flavocytochrome b(558), the catalytic core of the phagocytic NADPH oxidase, mediates the transfer of electrons from NADPH to molecular oxygen to generate superoxide for host defense. Flavocytochrome b is a membrane heterodimer consisting of a large subunit gp91(phox) (NOX2) and a smaller subunit, p22(phox). Although in neutrophils flavocytochrome b has been shown to localize to the plasma membrane and specific granules, little is known about its distribution in macrophages. Using immunofluorescent staining and live cell imaging of fluorescently tagged gp91(phox) and p22(phox), we demonstrate in a Chinese hamster ovary cell model system and in RAW 264.7 and primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages that flavocytochrome b is found in the Rab11-positive recycling endocytic compartment, as well as in Rab5-positive early endosomes and plasma membrane. Additionally, we show that unassembled p22(phox) and gp91(phox) subunits localize to the endoplasmic reticulum, which redistribute to the cell surface and endosomal compartments following heterodimer formation. These studies show for the first time that flavocytochrome b localizes to intracellular compartments in macrophages that recycle to the plasma membrane, which may act as a reservoir to deliver flavocytochrome b to the cell surface and phagosome membranes.

Colloidal interactions and fouling of NF and RO membranes: a review.

PubMed

Tang, Chuyang Y; Chong, T H; Fane, Anthony G

2011-05-11

Colloids are fine particles whose characteristic size falls within the rough size range of 1-1000 nm. In pressure-driven membrane systems, these fine particles have a strong tendency to foul the membranes, causing a significant loss in water permeability and often a deteriorated product water quality. There have been a large number of systematic studies on colloidal fouling of reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes in the last three decades, and the understanding of colloidal fouling has been significantly advanced. The current paper reviews the mechanisms and factors controlling colloidal fouling of both RO and NF membranes. Major colloidal foulants (including both rigid inorganic colloids and organic macromolecules) and their properties are summarized. The deposition of such colloidal particles on an RO or NF membrane forms a cake layer, which can adversely affect the membrane flux due to 1) the cake layer hydraulic resistance and/or 2) the cake-enhanced osmotic pressure. The effects of feedwater compositions, membrane properties, and hydrodynamic conditions are discussed in detail for inorganic colloids, natural organic matter, polysaccharides, and proteins. In general, these effects can be readily explained by considering the mass transfer near the membrane surface and the colloid-membrane (or colloid-colloid) interaction. The critical flux and limiting flux concepts, originally developed for colloidal fouling of porous membranes, are also applicable to RO and NF membranes. For small colloids (diameter≪100 nm), the limiting flux can result from two different mechanisms: 1) the diffusion-solubility (gel formation) controlled mechanism and 2) the surface interaction controlled mechanism. The former mechanism probably dominates for concentrated solutions, while the latter mechanism may be more important for dilute solutions. Future research needs on RO and NF colloidal fouling are also identified in the current paper. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A finite element method to compute three-dimensional equilibrium configurations of fluid membranes: Optimal parameterization, variational formulation and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rangarajan, Ramsharan; Gao, Huajian

2015-09-01

We introduce a finite element method to compute equilibrium configurations of fluid membranes, identified as stationary points of a curvature-dependent bending energy functional under certain geometric constraints. The reparameterization symmetries in the problem pose a challenge in designing parametric finite element methods, and existing methods commonly resort to Lagrange multipliers or penalty parameters. In contrast, we exploit these symmetries by representing solution surfaces as normal offsets of given reference surfaces and entirely bypass the need for artificial constraints. We then resort to a Galerkin finite element method to compute discrete C1 approximations of the normal offset coordinate. The variational framework presented is suitable for computing deformations of three-dimensional membranes subject to a broad range of external interactions. We provide a systematic algorithm for computing large deformations, wherein solutions at subsequent load steps are identified as perturbations of previously computed ones. We discuss the numerical implementation of the method in detail and demonstrate its optimal convergence properties using examples. We discuss applications of the method to studying adhesive interactions of fluid membranes with rigid substrates and to investigate the influence of membrane tension in tether formation.

Dielectric capacitors with three-dimensional nanoscale interdigital electrodes for energy storage.

PubMed

Han, Fangming; Meng, Guowen; Zhou, Fei; Song, Li; Li, Xinhua; Hu, Xiaoye; Zhu, Xiaoguang; Wu, Bing; Wei, Bingqing

2015-10-01

Dielectric capacitors are promising candidates for high-performance energy storage systems due to their high power density and increasing energy density. However, the traditional approach strategies to enhance the performance of dielectric capacitors cannot simultaneously achieve large capacitance and high breakdown voltage. We demonstrate that such limitations can be overcome by using a completely new three-dimensional (3D) nanoarchitectural electrode design. First, we fabricate a unique nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane with two sets of interdigitated and isolated straight nanopores opening toward opposite planar surfaces. By depositing carbon nanotubes in both sets of pores inside the AAO membrane, the new dielectric capacitor with 3D nanoscale interdigital electrodes is simply realized. In our new capacitors, the large specific surface area of AAO can provide large capacitance, whereas uniform pore walls and hemispheric barrier layers can enhance breakdown voltage. As a result, a high energy density of 2 Wh/kg, which is close to the value of a supercapacitor, can be achieved, showing promising potential in high-density electrical energy storage for various applications.

Dielectric capacitors with three-dimensional nanoscale interdigital electrodes for energy storage

PubMed Central

Han, Fangming; Meng, Guowen; Zhou, Fei; Song, Li; Li, Xinhua; Hu, Xiaoye; Zhu, Xiaoguang; Wu, Bing; Wei, Bingqing

2015-01-01

Dielectric capacitors are promising candidates for high-performance energy storage systems due to their high power density and increasing energy density. However, the traditional approach strategies to enhance the performance of dielectric capacitors cannot simultaneously achieve large capacitance and high breakdown voltage. We demonstrate that such limitations can be overcome by using a completely new three-dimensional (3D) nanoarchitectural electrode design. First, we fabricate a unique nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane with two sets of interdigitated and isolated straight nanopores opening toward opposite planar surfaces. By depositing carbon nanotubes in both sets of pores inside the AAO membrane, the new dielectric capacitor with 3D nanoscale interdigital electrodes is simply realized. In our new capacitors, the large specific surface area of AAO can provide large capacitance, whereas uniform pore walls and hemispheric barrier layers can enhance breakdown voltage. As a result, a high energy density of 2 Wh/kg, which is close to the value of a supercapacitor, can be achieved, showing promising potential in high-density electrical energy storage for various applications. PMID:26601294

Determinants in the β and δ subunit cytoplasmic loop regulate Golgi trafficking and surface expression of the muscle acetylcholine receptor.

PubMed

Rudell, Jolene Chang; Borges, Lucia S; Rudell, John B; Beck, Kenneth A; Ferns, Michael J

2014-01-03

The molecular determinants that govern nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) assembly and trafficking are poorly defined, and those identified operate largely during initial receptor biogenesis in the endoplasmic reticulum. To identify determinants that regulate later trafficking steps, we performed an unbiased screen using chimeric proteins consisting of CD4 fused to the muscle AChR subunit cytoplasmic loops. In C2 mouse muscle cells, we found that CD4-β and δ subunit loops were expressed at very low levels on the cell surface, whereas the other subunit loops were robustly expressed on the plasma membrane. The low surface expression of CD4-β and δ loops was due to their pronounced retention in the Golgi apparatus and also to their rapid internalization from the plasma membrane. Both retention and recovery were mediated by the proximal 25-28 amino acids in each loop and were dependent on an ordered sequence of charged and hydrophobic residues. Indeed, βK353L and δK351L mutations increased surface trafficking of the CD4-subunit loops by >6-fold and also decreased their internalization from the plasma membrane. Similarly, combined βK353L and δK351L mutations increased the surface levels of assembled AChR expressed in HEK cells to 138% of wild-type levels. This was due to increased trafficking to the plasma membrane and not decreased AChR turnover. These findings identify novel Golgi retention signals in the β and δ subunit loops that regulate surface trafficking of assembled AChR and may help prevent surface expression of unassembled subunits. Together, these results define molecular determinants that govern a Golgi-based regulatory step in nicotinic AChR trafficking.

Changes in the lipid composition of Bradyrhizobium cell envelope reveal a rapid response to water deficit involving lysophosphatidylethanolamine synthesis from phosphatidylethanolamine in outer membrane.

PubMed

Cesari, Adriana B; Paulucci, Natalia S; Biasutti, María A; Morales, Gustavo M; Dardanelli, Marta S

2018-06-02

We evaluate the behavior of the membrane of Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 during adaptation to polyethylene glycol (PEG). A dehydrating effect on the morphology of the cell surface, as well as a fluidizing effect on the membrane was observed 10 min after PEG shock; however, the bacteria were able to restore optimal membrane fluidity. Shock for 1 h caused an increase of lysophosphatidylethanolamine in the outer membrane at the expense of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), through an increase in phospholipase activity. The amount of lysophosphatidylethanolamine did not remain constant during PEG shock, but after 24 h the outer membrane was composed of large amounts of phosphatidylcholine and less amount of lysophosphatidylethanolamine similar to the control. The inner membrane composition was also modified after 1 h of shock, observing an increase of phosphatidylcholine at the expense of PE, the proportions of these phospholipids were then modified to reach 24 h of shock values similar to the control. Vesicles prepared with the lipids of cells exposed to 1 h shock presented higher rigidity compared to the control, indicating that changes in the composition of phospholipids after 1 h of shock restoring fluidity after the PEG effect and would allow cells to maintain surface morphology. Copyright © 2018 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

High throughput atmospheric pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization for identifying protein-resistant surfaces.

PubMed

Gu, Minghao; Kilduff, James E; Belfort, Georges

2012-02-01

Three critical aspects of searching for and understanding how to find highly resistant surfaces to protein adhesion are addressed here with specific application to synthetic membrane filtration. They include the (i) discovery of a series of previously unreported monomers from a large library of monomers with high protein resistance and subsequent low fouling characteristics for membrane ultrafiltration of protein-containing fluids, (ii) development of a new approach to investigate protein-resistant mechanisms from structure-property relationships, and (iii) adaptation of a new surface modification method, called atmospheric pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization (APP), together with a high throughput platform (HTP), for low cost vacuum-free synthesis of anti-fouling membranes. Several new high-performing chemistries comprising two polyethylene glycol (PEG), two amines and one zwitterionic monomers were identified from a library (44 commercial monomers) of five different classes of monomers as strong protein-resistant monomers. Combining our analysis here, using the Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) approach, and data from the literature, we conclude that strong interactions with water (hydrogen bonding) and surface flexibility are necessary for producing the highest protein resistance. Superior protein-resistant surfaces and subsequent anti-fouling performance was obtained with the HTP-APP as compared with our earlier HTP-photo graft-induced polymerization (PGP). Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surface Properties and Permeability of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)-Clays (PVDF/Clays) Composite Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pramono, E.; Ahdiat, M.; Simamora, A.; Pratiwi, W.; Radiman, C. L.; Wahyuningrum, D.

2017-07-01

Surface properties are important factors that determine the performance of ultrafiltration membranes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of clay addition on the surface properties and membrane permeability of PVDF (poly-vinylidene fluoride) membranes. Three types of clay with different particle size were used in this study, namely montmorillonite-MMT, bentonite-BNT and cloisite 15A-CLS. The PVDF-clay composite membranes were prepared by phase inversion method using PEG as additive. The hydrophobicity of membrane surface was characterized by contact angle. The membrane permeability was determined by dead- end ultrafiltration with a trans-membrane pressure of 2 bars. In contact angle measurement, water contact angle of composite membranes is higher than PVDF membrane. The addition of clays decreased water flux but increased of Dextran rejection. The PVDF-BNT composite membranes reach highest Dextran rejection value of about 93%. The type and particle size of clay affected the hydrophobicity of membrane surface and determined the resulting membrane structure as well as the membrane performance.

An AFM-based pit-measuring method for indirect measurements of cell-surface membrane vesicles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Xiaojun; Department of Biotechnology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031; Chen, Yuan

2014-03-28

Highlights: • Air drying induced the transformation of cell-surface membrane vesicles into pits. • An AFM-based pit-measuring method was developed to measure cell-surface vesicles. • Our method detected at least two populations of cell-surface membrane vesicles. - Abstract: Circulating membrane vesicles, which are shed from many cell types, have multiple functions and have been correlated with many diseases. Although circulating membrane vesicles have been extensively characterized, the status of cell-surface membrane vesicles prior to their release is less understood due to the lack of effective measurement methods. Recently, as a powerful, micro- or nano-scale imaging tool, atomic force microscopy (AFM)more » has been applied in measuring circulating membrane vesicles. However, it seems very difficult for AFM to directly image/identify and measure cell-bound membrane vesicles due to the similarity of surface morphology between membrane vesicles and cell surfaces. Therefore, until now no AFM studies on cell-surface membrane vesicles have been reported. In this study, we found that air drying can induce the transformation of most cell-surface membrane vesicles into pits that are more readily detectable by AFM. Based on this, we developed an AFM-based pit-measuring method and, for the first time, used AFM to indirectly measure cell-surface membrane vesicles on cultured endothelial cells. Using this approach, we observed and quantitatively measured at least two populations of cell-surface membrane vesicles, a nanoscale population (<500 nm in diameter peaking at ∼250 nm) and a microscale population (from 500 nm to ∼2 μm peaking at ∼0.8 μm), whereas confocal microscopy only detected the microscale population. The AFM-based pit-measuring method is potentially useful for studying cell-surface membrane vesicles and for investigating the mechanisms of membrane vesicle formation/release.« less

Role of Transmembrane Potential and Defects on the Permeabilization of Lipid Bilayers by Alamethicin, an Ion-Channel-Forming Peptide.

PubMed

Su, ZhangFei; Shodiev, Muzaffar; Leitch, J Jay; Abbasi, Fatemeh; Lipkowski, Jacek

2018-05-29

The insertion and ion-conducting channel properties of alamethicin reconstituted into a 1,2-di- O-phytanyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine bilayer floating on the surface of a gold (111) electrode modified with a 1-thio-β-d-glucose (β-Tg) self-assembled monolayer were investigated using a combination of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). The hydrophilic β-Tg monolayer separated the bilayer from the gold substrate and created a water-rich spacer region, which better represents natural cell membranes. The EIS measurements acquired information about the membrane resistivity (a measure of membrane porosity), and the PM-IRRAS experiments provided insight into the conformation and orientation of the membrane constituents as a function of the transmembrane potential. The results showed that the presence of alamethicin had a small effect on the conformation and orientation of phospholipid molecules within the bilayer for all studied potentials. In contrast, the alamethicin peptides assumed a surface state, where the helical axes adopted a large tilt angle with respect to the surface normal, at small transmembrane potentials, and inserted into the bilayer at sufficiently negative transmembrane potentials forming pores, which behaved as barrel-stave ion channels for ionic transport across the membrane. The results indicated that insertion of alamethincin peptides into the bilayer was driven by the dipole-field interactions and that the transitions between the inserted and surface states were electrochemically reversible. Additionally, the EIS measurements performed on phospholipid bilayers without alamethicin also showed that the application of negative transmembrane potentials introduces defects into the bilayer. The membrane resistances measured in both the absence and presence of alamethicin show similar dependencies on the electrode potential, suggesting that the insertion of the peptide may also be assisted by the electroporation of the membrane. The findings in this study provide new insights into the mechanism of alamethicin insertion into phospholipid bilayers.

Facile fabrication of nanofluidic diode membranes using anodic aluminium oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Songmei; Wildhaber, Fabien; Vazquez-Mena, Oscar; Bertsch, Arnaud; Brugger, Juergen; Renaud, Philippe

2012-08-01

Active control of ion transport plays important roles in chemical and biological analytical processes. Nanofluidic systems hold the promise for such control through electrostatic interaction between ions and channel surfaces. Most existing experiments rely on planar geometry where the nanochannels are generally very long and shallow with large aspect ratios. Based on this configuration the concepts of nanofluidic gating and rectification have been successfully demonstrated. However, device minimization and throughput scaling remain significant challenges. We report here an innovative and facile realization of hetero-structured Al2O3/SiO2 (Si) nanopore array membranes by using pattern transfer of self-organized nanopore structures of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO). Thanks to the opposite surface charge states of Al2O3 (positive) and SiO2 (negative), the membrane exhibits clear rectification of ion current in electrolyte solutions with very low aspect ratios compared to previous approaches. Our hetero-structured nanopore arrays provide a valuable platform for high throughput applications such as molecular separation, chemical processors and energy conversion.Active control of ion transport plays important roles in chemical and biological analytical processes. Nanofluidic systems hold the promise for such control through electrostatic interaction between ions and channel surfaces. Most existing experiments rely on planar geometry where the nanochannels are generally very long and shallow with large aspect ratios. Based on this configuration the concepts of nanofluidic gating and rectification have been successfully demonstrated. However, device minimization and throughput scaling remain significant challenges. We report here an innovative and facile realization of hetero-structured Al2O3/SiO2 (Si) nanopore array membranes by using pattern transfer of self-organized nanopore structures of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO). Thanks to the opposite surface charge states of Al2O3 (positive) and SiO2 (negative), the membrane exhibits clear rectification of ion current in electrolyte solutions with very low aspect ratios compared to previous approaches. Our hetero-structured nanopore arrays provide a valuable platform for high throughput applications such as molecular separation, chemical processors and energy conversion. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Pattern transfer of local AAO mask into Si layers of different thickness; characterization of the Ag/AgCl electrodes and the cell constant; control experiments of mono-charged nanopore membranes; and simulation of ionic transport in nanofluidic diodes. See DOI: 10.1039/c2nr31243c

Diagnostic tool for red blood cell membrane disorders: Assessment of a new generation ektacytometer☆

PubMed Central

Da Costa, Lydie; Suner, Ludovic; Galimand, Julie; Bonnel, Amandine; Pascreau, Tiffany; Couque, Nathalie; Fenneteau, Odile; Mohandas, Narla

2016-01-01

Inherited red blood cell (RBC) membrane disorders, such as hereditary spherocytosis, elliptocytosis and hereditary ovalocytosis, result from mutations in genes encoding various RBC membrane and skeletal proteins. The RBC membrane, a composite structure composed of a lipid bilayer linked to a spectrin/actin-based membrane skeleton, confers upon the RBC unique features of deformability and mechanical stability. The disease severity is primarily dependent on the extent of membrane surface area loss. RBC membrane disorders can be readily diagnosed by various laboratory approaches that include RBC cytology, flow cytometry, ektacytometry, electrophoresis of RBC membrane proteins and genetics. The reference technique for diagnosis of RBC membrane disorders is the osmotic gradient ektacytometry. However, in spite of its recognition as the reference technique, this technique is rarely used as a routine diagnosis tool for RBC membrane disorders due to its limited availability. This may soon change as a new generation of ektacytometer has been recently engineered. In this review, we describe the workflow of the samples shipped to our Hematology laboratory for RBC membrane disorder analysis and the data obtained for a large cohort of French patients presenting with RBC membrane disorders using a newly available version of the ektacytomer. PMID:26603718

The way we view cellular (glyco)sphingolipids.

PubMed

Hoetzl, Sandra; Sprong, Hein; van Meer, Gerrit

2007-11-01

Mammalian cells synthesize ceramide in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and convert this to sphingomyelin and complex glycosphingolipids on the inner, non-cytosolic surface of Golgi cisternae. From there, these lipids travel towards the outer, non-cytosolic surface of the plasma membrane and all membranes of the endocytic system, where they are eventually degraded. At the basis of the selective, anterograde traffic out of the Golgi lies the propensity of the sphingolipids to self-aggregate with cholesterol into microdomains termed 'lipid rafts'. At the plasma membrane surface these rafts are thought to function as the scaffold for various types of (glyco) signaling domains of different protein and lipid composition that can co-exist on one and the same cell. In the past decade, various unexpected findings on the sites where sphingolipid-mediated events occur have thrown a new light on the localization and transport mechanisms of sphingolipids. These findings are largely based on biochemical experiments. Further progress in the field is hampered by a lack of morphological techniques to localize lipids with nanometer resolution. In the present paper, we critically evaluate the published data and discuss techniques and potential improvements.

Investigating how the attributes of self-associated drug complexes influence the passive transport of molecules through biological membranes

PubMed Central

Inacio, R.; Barlow, D.; Kong, X.; Keeble, J.; Jones, S.A.

2016-01-01

Relatively little is known about how drug self-association influences absorption into the human body. This study presented two hydrophobic membranes with a series of solutions containing different types of tetracaine aggregates with the aim of understanding how the attributes of supramolecular aggregate formation influenced passive membrane transport. The data showed that aqueous solutions of the unprotonated form of tetracaine displayed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) passive membrane transport compared to solutions with mixtures of the unprotonated and protonated drug microspecies (e.g. transport through the skin was 0.96 ± 0.31 μg cm−2 min−1 and 1.59 ± 0.26 μg cm−2 min−1 respectively). However, despite an enhanced rate of drug transport and a better membrane partitioning the unionised molecules showed a significantly longer (p < 0.05) lag time to membrane penetration compared solutions rich in the ionised microspecies. Analytical characterisation of the solutions applied to the apical surface of the membranes in the transport studies showed that larger tetracaine aggregates with smaller surface charge gave rise to the longer lag times. These large aggregates demonstrated more extensive intermolecular bonding and therefore, it was suggest that it was the enhanced propensity of the unionised species to form tightly bound drug aggregates that caused the delay in the membrane penetration. PMID:26965142

Detection of Lysosomal Exocytosis by Surface Exposure of Lamp1 Luminal Epitopes.

PubMed

Andrews, Norma W

2017-01-01

Elevation in the cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration triggers exocytosis of lysosomes in many cell types. This chapter describes a method to detect lysosomal exocytosis in mammalian cells, which takes advantage of the presence of an abundant glycoprotein, Lamp1, on the membrane of lysosomes. Lamp1 is a transmembrane protein with a large, heavily glycosylated region that faces the lumen of lysosomes. When lysosomes fuse with the plasma membrane, epitopes present on the luminal domain of Lamp1 are exposed on the cell surface. The Lamp1 luminal epitopes can then be detected on the surface of live, unfixed cells using highly specific monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence microscopy. The main advantage of this method is its sensitivity, and the fact that it provides spatial information on lysosomal exocytosis at the single cell level.

Blood coagulation reactions on nanoscale membrane surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pureza, Vincent S.

Blood coagulation requires the assembly of several membrane-bound protein complexes composed of regulatory and catalytic subunits. The biomembranes involved in these reactions not only provide a platform for these procoagulant proteins, but can also affect their function. Increased exposure of acidic phospholipids on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane can dramatically modulate the catalytic efficiencies of such membrane-bound enzymes. Under physiologic conditions, however, these phospholipids spontaneously cluster into a patchwork of membrane microdomains upon which membrane binding proteins may preferentially assemble. As a result, the membrane composition surrounding these proteins is largely unknown. Through the development and use of a nanometer-scale bilayer system that provides rigorous control of the phospholipid membrane environment, I investigated the role of phosphatidylserine, an acidic phospholipid, in the direct vicinity (within nanometers) of two critical membrane-bound procoagulant protein complexes and their respective natural substrates. Here, I present how the assembly and function of the tissue factor˙factor VIIa and factor Va˙factor Xa complexes, the first and final cofactor˙enzyme complexes of the blood clotting cascade, respectively, are mediated by changes in their immediate phospholipid environments.

Kinematics of red cell aspiration by fluorescence-imaged microdeformation.

PubMed Central

Discher, D E; Mohandas, N

1996-01-01

Maps of fluorescing red cell membrane components on a pipette-aspirated projection are quantitated in an effort to elucidate and unify the heterogeneous kinematics of deformation. Transient gradients of diffusing fluorescent lipid first demonstrate the fluidity of an otherwise uniform-density bilayer and corroborate a "universal" calibration scale for relative surface density. A steep but smooth and stable gradient in the densities of the skeleton components spectrin, actin, and protein 4.1 is used to estimate large elastic strains along the aspirated skeleton. The deformation fields are argued to be an unhindered response to loading in the surface normal direction. Density maps intermediate to those of the compressible skeleton and fluid bilayer are exhibited by particular transmembrane proteins (e.g., Band 3) and yield estimates for the skeleton-connected fractions. Such connected proteins appear to occupy a significant proportion of the undeformed membrane surface and can lead to steric exclusion of unconnected integral membrane proteins from regions of network condensation. Consistent with membrane repatterning kinematics in reversible deformation, final vesiculation of the projection tip produces a cell fragment concentrated in freely diffusing proteins but depleted of skeleton. Images FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 5 FIGURE 7 FIGURE 8 FIGURE 9 FIGURE 10 FIGURE 11 PMID:8889146

Why square lattices are not seen on curved ionic membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Creighton; Olvera de La Cruz, Monica

2013-03-01

Ionic crystalline membranes on curved surfaces are ubiquitous in nature, appearing for example on the membranes of halophilic organisms. Even when these membranes buckle into polyhedra with square or rectangular sides, the crystalline structure is seen to have hexagonal symmetry. Here, we theoretically and numerically investigate the effects of curvature on square lattices. Our model system consists of both positive and negative ions with a 1:1 charge ratio adsorbed onto the surface of a sphere. In flat space, the lowest-energy configuration of this system can be a square lattice. This bipartite arrangement is favored because there are two types of ions. It leads to a fundamentally different defect structure than what has been seen when triangular lattices are favored. We classify these defects and find that curvature disrupts long-range square symmetry in a crystal. Through numerical simulations, we see that small square regions are possible in some cases, but this phase coexists with other structures, limiting the scale of these square-lattice microstructures. Thus, at large length scales, curvature leads to triangular structures.

A novel approach for quantitative evaluation of the physicochemical interactions between rough membrane surface and sludge foulants in a submerged membrane bioreactor.

PubMed

Lin, Hongjun; Zhang, Meijia; Mei, Rongwu; Chen, Jianrong; Hong, Huachang

2014-11-01

This study proposed a novel approach for quantitative evaluation of the physicochemical interactions between a particle and rough surface. The approach adopts the composite Simpson's rule to numerically calculate the double integrals in the surface element integration of these physicochemical interactions. The calculation could be achieved by a MATLAB program based on this approach. This approach was then applied to assess the physicochemical interactions between rough membrane surface and sludge foulants in a submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR). The results showed that, as compared with smooth membrane surface, rough membrane surface had a much lower strength of interactions with sludge foulants. Meanwhile, membrane surface morphology significantly affected the strength and properties of the interactions. This study showed that the newly developed approach was feasible, and could serve as a primary tool for investigating membrane fouling in MBRs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improved impression cytology techniques for the immunopathological diagnosis of superficial viral infections

PubMed Central

Thiel, M; Bossart, W; Bernauer, W

1997-01-01

BACKGROUND—For epidemiological and therapeutic reasons early diagnosis of superficial viral infections is crucial. Conventional microbiological techniques are expensive, time consuming, and not sufficiently sensitive. In this study impression cytology techniques were evaluated to analyse their diagnostic potential in viral infections of the ocular surface.
METHOD—A Biopore membrane device instead of the original impression cytology technique was used to allow better quality and handling of the specimens. The impressions were processed, using monoclonal antibodies and immunoperoxidase or immunofluorescence techniques to assess the presence of herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, or adenovirus antigens. Ocular surface specimens from healthy individuals (n=10) and from patients with suspected viral surface disease (n=19) were studied. Infected and non-infected cell cultures served as controls.
RESULTS—This modified technique of impression cytology allowed the collection of large conjunctival and corneal epithelial cell layers with excellent morphology. Immunocytological staining of these samples provided diagnostic results for all three viruses in patients with viral surface disease.
CONCLUSIONS—The use of Biopore membrane devices for the collection of ocular surface epithelia offers new diagnostic possibilities for external eye diseases. Immunopathological methods that are applied directly on these membrane devices can provide virological results within 1-4 hours. This contributes considerably to the clinical management of patients with infectious diseases of the ocular surface.

 PMID:9505824

Methods of conditioning direct methanol fuel cells

DOEpatents

Rice, Cynthia; Ren, Xiaoming; Gottesfeld, Shimshon

2005-11-08

Methods for conditioning the membrane electrode assembly of a direct methanol fuel cell ("DMFC") are disclosed. In a first method, an electrical current of polarity opposite to that used in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is passed through the anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly. In a second method, methanol is supplied to an anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly, allowed to cross over the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly to a cathode surface of the membrane electrode assembly, and an electrical current of polarity opposite to that in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is drawn through the membrane electrode assembly, wherein methanol is oxidized at the cathode surface of the membrane electrode assembly while the catalyst on the anode surface is reduced. Surface oxides on the direct methanol fuel cell anode catalyst of the membrane electrode assembly are thereby reduced.

Surface patterning of polymeric separation membranes and its influence on the filtration performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maruf, Sajjad

Polymeric membrane based separation technologies are crucial for addressing the global issues such as water purification. However, continuous operations of these processes are often hindered by fouling which increases mass transport resistance of the membrane to permeation and thus the energy cost, and eventually replacement of the membrane in the system. In comparison to other anti-fouling strategies, the use of controlled surface topography to mitigate fouling has not been realized mainly due to the lack of methods to create targeted topography on the porous membrane surface. This thesis aims to develop a new methodology to create surface-patterned polymeric separation membrane to improve their anti-fouling characteristics during filtration. First, successful fabrication of sub-micron surface patterns directly on a commercial ultrafiltration (UF) membrane surface using nanoimprint lithographic (NIL) technique was demonstrated. Comprehensive filtration studies revealed that the presence of these sub-micron surface patterns mitigates not only the onset of colloidal particle deposition, but also lowers the rate of growth of cake layer after initial deposition, in comparison with un-patterned membranes. The anti-fouling effects were also observed for model protein solutions. Staged filtration experiments, with backwash cleaning, revealed that the permeate flux of the patterned membrane after protein fouling was considerably higher than that of the pristine or un-patterned membrane. In addition to the surface-patterning of UF membranes, successful fabrication of a surface-patterned thin film composite (TFC) membrane was shown for the first time. A two-step fabrication process was carried out by (1) nanoimprinting a polyethersulfone (PES) support using NIL, and (2) forming a thin dense film atop the PES support via interfacial polymerization (IP). Fouling experiments suggest that the surface patterns alter the hydrodynamics at the membrane-feed interface, which is effective in decreasing fouling in dead end filtration system. In summary, this thesis represents the first ever fabrication of functional patterned polymeric separation membrane and systematic investigation of the influence of submicron surface patterns on pressure-driven liquid membrane separations. The results presented here will enable an effective non-chemical surface modification anti-fouling strategy, which can be directly added onto current commercial separation membrane manufacturing route.

Effect of polymer surface modification on polymer-protein interaction via hydrophilic polymer grafting.

PubMed

Liu, S X; Kim, J-T; Kim, S

2008-04-01

Surface modification of flat sheet ultrafiltration membranes, polyethersulfone (PES), was investigated to improve the hydrophilicity of the membrane surface thereby reducing adsorption of the proteins onto the membrane. Grafting of hydrophilic polymers onto UV/ozone-treated PES was used to improve the hydrophilicity of the commercial PES membranes. Hydrophilic polymers, that is, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and chitosan, were employed to graft onto PES membrane surfaces because of their excellent hydrophilic property. The surfaces of modified PES membranes were characterized by contact angle measurement, FTIR, and AFM. The FTIR spectra indicated that PES membranes were successfully modified by grafting of the hydrophilic polymers. The modified PES membranes showed 20% to 50% reduction in contact angle measurements in comparison with those of the virgin PES membrane. The tapping mode AFM technique was employed to investigate the changes of surface topography, cross-section, and root mean square roughness of the modified PES membrane surfaces. The modified PES membranes showed elevated roughness (ranging from 7.0 to 25.7 nm) compared with that of the virgin PES membrane (2.1 nm). It is concluded that grafting of PVA, PEG, or chitosan onto UV/ozone-treated PES membranes increases hydrophilicity and lowers protein adsorption by 20% to 60% compared to the virgin PES membrane. Among the 3 hydrophilic polymers studied, PEG showed the most favorable result in terms of contact angle and protein adsorption.

'2TM proteins': an antigenically diverse superfamily with variable functions and export pathways.

PubMed

Kaur, Jasweer; Hora, Rachna

2018-01-01

Malaria is a disease that affects millions of people annually. An intracellular habitat and lack of protein synthesizing machinery in erythrocytes pose numerous difficulties for survival of the human pathogen Plasmodium falciparum . The parasite refurbishes the infected red blood cell (iRBC) by synthesis and export of several proteins in an attempt to suffice its metabolic needs and evade the host immune response. Immune evasion is largely mediated by surface display of highly polymorphic protein families known as variable surface antigens. These include the two trans-membrane (2TM) superfamily constituted by multicopy repetitive interspersed family (RIFINs), subtelomeric variable open reading frame (STEVORs) and Plasmodium falciparum Maurer's cleft two trans-membrane proteins present only in P. falciparum and some simian infecting Plasmodium species. Their hypervariable region flanked by 2TM domains exposed on the iRBC surface is believed to generate antigenic diversity. Though historically named "2TM superfamily," several A-type RIFINs and some STEVORs assume one trans-membrane topology. RIFINs and STEVORs share varied functions in different parasite life cycle stages like rosetting, alteration of iRBC rigidity and immune evasion. Additionally, a member of the STEVOR family has been implicated in merozoite invasion. Differential expression of these families in laboratory strains and clinical isolates propose them to be important for host cell survival and defense. The role of RIFINs in modulation of host immune response and presence of protective antibodies against these surface exposed molecules in patient sera highlights them as attractive targets of antimalarial therapies and vaccines. 2TM proteins are Plasmodium export elements positive, and several of these are exported to the infected erythrocyte surface after exiting through the classical secretory pathway within parasites. Cleaved and modified proteins are trafficked after packaging in vesicles to reach Maurer's clefts, while information regarding delivery to the iRBC surface is sparse. Expression and export timing of the RIFIN and Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein1 families correspond to each other. Here, we have compiled and comprehended detailed information regarding orthologues, domain architecture, surface topology, functions and trafficking of members of the "2TM superfamily." Considering the large repertoire of proteins included in the 2TM superfamily and recent advances defining their function in malaria biology, a surge in research carried out on this important protein superfamily is likely.

Omniphobic Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Membrane for Desalination of Shale Gas Produced Water by Membrane Distillation.

PubMed

Boo, Chanhee; Lee, Jongho; Elimelech, Menachem

2016-11-15

Microporous membranes fabricated from hydrophobic polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) have been widely used for membrane distillation (MD). However, hydrophobic MD membranes are prone to wetting by low surface tension substances, thereby limiting their use in treating challenging industrial wastewaters, such as shale gas produced water. In this study, we present a facile and scalable approach for the fabrication of omniphobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes that repel both water and oil. Positive surface charge was imparted to an alkaline-treated PVDF membrane by aminosilane functionalization, which enabled irreversible binding of negatively charged silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) to the membrane through electrostatic attraction. The membrane with grafted SiNPs was then coated with fluoroalkylsilane (perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane) to lower the membrane surface energy. Results from contact angle measurements with mineral oil and surfactant solution demonstrated that overlaying SiNPs with ultralow surface energy significantly enhanced the wetting resistance of the membrane against low surface tension liquids. We also evaluated desalination performance of the modified membrane in direct contact membrane distillation with a synthetic wastewater containing surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and mineral oil, as well as with shale gas produced water. The omniphobic membrane exhibited a stable MD performance, demonstrating its potential application for desalination of challenging industrial wastewaters containing diverse low surface tension contaminants.

VOCs Air Pollutant Cleaning with Polyacrylonitrile/Fly Ash Nanocomposite Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cong Ge, Jun; Wang, Zi Jian; Kim, Min Soo; Choi, Nag Jung

2018-01-01

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as an environmental pollution, which have many kinds of chemical structures, and many of them are very toxic. Therefore, controlling and reducing the presence of VOCs has become a hot topic among researchers for many years. In this study, the VOCs adsorption capacity of polyacrylonitrile/fly ash (PAN/FA) nanocomposite electrospun nanofibrous membranes were investigated. The results indicated that the PAN with different contents of FA powder (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% compared with PAN by weight) could be spun well by electrospinning. The diameter of the fiber was very fine and its arrangement was irregular. The PAN nanofibrous membrane containing 60 wt% FA powder had the highest VOCs absorption capacity compared with other nanofibrous membranes due to its large specific surface area.

Comparison of two filtration-elution procedures to improve the standard methods ISO 10705-1 & 2 for bacteriophage detection in groundwater, surface water and finished water samples.

PubMed

Helmi, K; Jacob, P; Charni-Ben-Tabassi, N; Delabre, K; Arnal, C

2011-09-01

To select a reliable method for bacteriophage concentration prior detection by culture from surface water, groundwater and drinking water to enhance the sensitivity of the standard methods ISO 10705-1 & 2. Artificially contaminated (groundwater and drinking water) and naturally contaminated (surface water) 1-litre samples were processed for bacteriophages detection. The spiked samples were inoculated with about 150 PFU of F-specific RNA bacteriophages and somatic coliphages using wastewater. Bacteriophage detection in the water samples was achieved using the standard method without and with a concentration step (electropositive Anodisc membrane or a pretreated electronegative Micro Filtration membrane, MF). For artificially contaminated matrices (drinking and ground waters), recovery rates using the concentration step were superior to 70% whilst analyses without concentration step mainly led to false negative results. Besides, the MF membrane presented higher performances compared with the Anodisc membrane. The concentration of a large volume of water (up to one litre) on a filter membrane avoids false negative results obtained by direct analysis as it allows detecting low number of bacteriophages in water samples. The addition of concentration step before applying the standard method could be useful to enhance the reliability of bacteriophages monitoring in water samples as bio-indicators to highlight faecal pollution. © No claim to French Government works. Letters in Applied Microbiology © 2011 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Michael Z.; Simpson, John T.; Aytug, Tolga

Superhydrophobic membrane structures having a beneficial combination of throughput and a selectivity. The membrane structure can include a porous support substrate; and a membrane layer adherently disposed on and in contact with the porous support substrate. The membrane layer can include a nanoporous material having a superhydrophobic surface. The superhydrophobic surface can include a textured surface, and a modifying material disposed on the textured surface. Methods of making and using the membrane structures.

Evanescent field microscopy techniques for studying dynamics at the surface of living cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sund, Susan E.

This thesis presents two distinct optical microscopy techniques for applications in cell biophysics: (a)the extension to living cells of an established technique, total internal reflection/fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (TIR/FRAP) for the first time in imaging mode; and (b)the novel development of polarized total internal reflection fluorescence (p- TIRF) to study membrane orientation in living cells. Although reversible chemistry is crucial to dynamical processes in living cells, relatively little is known about the relevant chemical kinetic rates in vivo. TIR/FRAP, an established technique which can measure reversible biomolecular kinetic rates at surfaces, is extended here to measure kinetic parameters of microinjected rhodamine actin at the cytofacial surface of the plasma membrane of living cultured smooth muscle cells. For the first time, spatial imaging (with a CCD camera) is used in conjunction with TIR/FRAP. TIR/FRAP imaging allows production of spatially resolved images of kinetic data, and calculation of correlation distances, cell-wide gradients, and kinetic parameter dependence on initial fluorescence intensity. In living cells, membrane curvature occurs both in easily imaged large scale morphological features, and also in less visualizable submicroscopic regions of activity such as endocytosis, exocytosis, and cell surface ruffling. A fluorescence microscopic method, p-TIRF, is introduced here to visualize such regions. The method is based on fluorescence of the oriented membrane probe diI- C18-(3) (diI) excited by evanescent field light polarized either perpendicular or parallel to the plane of the substrate coverslip. The excitation efficiency from each polarization depends on the membrane orientation, and thus the ratio of the observed fluorescence excited by these two polarizations vividly shows regions of microscopic and submicroscopic curvature of the membrane. A theoretical background of the technique and experimental verifications are presented in samples of protein solutions, model lipid bilayers, and living cells. Sequential digital images of the polarized TIR fluorescence ratios show spatially-resolved time- course maps of membrane orientations on diI labeled macrophages from which low visibility membrane structures can be identified and quantified. The TIR images are sharpened and contrast-enhanced by deconvoluting them with an experimentally-measured point spread function.

Investigation on micro-patterned gold-plated polymer substrate for a micro hydraulic actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundaresan, Vishnu Baba; Akle, Barbar; Leo, Donald J.

2006-03-01

Plants have the ability to develop large mechanical force from chemical energy available with bio-fuels. The energy released by the cleavage of a terminal phosphate ion during the hydrolysis of a bio-fuel assists the transport of ions and fluids in cellular homeostasis. Materials that develop pressure and hence strain similar to the response of plants to an external stimuli are classified as nastic materials. This new class of actuators use protein transporters as functional units to move species and result in deformation [Leo et al 2005 (Proceedings of IMECE - 06)]. The ion transporters are hydrocarbons which are formed across the cellular membranes. The membranes that house the ion transporters are aggregates of phospholipids rigidized by cytoskeleton. Reconstituting these nano-machines on a harder matrix is quintessential to build a functional device. Artificial phospholipid membranes or Biliayer lipid membranes (BLM) have poor structural integrity and do not adhere to most surfaces. Patterned arrays of pores made on Poly-propylene glycol-diacrylate (PPG-DA) substrate, a photo curable polymer was made available to us for initial design iterations for an actuator. Hydrophobicity of PPG-DA posed initial problems to support a BLM. We modified the surface of micropatterned PPG-DA membrane by gold plating it. The surface of the porous PPG-DA membranes was plated with gold (Au). A 10nm seeding layer of Au was sputtered on the surface of the membrane. Further gold was reduced onto the sputtered gold surface [Supriya et al(Langmuir 2004, 20, 8870-8876)] by suspending the samples in a solution of hydroxylamine and Hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III) trihydrate [HAuCl4.3H2O]. This reduction process increased the thickness of the gold, enhanced its adhesion to the PPG-DA substrate and improved the shapes of the pores. This surface modification of PPG-DA helped us form stable BLM with 1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3- [Phospho-L-Serine] (Sodium Salt) (POPS), 1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero- 3-Phosphoethanolamine (POPE) lipids. The observed ionic resistance of the BLM remained stable and sustained 4 mm water column for the the four hours observation period. This article describes the procedure we adopted to modify the PPG-DA substrate, form a BLM and the procedure to quantify the stability of the BLM formed with -amine and -thiol head groups in the lipids.

A porous media theory for characterization of membrane blood oxygenation devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sano, Yoshihiko; Adachi, Jun; Nakayama, Akira

2013-07-01

A porous media theory has been proposed to characterize oxygen transport processes associated with membrane blood oxygenation devices. For the first time, a rigorous mathematical procedure based a volume averaging procedure has been presented to derive a complete set of the governing equations for the blood flow field and oxygen concentration field. As a first step towards a complete three-dimensional numerical analysis, one-dimensional steady case is considered to model typical membrane blood oxygenator scenarios, and to validate the derived equations. The relative magnitudes of oxygen transport terms are made clear, introducing a dimensionless parameter which measures the distance the oxygen gas travels to dissolve in the blood as compared with the blood dispersion length. This dimensionless number is found so large that the oxygen diffusion term can be neglected in most cases. A simple linear relationship between the blood flow rate and total oxygen transfer rate is found for oxygenators with sufficiently large membrane surface areas. Comparison of the one-dimensional analytic results and available experimental data reveals the soundness of the present analysis.

Computational investigation of large-scale vortex interaction with flexible bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Connell, Benjamin; Yue, Dick K. P.

2003-11-01

The interaction of large-scale vortices with flexible bodies is examined with particular interest paid to the energy and momentum budgets of the system. Finite difference direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations on a moving curvilinear grid is coupled with a finite difference structural solver of both a linear membrane under tension and linear Euler-Bernoulli beam. The hydrodynamics and structural dynamics are solved simultaneously using an iterative procedure with the external structural forcing calculated from the hydrodynamics at the surface and the flow-field velocity boundary condition given by the structural motion. We focus on an investigation into the canonical problem of a vortex-dipole impinging on a flexible membrane. It is discovered that the structural properties of the membrane direct the interaction in terms of the flow evolution and the energy budget. Pressure gradients associated with resonant membrane response are shown to sustain the oscillatory motion of the vortex pair. Understanding how the key mechanisms in vortex-body interactions are guided by the structural properties of the body is a prerequisite to exploiting these mechanisms.

A Class of Rigid Linker-bearing Glucosides for Membrane Protein Structural Study.

PubMed

Sadaf, Aiman; Mortensen, Jonas S; Capaldi, Stefano; Tikhonova, Elena; Hariharan, Parameswaran; de Castro Ribeiro, Orquidea; Loland, Claus J; Guan, Lan; Byrne, Bernadette; Chae, Pil Seok

2016-03-01

Membrane proteins are amphipathic bio-macromolecules incompatible with the polar environments of aqueous media. Conventional detergents encapsulate the hydrophobic surfaces of membrane proteins allowing them to exist in aqueous solution. Membrane proteins stabilized by detergent micelles are used for structural and functional analysis. Despite the availability of a large number of detergents, only a few agents are sufficiently effective at maintaining the integrity of membrane proteins to allow successful crystallization. In the present study, we describe a novel class of synthetic amphiphiles with a branched tail group and a triglucoside head group. These head and tail groups were connected via an amide or ether linkage by using a tris(hydroxylmethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) or neopentyl glycol (NPG) linker to produce TRIS-derived triglucosides (TDTs) and NPG-derived triglucosides (NDTs), respectively. Members of this class conferred enhanced stability on target membrane proteins compared to conventional detergents. Because of straightforward synthesis of the novel agents and their favourable effects on a range of membrane proteins, these agents should be of wide applicability to membrane protein science.

A Class of Rigid Linker-bearing Glucosides for Membrane Protein Structural Study

PubMed Central

Sadaf, Aiman; Mortensen, Jonas S.; Capaldi, Stefano; Tikhonova, Elena; Hariharan, Parameswaran; de Castro Ribeiro, Orquidea; Loland, Claus J; Guan, Lan; Byrne, Bernadette

2015-01-01

Membrane proteins are amphipathic bio-macromolecules incompatible with the polar environments of aqueous media. Conventional detergents encapsulate the hydrophobic surfaces of membrane proteins allowing them to exist in aqueous solution. Membrane proteins stabilized by detergent micelles are used for structural and functional analysis. Despite the availability of a large number of detergents, only a few agents are sufficiently effective at maintaining the integrity of membrane proteins to allow successful crystallization. In the present study, we describe a novel class of synthetic amphiphiles with a branched tail group and a triglucoside head group. These head and tail groups were connected via an amide or ether linkage by using a tris(hydroxylmethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) or neopentyl glycol (NPG) linker to produce TRIS-derived triglucosides (TDTs) and NPG-derived triglucosides (NDTs), respectively. Members of this class conferred enhanced stability on target membrane proteins compared to conventional detergents. Because of straightforward synthesis of the novel agents and their favourable effects on a range of membrane proteins, these agents should be of wide applicability to membrane protein science. PMID:27110345

High-Quality Metal–Organic Framework ZIF-8 Membrane Supported on Electrodeposited ZnO/2-methylimidazole Nanocomposite: Efficient Adsorbent for the Enrichment of Acidic Drugs

PubMed Central

Wu, Mian; Ye, Huili; Zhao, Faqiong; Zeng, Baizhao

2017-01-01

Metal–organic framework (MOF) membranes have received increasing attention as adsorbents, yet the defects in most membrane structures greatly thwart their capacity performance. In this work, we fabricated a novel ZnO/2-methylimidazole nanocomposite with multiple morphology by electrochemical method. The nanocomposite provided sufficient and strong anchorages for the zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) membrane. Thus, a crack-free and uniform MOF membrane with high performance was successfully obtained. In this case, 2-methylimidazole was believed to react with ZnO to form uniform ZIF nuclei, which induced and guided the growth of ZIF-8 membrane. The as-prepared ZIF-8 membrane had large surface area and good thermal stability. As expected, it displayed high adsorption capacity for acidic drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, ketoprofen and acetylsalicylic acid) as they could interact through hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interaction. Accordingly, by coupling with gas chromatography the ZIF-8 membrane was successfully applied to the real-time dynamic monitoring of ibuprofen in patient’s urine. PMID:28051129

CURVATURE-DRIVEN MOLECULAR FLOW ON MEMBRANE SURFACE*

PubMed Central

MIKUCKI, MICHAEL; ZHOU, Y. C.

2017-01-01

This work presents a mathematical model for the localization of multiple species of diffusion molecules on membrane surfaces. Morphological change of bilayer membrane in vivo is generally modulated by proteins. Most of these modulations are associated with the localization of related proteins in the crowded lipid environments. We start with the energetic description of the distributions of molecules on curved membrane surface, and define the spontaneous curvature of bilayer membrane as a function of the molecule concentrations on membrane surfaces. A drift-diffusion equation governs the gradient flow of the surface molecule concentrations. We recast the energetic formulation and the related governing equations by using an Eulerian phase field description to define membrane morphology. Computational simulations with the proposed mathematical model and related numerical techniques predict (i) the molecular localization on static membrane surfaces at locations with preferred mean curvatures, and (ii) the generation of preferred mean curvature which in turn drives the molecular localization. PMID:29056778

Versatile antifouling polyethersulfone filtration membranes modified via surface grafting of zwitterionic polymers from a reactive amphiphilic copolymer additive.

PubMed

Zhao, Yi-Fan; Zhang, Pei-Bin; Sun, Jian; Liu, Cui-Jing; Yi, Zhuan; Zhu, Li-Ping; Xu, You-Yi

2015-06-15

Here we describe the development of versatile antifouling polyethersulfone (PES) filtration membranes modified via surface grafting of zwitterionic polymers from a reactive amphiphilic copolymer additive. Amphiphilic polyethersulfone-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PES-b-PHEMA) was beforehand designed and used as the blending additive of PES membranes prepared by phase inversion technique. The surface enriched PHEMA blocks on membrane surface acted as an anchor to immobilize the initiating site. Poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) were subsequently grafted onto the PES blend membranes by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The analysis of surface chemistry confirmed the successful grafting of zwitterionic PSBMA brushes on PES membrane surface. The resulted PES-g-PSBMA membranes were capable of separating proteins from protein solution and oil from oil/water emulsion efficiently. Furthermore, the modified membranes showed high hydrophilicity and strongly antifouling properties due to the incorporation of well-defined PSBMA layer. In addition, the PES-g-PSBMA membranes exhibited excellent blood compatibility and durability during the washing process. The developed antifouling PES membranes are versatile and can find their applications in protein filtration, blood purification and oil/water separation, etc. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Surface-Enhanced Separation of Water from Hydrocarbons: Potential Dewatering Membranes for the Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Pine Biomass

DOE PAGES

Engtrakul, Dr. Chaiwat; Hu, Michael Z.; Bischoff, Brian L; ...

2016-01-01

The impact of surface-selective coatings on water permeation through a membrane when exposed to catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) vapor products was studied by tailoring the surface properties of the membrane coating from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic. Our approach utilized high-performance architectured surface-selective (HiPAS) membranes that were inserted after a CFP reactor. At this insertion point, the inner wall surface of a tubular membrane was exposed to a mixture of water and upgraded product vapors, including light gases and deoxygenated hydrocarbons. Under proper membrane operating conditions, a high selectivity for water over 1-ring upgraded biomass pyrolysis hydrocarbons was observed due to amore » surface-enhanced capillary condensation process. Owing to this surface-enhanced effect, HiPAS membranes have the potential to enable high flux separations suggesting that water can be selectively removed from the CFP product vapors.« less

Surface-Enhanced Separation of Water from Hydrocarbons: Potential Dewatering Membranes for the Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Pine Biomass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Engtrakul, Chaiwat; Hu, Michael Z.; Bischoff, Brian L.

2016-10-20

The impact of surface-selective coatings on water permeation through a membrane when exposed to catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) vapor products was studied by tailoring the surface properties of the membrane coating from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic. Our approach used high-performance architectured surface-selective (HiPAS) membranes that were inserted after a CFP reactor. At this insertion point, the inner wall surface of a tubular membrane was exposed to a mixture of water and upgraded product vapors, including light gases and deoxygenated hydrocarbons. Under proper membrane operating conditions, a high selectivity for water over one-ring upgraded biomass pyrolysis hydrocarbons was observed as a resultmore » of a surface-enhanced capillary condensation process. Owing to this surface-enhanced effect, HiPAS membranes have the potential to enable high flux separations, suggesting that water can be selectively removed from the CFP product vapors.« less

Addition of lysophospholipids with large head groups to cells inhibits Shiga toxin binding.

PubMed

Ailte, Ieva; Lingelem, Anne Berit Dyve; Kavaliauskiene, Simona; Bergan, Jonas; Kvalvaag, Audun Sverre; Myrann, Anne-Grethe; Skotland, Tore; Sandvig, Kirsten

2016-07-26

Shiga toxin (Stx), an AB5 toxin, binds specifically to the neutral glycosphingolipid Gb3 at the cell surface before being transported into cells. We here demonstrate that addition of conical lysophospholipids (LPLs) with large head groups inhibit Stx binding to cells whereas LPLs with small head groups do not. Lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI 18:0), the most efficient LPL with the largest head group, was selected for in-depth investigations to study how the binding of Stx is regulated. We show that the inhibition of Stx binding by LPI is reversible and possibly regulated by cholesterol since addition of methyl-β-cyclodextrin (mβCD) reversed the ability of LPI to inhibit binding. LPI-induced inhibition of Stx binding is independent of signalling and membrane turnover as it occurs in fixed cells as well as after depletion of cellular ATP. Furthermore, data obtained with fluorescent membrane dyes suggest that LPI treatment has a direct effect on plasma membrane lipid packing with shift towards a liquid disordered phase in the outer leaflet, while lysophosphoethanolamine (LPE), which has a small head group, does not. In conclusion, our data show that cellular treatment with conical LPLs with large head groups changes intrinsic properties of the plasma membrane and modulates Stx binding to Gb3.

Electrochemical mineral scale prevention and removal on electrically conducting carbon nanotube--polyamide reverse osmosis membranes.

PubMed

Duan, Wenyan; Dudchenko, Alexander; Mende, Elizabeth; Flyer, Celeste; Zhu, Xiaobo; Jassby, David

2014-05-01

The electrochemical prevention and removal of CaSO4 and CaCO3 mineral scales on electrically conducting carbon nanotube - polyamide reverse osmosis membrane was investigated. Different electrical potentials were applied to the membrane surface while filtering model scaling solutions with high saturation indices. Scaling progression was monitored through flux measurements. CaCO3 scale was efficiently removed from the membrane surface through the intermittent application of a 2.5 V potential to the membrane surface, when the membrane acted as an anode. Water oxidation at the anode, which led to proton formation, resulted in the dissolution of deposited CaCO3 crystals. CaSO4 scale formation was significantly retarded through the continuous application of 1.5 V DC to the membrane surface, when the membrane was operated as an anode. The continuous application of a sufficient electrical potential to the membrane surface leads to the formation of a thick layer of counter-ions along the membrane surface that pushed CaSO4 crystal formation away from the membrane surface, allowing the formed crystals to be carried away by the cross-flow. We developed a simple model, based on a modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation, which qualitatively explained our observed experimental results.

Correlation between electric field pulse induced long-lived permeabilization and fusogenicity in cell membranes.

PubMed Central

Teissié, J; Ramos, C

1998-01-01

Electric field pulses have been reported to induce long-lived permeabilization and fusogenicity on cell membranes. The two membrane property alterations are under the control of the field strength, the pulse duration, and the number of pulses. Experiments on mammalian cells pulsed by square wave form pulses and then brought into contact randomly through centrifugation revealed an even stronger analogy between the two processes. Permeabilization was known to affect well-defined regions of the cell surface. Fusion can be obtained only when permeabilized surfaces on the two partners were brought into contact. Permeabilization was under the control of the pulse duration and of the number of pulses. A similar relationship was observed as far as fusion is concerned. But a critical level of local permeabilization must be present for fusion to take place when contacts are created. The same conclusions are obtained from previous experiments on ghosts subjected to exponentially decaying field pulses and then brought into contact by dielectrophoresis. These observations are in agreement with a model of membrane fusion in which the merging of local random defects occurs when the two membranes are brought into contact. The local defects are considered part of the structural membrane reorganization induced by the external field. Their density is dependent on the pulse duration and number of pulses. They support the long-lived permeabilization. Their number must be very large to support the occurrence of membrane fusion. PMID:9545050

Correlation between electric field pulse induced long-lived permeabilization and fusogenicity in cell membranes.

PubMed

Teissié, J; Ramos, C

1998-04-01

Electric field pulses have been reported to induce long-lived permeabilization and fusogenicity on cell membranes. The two membrane property alterations are under the control of the field strength, the pulse duration, and the number of pulses. Experiments on mammalian cells pulsed by square wave form pulses and then brought into contact randomly through centrifugation revealed an even stronger analogy between the two processes. Permeabilization was known to affect well-defined regions of the cell surface. Fusion can be obtained only when permeabilized surfaces on the two partners were brought into contact. Permeabilization was under the control of the pulse duration and of the number of pulses. A similar relationship was observed as far as fusion is concerned. But a critical level of local permeabilization must be present for fusion to take place when contacts are created. The same conclusions are obtained from previous experiments on ghosts subjected to exponentially decaying field pulses and then brought into contact by dielectrophoresis. These observations are in agreement with a model of membrane fusion in which the merging of local random defects occurs when the two membranes are brought into contact. The local defects are considered part of the structural membrane reorganization induced by the external field. Their density is dependent on the pulse duration and number of pulses. They support the long-lived permeabilization. Their number must be very large to support the occurrence of membrane fusion.

Computational model for amoeboid motion: Coupling membrane and cytosol dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moure, Adrian; Gomez, Hector

2016-10-01

A distinguishing feature of amoeboid motion is that the migrating cell undergoes large deformations, caused by the emergence and retraction of actin-rich protrusions, called pseudopods. Here, we propose a cell motility model that represents pseudopod dynamics, as well as its interaction with membrane signaling molecules. The model accounts for internal and external forces, such as protrusion, contraction, adhesion, surface tension, or those arising from cell-obstacle contacts. By coupling the membrane and cytosol interactions we are able to reproduce a realistic picture of amoeboid motion. The model results are in quantitative agreement with experiments and show how cells may take advantage of the geometry of their microenvironment to migrate more efficiently.

THE ANATOMIC SITE OF THE TRANSEPITHELIAL PERMEABILITY BARRIERS OF TOAD BLADDER

PubMed Central

DiBona, Donald R.; Civan, Mortimer M.; Leaf, Alexander

1969-01-01

An examination of the mucosal epithelium of the urinary bladder of the toad reveals that the two major cell types which abut on the urinary surface, the granular and mitochondria-rich cells, also contact the basement membrane. Thus, the epithelium functions as a single cell layer. Although basal cells are interpolated between the granular cells and the basement membrane over a large portion of the epithelium, they do not constitute an additional continuous cell layer. This finding is consistent with extensive physiological data which had assumed that the major permeability barriers of this epithelium were the apical and basal-lateral plasma membranes of a single layer of cells. PMID:5782445

Surface accuracy analysis and mathematical modeling of deployable large aperture elastic antenna reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coleman, Michael J.

One class of deployable large aperture antenna consists of thin light-weight parabolic reflectors. A reflector of this type is a deployable structure that consists of an inflatable elastic membrane that is supported about its perimeter by a set of elastic tendons and is subjected to a constant hydrostatic pressure. A design may not hold the parabolic shape to within a desired tolerance due to an elastic deformation of the surface, particularly near the rim. We can compute the equilibrium configuration of the reflector system using an optimization-based solution procedure that calculates the total system energy and determines a configuration of minimum energy. Analysis of the equilibrium configuration reveals the behavior of the reflector shape under various loading conditions. The pressure, film strain energy, tendon strain energy, and gravitational energy are all considered in this analysis. The surface accuracy of the antenna reflector is measured by an RMS calculation while the reflector phase error component of the efficiency is determined by computing the power density at boresight. Our error computation methods are tailored for the faceted surface of our model and they are more accurate for this particular problem than the commonly applied Ruze Equation. Previous analytical work on parabolic antennas focused on axisymmetric geometries and loads. Symmetric equilibria are not assumed in our analysis. In addition, this dissertation contains two principle original findings: (1) the typical supporting tendon system tends to flatten a parabolic reflector near its edge. We find that surface accuracy can be significantly improved by fixing the edge of the inflated reflector to a rigid structure; (2) for large membranes assembled from flat sheets of thin material, we demonstrate that the surface accuracy of the resulting inflated membrane reflector can be improved by altering the cutting pattern of the flat components. Our findings demonstrate that the proper choice of design parameters can increase the performance of inflatable antennas, opening up new antenna applications where higher resolution and greater sensitivity are desired. These include space applications involving high data rates and high bandwidths, such as lunar surface wireless local networks and orbiting relay satellites. A light-weight inflatable antenna is also an ideal component in aerostat, airship and free balloon systems that supports communication, surveillance and remote sensing applications.

Anomalous X-Ray Reflectivity Characterization of Ion Distribution at Biomimetic Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaknin, David; Krüger, Peter; Lösche, Mathias

2003-05-01

Anomalous x-ray reflectivity measurements provides detailed information on ion binding to biomembrane surfaces. Using a monochromatic beam tuned to various x-ray energies at the Argonne National Laboratory Advanced Photon Source and utilizing a newly commissioned x-ray liquid surfaces reflectometer, measurements at and away from ion absorption edges allow determination of the distribution of these ions as they accumulate near lipid membranes. As a model, the interaction of Ba2+ ions with DMPA- (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidic acid) monolayers at the aqueous surface is studied. We find an unexpectedly large concentration of barium at the interface, ≈1.5 per DMPA-, forming a Stern layer of bound ions and a cloud of less densely bound ions near the lipid headgroups. This result can be understood only if one assumes that bound cations are partially speciated, e.g., as BaOH+.

Role of tetanus neurotoxin insensitive vesicle-associated membrane protein in membrane domains transport and homeostasis

PubMed Central

Molino, Diana; Nola, Sébastien; Lam, Sin Man; Verraes, Agathe; Proux-Gillardeaux, Véronique; Boncompain, Gaëlle; Perez, Franck; Wenk, Markus; Shui, Guanghou; Danglot, Lydia; Galli, Thierry

2015-01-01

Biological membranes in eukaryotes contain a large variety of proteins and lipids often distributed in domains in plasma membrane and endomembranes. Molecular mechanisms responsible for the transport and the organization of these membrane domains along the secretory pathway still remain elusive. Here we show that vesicular SNARE TI-VAMP/VAMP7 plays a major role in membrane domains composition and transport. We found that the transport of exogenous and endogenous GPI-anchored proteins was altered in fibroblasts isolated from VAMP7-knockout mice. Furthermore, disassembly and reformation of the Golgi apparatus induced by Brefeldin A treatment and washout were impaired in VAMP7-depleted cells, suggesting that loss of VAMP7 expression alters biochemical properties and dynamics of the Golgi apparatus. In addition, lipid profiles from these knockout cells indicated a defect in glycosphingolipids homeostasis. We conclude that VAMP7 is required for effective transport of GPI–anchored proteins to cell surface and that VAMP7-dependent transport contributes to both sphingolipids and Golgi homeostasis. PMID:26196023

Bioinspired Diatomite Membrane with Selective Superwettability for Oil/Water Separation.

PubMed

Lo, Yu-Hsiang; Yang, Ching-Yu; Chang, Haw-Kai; Hung, Wei-Chen; Chen, Po-Yu

2017-05-03

Membranes with selective superwettability for oil/water separation have received significant attention during the past decades. Hierarchical structures and surface roughness are believed to improve the oil repellency and the stability of Cassie-Baxter state. Diatoms, unicellular photosynthetic algae, possess sophisticated skeletal shells (called frustules) which are made of hydrated silica. Motivated by the hierarchical micro- and nanoscale features of diatom, we fabricate a hierarchical diatomite membrane which consists of aligned micro-sized channels by the freeze casting process. The fine nano-porous structures of frustules are well preserved after the post sintering process. The bioinspired diatomite membrane performs both underwater superoleophobicity and superhydrophobicity under various oils. Additionally, we demonstrate the highly efficient oil/water separation capabililty of the membranes in various harsh environments. The water flux can be further adjusted by tuning the cooling rates. The eco-friendly and robust bioinspired membranes produced by the simple, cost-effective freeze casting method can be potentially applied for large scale and efficient oil/water separation.

Characterizing membrane foulants in MBR with addition of polyferric chloride to enhance phosphorus removal.

PubMed

Yang, Xiao-Li; Song, Hai-Liang; Chen, Ming; Cheng, Bing

2011-10-01

The effect of polymeric ferric chloride (PFC) addition on phosphorus removal and membrane fouling were investigated in an anoxic/oxic submerged membrane bioreactor. The total phosphorus concentration in effluent averaged at 0.26 mg/L with PFC addition of 10-15 mg/L, while the rate of membrane fouling increased 1.6 times over the control MBR (without PFC addition). Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy and Gel Filtration Chromatography analysis indicated that soluble microbial byproduct-like materials and large molecules (M(W)>100 kDa) were one of the main contributors of biofouling. Fourier transform infrared spectrum confirmed that the major components of the cake layer were proteins and polysaccharides materials. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that membrane surfaces were covered with compact gel layer formed by organic substances and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis indicated that ferric metals were the most important inorganic pollutants. Consequently, soluble organic substances and dose of PFC should be controlled to minimize membrane fouling. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mid-infrared metamaterial based on perforated SiC membrane: engineering optical response using surface phonon polaritons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korobkin, D.; Urzhumov, Y. A.; Neuner, B., III; Zorman, C.; Zhang, Z.; Mayergoyz, I. D.; Shvets, G.

2007-09-01

We theoretically and experimentally study electromagnetic properties of a novel mid-infrared metamaterial: optically thin silicon carbide (SiC) membrane perforated by an array of sub-wavelength holes. Giant absorption and transmission is found using Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) microscopy and explained by introducing a frequency-dependent effective permittivity ɛeff(ω) of the perforated film. The value of ɛeff(ω) is determined by the excitation of two distinct types of hole resonances: delocalized slow surface polaritons (SSPs) whose frequencies are largely determined by the array period, and a localized surface polariton (LSP) corresponding to the resonance of an isolated hole. Only SSPs are shown to modify ɛeff(ω) strongly enough to cause giant transmission and absorption. Because of the sub-wavelength period of the hole array, anomalous optical properties can be directly traced to surface polaritons, and their interpretation is not obscured by diffractive effects. Giant absorbance of this metamaterial can be utilized in designing highly efficient thermal radiation sources.

Rapid ultrasensitive single particle surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy using metallic nanopores.

PubMed

Cecchini, Michael P; Wiener, Aeneas; Turek, Vladimir A; Chon, Hyangh; Lee, Sangyeop; Ivanov, Aleksandar P; McComb, David W; Choo, Jaebum; Albrecht, Tim; Maier, Stefan A; Edel, Joshua B

2013-10-09

Nanopore sensors embedded within thin dielectric membranes have been gaining significant interest due to their single molecule sensitivity and compatibility of detecting a large range of analytes, from DNA and proteins, to small molecules and particles. Building on this concept we utilize a metallic Au solid-state membrane to translocate and rapidly detect single Au nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with 589 dye molecules using surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS). We show that, due to the plasmonic coupling between the Au metallic nanopore surface and the NP, signal intensities are enhanced when probing analyte molecules bound to the NP surface. Although not single molecule, this nanopore sensing scheme benefits from the ability of SERRS to provide rich vibrational information on the analyte, improving on current nanopore-based electrical and optical detection techniques. We show that the full vibrational spectrum of the analyte can be detected with ultrahigh spectral sensitivity and a rapid temporal resolution of 880 μs.

Electrospun polylactic acid and polyvinyl alcohol fibers as efficient and stable nanomaterials for immobilization of lipases.

PubMed

Sóti, Péter Lajos; Weiser, Diana; Vigh, Tamás; Nagy, Zsombor Kristóf; Poppe, László; Marosi, György

2016-03-01

Electrospinning was applied to create easy-to-handle and high-surface-area membranes from continuous nanofibers of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polylactic acid (PLA). Lipase PS from Burkholderia cepacia and Lipase B from Candida antarctica (CaLB) could be immobilized effectively by adsorption onto the fibrous material as well as by entrapment within the electrospun nanofibers. The biocatalytic performance of the resulting membrane biocatalysts was evaluated in the kinetic resolution of racemic 1-phenylethanol (rac-1) and 1-phenylethyl acetate (rac-2). Fine dispersion of the enzymes in the polymer matrix and large surface area of the nanofibers resulted in an enormous increase in the activity of the membrane biocatalyst compared to the non-immobilized crude powder forms of the lipases. PLA as fiber-forming polymer for lipase immobilization performed better than PVA in all aspects. Recycling studies with the various forms of electrospun membrane biocatalysts in ten cycles of the acylation and hydrolysis reactions indicated excellent stability of this forms of immobilized lipases. PLA-entrapped lipases could preserve lipase activity and enantiomer selectivity much better than the PVA-entrapped forms. The electrospun membrane forms of CaLB showed high mechanical stability in the repeated acylations and hydrolyses than commercial forms of CaLB immobilized on polyacrylamide beads (Novozyme 435 and IMMCALB-T2-150).

Surface characterization of dialyzer polymer membranes by imaging ToF-SIMS and quantitative XPS line scans.

PubMed

Holzweber, Markus; Lippitz, Andreas; Krueger, Katharina; Jankowski, Joachim; Unger, Wolfgang E S

2015-03-24

The surfaces of polymeric dialyzer membranes consisting of polysulfone and polyvinylpyrrolidone were investigated regarding the lateral distribution and quantitative surface composition using time-of-flight secondary-ion-mass-spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Knowledge of the distribution and composition on the outer surface region is of utmost importance for understanding the biocompatibility of such dialyzer membranes. Both flat membranes and hollow fiber membranes were studied.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in model bacterial membranes - Langmuir monolayer studies.

PubMed

Broniatowski, Marcin; Binczycka, Martyna; Wójcik, Aneta; Flasiński, Michał; Wydro, Paweł

2017-12-01

High molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HMW-PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants which due to their limited biodegradability accumulate in soils where their increased presence can lead to the impoverishment of the decomposer organisms. As very hydrophobic PAHs easily penetrate cellular membranes of soil bacteria and can be incorporated therein, changing the membrane fluidity and other functions which in consequence can lead to the death of the organism. The structure and size of PAH molecule can be crucial for its membrane activity; however the correlation between PAH structure and its interaction with phospholipids have not been investigated so far. In our studies we applied phospholipid Langmuir monolayers as model bacterial membranes and investigated how the incorporation of six structurally different PAH molecules change the membrane texture and physical properties. In our studies we registered surface pressure and surface potential isotherms upon the monolayer compression, visualized the monolayer texture with the application of Brewster angle microscopy and searched the ordering of the film-forming molecules with molecular resolution with the application of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) method. It turned out that the phospholipid-PAH interactions are strictly structure dependent. Four and five-ring PAHs of the angular or cluster geometry can be incorporated into the model membranes changing profoundly their textures and fluidity; whereas linear or large cluster PAHs cannot be incorporated and separate from the lipid matrix. The observed phenomena were explained based on structural similarities of the applied PAHs with membrane steroids and hopanoids. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

High coverage fluid-phase floating lipid bilayers supported by ω-thiolipid self-assembled monolayers

PubMed Central

Hughes, Arwel V.; Holt, Stephen A.; Daulton, Emma; Soliakov, Andrei; Charlton, Timothy R.; Roser, Steven J.; Lakey, Jeremy H.

2014-01-01

Large area lipid bilayers, on solid surfaces, are useful in physical studies of biological membranes. It is advantageous to minimize the interactions of these bilayers with the substrate and this can be achieved via the formation of a floating supported bilayer (FSB) upon either a surface bound phospholipid bilayer or monolayer. The FSB's independence is enabled by the continuous water layer (greater than 15 Å) that remains between the two. However, previous FSBs have had limited stability and low density. Here, we demonstrate by surface plasmon resonance and neutron reflectivity, the formation of a complete self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold surfaces by a synthetic phosphatidylcholine bearing a thiol group at the end of one fatty acyl chain. Furthermore, a very dense FSB (more than 96%) of saturated phosphatidylcholine can be formed on this SAM by sequential Langmuir–Blodgett and Langmuir–Schaefer procedures. Neutron reflectivity used both isotopic and magnetic contrast to enhance the accuracy of the data fits. This system offers the means to study transmembrane proteins, membrane potential effects (using the gold as an electrode) and even model bacterial outer membranes. Using unsaturated phosphatidylcholines, which have previously failed to form stable FSBs, we achieved a coverage of 73%. PMID:25030385

Biophysical Model of Ion Transport across Human Respiratory Epithelia Allows Quantification of Ion Permeabilities

PubMed Central

Garcia, Guilherme J.M.; Boucher, Richard C.; Elston, Timothy C.

2013-01-01

Lung health and normal mucus clearance depend on adequate hydration of airway surfaces. Because transepithelial osmotic gradients drive water flows, sufficient hydration of the airway surface liquid depends on a balance between ion secretion and absorption by respiratory epithelia. In vitro experiments using cultures of primary human nasal epithelia and human bronchial epithelia have established many of the biophysical processes involved in airway surface liquid homeostasis. Most experimental studies, however, have focused on the apical membrane, despite the fact that ion transport across respiratory epithelia involves both cellular and paracellular pathways. In fact, the ion permeabilities of the basolateral membrane and paracellular pathway remain largely unknown. Here we use a biophysical model for water and ion transport to quantify ion permeabilities of all pathways (apical, basolateral, paracellular) in human nasal epithelia cultures using experimental (Ussing Chamber and microelectrode) data reported in the literature. We derive analytical formulas for the steady-state short-circuit current and membrane potential, which are for polarized epithelia the equivalent of the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation for single isolated cells. These relations allow parameter estimation to be performed efficiently. By providing a method to quantify all the ion permeabilities of respiratory epithelia, the model may aid us in understanding the physiology that regulates normal airway surface hydration. PMID:23442922

Surface modification of commercial seawater reverse osmosis membranes by grafting of hydrophilic monomer blended with carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vatanpour, Vahid; Zoqi, Naser

2017-02-01

In this study, modification of commercial seawater reverse osmosis membranes was carried out with simultaneous use of surface grafting and nanoparticle incorporation. Membrane grafting with a hydrophilic acrylic acid monomer and thermal initiator was used to increase membrane surface hydrophilicity. The used nanomaterial was carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which were dispersed in the grafting solution and deposited on membrane surface to reduce fouling by creating polymer brushes and hydrodynamic resistance. Effectiveness of the grafting process (formation of graft layer on membrane surface) was proved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Increase of membrane surface hydrophilicity was approved with contact angle test. First, the grafting was performed on the membrane surfaces with different monomer concentrations, various contact times and several membrane curing times (three variables for optimization). The modified membranes were tested by a cross-flow setup using saline solution for permeability and rejection tests, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution for fouling test. The results showed that the modified membranes with 0.75 M of monomer, 3 min contact time and 80 min curing time in an oven at 50 °C presented the highest flux and lowest rejection decline related to the commercial reverse osmosis membrane. In the next step, the optimum grafting condition was selected and the nanotubes with different weight percentages were dispersed in the acrylic acid monomer solution. The membrane containing 0.25 wt% COOH-MWCNTs showed the highest fouling resistance.

Membrane-Induced Structural Rearrangement and Identification of a Novel Membrane Anchor in Talin F2F3

PubMed Central

Arcario, Mark J.; Tajkhorshid, Emad

2014-01-01

Experimental challenges associated with characterization of the membrane-bound form of talin have prevented us from understanding the molecular mechanism of its membrane-dependent integrin activation. Here, utilizing what we believe to be a novel membrane mimetic model, we present a reproducible model of membrane-bound talin observed across multiple independent simulations. We characterize both local and global membrane-induced structural transitions that successfully reconcile discrepancies between biochemical and structural studies and provide insight into how talin might modulate integrin function. Membrane binding of talin, captured in unbiased simulations, proceeds through three distinct steps: initial electrostatic recruitment of the F2 subdomain to anionic lipids via several basic residues; insertion of an initially buried, conserved hydrophobic anchor into the membrane; and association of the F3 subdomain with the membrane surface through a large, interdomain conformational change. These latter two steps, to our knowledge, have not been observed or described previously. Electrostatic analysis shows talin F2F3 to be highly polarized, with a highly positive underside, which we attribute to the initial electrostatic recruitment, and a negative top face, which can help orient the protein optimally with respect to the membrane, thereby reducing the number of unproductive membrane collision events. PMID:25418091

Diagnostic tool for red blood cell membrane disorders: Assessment of a new generation ektacytometer.

PubMed

Da Costa, Lydie; Suner, Ludovic; Galimand, Julie; Bonnel, Amandine; Pascreau, Tiffany; Couque, Nathalie; Fenneteau, Odile; Mohandas, Narla

2016-01-01

Inherited red blood cell (RBC) membrane disorders, such as hereditary spherocytosis, elliptocytosis and hereditary ovalocytosis, result from mutations in genes encoding various RBC membrane and skeletal proteins. The RBC membrane, a composite structure composed of a lipid bilayer linked to a spectrin/actin-based membrane skeleton, confers upon the RBC unique features of deformability and mechanical stability. The disease severity is primarily dependent on the extent of membrane surface area loss. RBC membrane disorders can be readily diagnosed by various laboratory approaches that include RBC cytology, flow cytometry, ektacytometry, electrophoresis of RBC membrane proteins and genetics. The reference technique for diagnosis of RBC membrane disorders is the osmotic gradient ektacytometry. However, in spite of its recognition as the reference technique, this technique is rarely used as a routine diagnosis tool for RBC membrane disorders due to its limited availability. This may soon change as a new generation of ektacytometer has been recently engineered. In this review, we describe the workflow of the samples shipped to our Hematology laboratory for RBC membrane disorder analysis and the data obtained for a large cohort of French patients presenting with RBC membrane disorders using a newly available version of the ektacytomer. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Considerations in the design of large space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hedgepeth, J. M.; Macneal, R. H.; Knapp, K.; Macgillivray, C. S.

1981-01-01

Several analytical studies of topics relevant to the design of large space structures are presented. Topics covered are: the types and quantitative evaluation of the disturbances to which large Earth-oriented microwave reflectors would be subjected and the resulting attitude errors of such spacecraft; the influence of errors in the structural geometry of the performance of radiofrequency antennas; the effect of creasing on the flatness of tensioned reflector membrane surface; and an analysis of the statistics of damage to truss-type structures due to meteoroids.

Facile fabrication of nanofluidic diode membranes using anodic aluminium oxide.

PubMed

Wu, Songmei; Wildhaber, Fabien; Vazquez-Mena, Oscar; Bertsch, Arnaud; Brugger, Juergen; Renaud, Philippe

2012-09-21

Active control of ion transport plays important roles in chemical and biological analytical processes. Nanofluidic systems hold the promise for such control through electrostatic interaction between ions and channel surfaces. Most existing experiments rely on planar geometry where the nanochannels are generally very long and shallow with large aspect ratios. Based on this configuration the concepts of nanofluidic gating and rectification have been successfully demonstrated. However, device minimization and throughput scaling remain significant challenges. We report here an innovative and facile realization of hetero-structured Al(2)O(3)/SiO(2) (Si) nanopore array membranes by using pattern transfer of self-organized nanopore structures of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO). Thanks to the opposite surface charge states of Al(2)O(3) (positive) and SiO(2) (negative), the membrane exhibits clear rectification of ion current in electrolyte solutions with very low aspect ratios compared to previous approaches. Our hetero-structured nanopore arrays provide a valuable platform for high throughput applications such as molecular separation, chemical processors and energy conversion.

Hydrophilic, bactericidal nanoheater-enabled reverse osmosis membranes to improve fouling resistance.

PubMed

Ray, Jessica R; Tadepalli, Sirimuvva; Nergiz, Saide Z; Liu, Keng-Ku; You, Le; Tang, Yinjie; Singamaneni, Srikanth; Jun, Young-Shin

2015-06-03

Polyamide (PA) semipermeable membranes typically used for reverse osmosis water treatment processes are prone to fouling, which reduces the amount and quality of water produced. By synergistically coupling the photothermal and bactericidal properties of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets, gold nanostars (AuNS), and hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) on PA reverse osmosis membrane surfaces, we have dramatically improved fouling resistance of these membranes. Batch fouling experiments from three classes of fouling are presented: mineral scaling (CaCO3 and CaSO4), organic fouling (humic acid), and biofouling (Escherichia coli). Systematic analyses and a variety of complementary techniques were used to elucidate fouling resistance mechanisms from each layer of modification on the membrane surface. Both mineral scaling and organic fouling were significantly reduced in PA-GO-AuNS-PEG membranes compared to other membranes. The PA-GO-AuNS-PEG membrane was also effective in killing all near-surface bacteria compared to PA membranes. In the PA-GO-AuNS-PEG membrane, the GO nanosheets act as templates for in situ AuNS growth, which then facilitated localized heating upon irradiation by an 808 nm laser inactivating bacteria on the membrane surface. Furthermore, AuNS in the membrane assisted PEG in preventing mineral scaling on the membrane surface. In flow-through flux and foulant rejection tests, PA-GO-AuNS-PEG membranes performed better than PA membranes in the presence of CaSO4 and humic acid model foulants. Therefore, the newly suggested membrane surface modifications will not only reduce fouling from RO feeds, but can improve overall membrane performance. Our innovative membrane design reported in this study can significantly extend the lifetime and water treatment efficacy of reverse osmosis membranes to alleviate escalating global water shortage from rising energy demands.

40 CFR 264.1085 - Standards: Surface impoundments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the surface impoundment by installing and operating either of the following: (1) A floating membrane... from a surface impoundment using a floating membrane cover shall meet the requirements specified in... floating membrane cover designed to meet the following specifications: (i) The floating membrane cover...

Progress toward an explicit mechanistic model for the light-driven pump, bacteriorhodopsin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lanyi, J. K.

1999-01-01

Recent crystallographic information about the structure of bacteriorhodopsin and some of its photointermediates, together with a large amount of spectroscopic and mutational data, suggest a mechanistic model for how this protein couples light energy to the translocation of protons across the membrane. Now nearing completion, this detailed molecular model will describe the nature of the steric and electrostatic conflicts at the photoisomerized retinal, as well as the means by which it induces proton transfers in the two half-channels leading to the two membrane surfaces, thereby causing unidirectional, uphill transport.

Membrane Mirrors With Bimorph Shape Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Eui-Hyeok

2003-01-01

Deformable mirrors of a proposed type would be equipped with relatively-large-stroke microscopic piezoelectric actuators that would be used to maintain their reflective surfaces in precise shapes. These mirrors would be members of the class of MEMS-DM (for microelectromechanical system deformable mirror) devices, which offer potential for a precise optical control in adaptive-optics applications in such diverse fields as astronomy and vision science. The proposed mirror would be fabricated, in part, by use of a membrane-transfer technique. The actuator design would contain bimorph-type piezoelectric actuators.

How To Functionalize Ceramics by Perfluoroalkylsilanes for Membrane Separation Process? Properties and Application of Hydrophobized Ceramic Membranes.

PubMed

Kujawa, Joanna; Cerneaux, Sophie; Kujawski, Wojciech; Bryjak, Marek; Kujawski, Jan

2016-03-23

The combination of microscopic (atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) and goniometric (static and dynamic measurements) techniques, and surface characterization (surface free energy determination, critical surface tension, liquid entry pressure, hydraulic permeability) was implemented to discuss the influence of perfluoroalkylsilanes structure and grafting time on the physicochemistry of the created hydrophobic surfaces on the titania ceramic membranes of 5 kD and 300 kD. The impact of molecular structure of perfluoroalkylsilanes modifiers (possessing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms in the fluorinated part of the alkyl chain) and the time of the functionalization process in the range of 5 to 35 h was studied. Based on the scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, it was found that the localization of grafting molecules depends on the membrane pore size (5 kD or 300 kD). In the case of 5 kD titania membranes, modifiers are attached mainly on the surface and only partially inside the membrane pores, whereas, for 300 kD membranes, the perfluoroalkylsilanes molecules are present within the whole porous structure of the membranes. The application of 4 various types of PFAS molecules enabled for interesting observations and remarks. It was explained how to obtain ceramic membrane surfaces with controlled material (contact angle, roughness, contact angle hysteresis) and separation properties. Highly hydrophobic surfaces with low values of contact angle hysteresis and low roughness were obtained. These surfaces possessed also low values of critical surface tension, which means that surfaces are highly resistant to wetting. This finding is crucial in membrane applicability in separation processes. The obtained and characterized hydrophobic membranes were subsequently applied in air-gap membrane distillation processes. All membranes were very efficient in MD processes, showing good transport and selective properties (∼99% of NaCl salt rejection). Depending on the membrane pore size and used modifiers, the permeate flux was in the range of 0.5-4.5 kg·m(-2)·h(-1) and 0.3-4.2 kg·m(-2)·h(-1) for 5 kD and 300 kD membranes, respectively.

Surface characterization of dialyzer polymer membranes by imaging ToF-SIMS and quantitative XPS line scans

PubMed Central

Holzweber, Markus; Lippitz, Andreas; Krueger, Katharina; Jankowski, Joachim; Unger, Wolfgang E. S.

2015-01-01

The surfaces of polymeric dialyzer membranes consisting of polysulfone and poly-vinylpyrrolidone were investigated regarding the lateral distribution and quantitative surface composition using time-of-flight secondary-ion-mass-spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Knowledge of the distribution and composition on the outer surface region is of utmost importance for understanding the biocompatibility of such dialyzer membranes. Both flat membranes and hollow fiber membranes were studied. PMID:25711334

Surface zwitterionicalization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes from the entrapped reactive core-shell silica nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zhu, Li-Jing; Zhu, Li-Ping; Zhang, Pei-Bin; Zhu, Bao-Ku; Xu, You-Yi

2016-04-15

We demonstrate the preparation and properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) filtration membranes modified via surface zwitterionicalization mediated by reactive core-shell silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs). The organic/inorganic hybrid SiO2 NPs grafted with poly(methyl meth acrylate)-block-poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) copolymer (PMMA-b-PDMAEMA) shell were prepared by surface-initiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization and then used as a membrane-making additive of PVDF membranes. The PDMAEMA exposed on membrane surface and pore walls were quaternized into zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) using 1,3-propane sultone (1,3-PS) as the quaternization agent. The membrane surface chemistry and morphology were analyzed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The hydrophilicity, permeability and antifouling ability of the investigated membranes were evaluated in detail. It was found that the PSBMA chains brought highly-hydrophilic and strong fouling resistant characteristics to PVDF membranes due to the powerful hydration of zwitterionic surface. The SiO2 cores and PMMA chains in the hybrid NPs play a role of anchors for the linking of PSBMA chains to membrane surface. Compared to the traditional strategies for membrane hydrophilic modification, the developed method in this work combined the advantages of both blending and surface reaction. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acoustic investigation of the aperture dynamics of an elastic membrane closing an overpressurized cylindrical cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sánchez, Claudia; Vidal, Valérie; Melo, Francisco

2015-08-01

We report an experimental study of the acoustic signal produced by the rupture of an elastic membrane that initially closes a cylindrical overpressurized cavity. This configuration has been recently used as an experimental model system for the investigation of the acoustic emission from the bursting of elongated gas bubbles rising in a conduit. Here, we investigate the effect of the membrane rupture dynamics on the acoustic signal produced by the pressure release by changing the initial tension of the membrane. The initial overpressure in the cavity is fixed at a value such that the system remains in the linear acoustic regime. For large initial membrane deformation, the rupture time τ rup is small compared to the wave propagation time in the cavity and the pressure wave inside the conduit can be fully captured by the linear theory. For low membrane tension, a hole is pierced in the membrane but its rupture does not occur. For intermediate deformation, finally, the rupture progresses in two steps: first the membrane opens slowly; then, after reaching a critical size, the rupture accelerates. A transversal wave is excited along the membrane surface. The characteristic signature of each opening dynamics on the acoustic emission is described.

RACK1 interacts with filamin-A to regulate plasma membrane levels of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

PubMed Central

Smith, Laura; Litman, Paul; Kohli, Ekta; Amick, Joseph; Page, Richard C.; Misra, Saurav

2013-01-01

Mutations in cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), a chloride channel in the apical membranes of secretory epithelial cells, underlie the fatal genetic disorder cystic fibrosis. Certain CFTR mutations, including the common mutation ΔF508-CFTR, result in greatly decreased levels of active CFTR at the apical membrane. Direct interactions between CFTR and the cytoskeletal adaptors filamin-A (FlnA) and Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) stabilize the expression and localization of CFTR at the plasma membrane. The scaffold protein receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) also stabilizes CFTR surface expression; however, RACK1 does not interact directly with CFTR and its mechanism of action is unknown. In the present study, we report that RACK1 interacts directly with FlnA in vitro and in a Calu-3 airway epithelial cell line. We mapped the interaction between RACK1 and FlnA to the WD4 and WD6 repeats of RACK1 and to a segment of the large rod domain of FlnA, consisting of immunoglobulin-like repeats 8–15. Disruption of the RACK1-FlnA interaction causes a reduction in CFTR surface levels. Our results suggest that a novel RACK1-FlnA interaction is an important regulator of CFTR surface localization. PMID:23636454

Nanopatterned submicron pores as a shield for nonspecific binding in surface plasmon resonance-based sensing.

PubMed

Raz, Sabina Rebe; Marchesini, Gerardo R; Bremer, Maria G E G; Colpo, Pascal; Garcia, Cesar Pascual; Guidetti, Guido; Norde, Willem; Rossi, Francois

2012-11-21

We present a novel approach to tackle the most common drawback of using surface plasmon resonance for analyte screening in complex biological matrices--the nonspecific binding to the sensor chip surface. By using a perforated membrane supported by a polymeric gel structure at the evanescent wave penetration depth, we have fabricated a non-fouling sieve above the sensing region. The sieve shields the evanescent wave from nonspecific interactions which interfere with SPR sensing by minimizing the fouled area of the polymeric gel and preventing the translocation of large particles, e.g. micelles or aggregates. The nanopatterned macropores were fabricated by means of colloidal lithography and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of a polyethylene oxide-like film on top of a polymeric gel matrix commonly used in surface plasmon resonance analysis. The sieve was characterized using surface plasmon resonance imaging, contact angle, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The performance of the sieve was studied using an immunoassay for detection of antibiotic residues in full fat milk and porcine serum. The non-fouling membrane presented pores in the 92-138 nm range organized in a hexagonal crystal lattice with a clearance of about 5% of the total surface. Functionally, the membrane with the nanopatterned macropores showed significant improvements in immunoassay robustness and sensitivity in untreated complex samples. The utilization of the sensor built-in sieve for measurements in complex matrices offers reduction in pre-analytical sample preparation steps and thus shortens the total analysis time.

Electro-optic properties of organic nanotubes.

PubMed

Stoylov, Stoyl P; Stoilova-McPhie, Svetla

2011-08-10

In this review article the theoretical and experimental possibilities of applying EO-methods for estimation of the physico-chemical properties of the organic nanotubes (ONTs) are studied. The ONTs are highly organized nanostructures of strongly elongated, anysometric, and hollow cylinders with a size range of 1 nm to 10,000 nm, e.g. in aqueous solutions they could behave as colloid (disperse) particles. They have high interaction ability due to their extremely large curved, rolled-up external surfaces (bilayers of membrane walls) and unique properties because of their specific electric charge distribution and dynamics that make possible the functionalization of their surfaces. Thus they could template guestsubstances such as membrane proteins and protein complexes on the exterior surfaces and in the membrane. We performed our investigations for the case of ONT aqueous colloid suspension. Following our earlier proposition of the general expression for the electro-optic (EO) effect we derived equations for the evaluation of the electric properties of ONT particles such as mechanism of electric polarization and identification of their most important electric Dipole Moments (DM), permanent (pDM) and induced (iDMs). Further we recommend ways for the calculation of their magnitude and direction. Also we evaluated some geometrical properties such as length of the ONT particles and their polydispersity. The knowledge that we provided about the ONT properties may enable us to elucidate and predict their biological activity. Templating biological active ligands (such as membrane proteins and protein complexes) on the inner and outer surfaces as well as in the surface membrane creates their potential usefulness as carrier and deliverer of biopharmaceuticals in bio-nanodevices. The theoretical equations were compared with the experimental data for ONTs such as (lipid) LNT, Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) and microtubules (MT). Comparison of EO methods with other methods used till now shows that the EO methods are faster, not invasive and do not alter the studied particles. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Use of Adipose Derived Stem Cells to Treat Large Bone Defects. Addendum

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-07-01

optimal delivery . We have also completed characterization of our segmental defect model, including analysis of vascular ingrowth during defect healing...cells seeded in 1.2% Keltone alginate at a density of 12-15x106cells/ml were loaded on 24-well transwell insert membranes [6]. Once hydrogel discs...process from tissue culture plates and hydrogels does not alter the surface phenotype. Gene expression of surface markers and proteins associated with

Membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor: An unified approach to construct topography and to evaluate interaction energy between two randomly rough surfaces.

PubMed

Cai, Xiang; Shen, Liguo; Zhang, Meijia; Chen, Jianrong; Hong, Huachang; Lin, Hongjun

2017-11-01

Quantitatively evaluating interaction energy between two randomly rough surfaces is the prerequisite to quantitatively understand and control membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). In this study, a new unified approach to construct rough topographies and to quantify interaction energy between a randomly rough particle and a randomly rough membrane was proposed. It was found that, natural rough topographies of both foulants and membrane could be well constructed by a modified two-variable Weierstrass-Mandelbrot (WM) function included in fractal theory. Spatial differential relationships between two constructed surfaces were accordingly established. Thereafter, a new approach combining these relationships, surface element integration (SEI) approach and composite Simpson's rule was deduced to calculate the interaction energy between two randomly rough surfaces in a submerged MBR. The obtained results indicate the profound effects of surface morphology on interaction energy and membrane fouling. This study provided a basic approach to investigate membrane fouling and interface behaviors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Direct observation of bacterial deposition onto clean and organic-fouled polyamide membranes.

PubMed

Subramani, Arun; Huang, Xiaofei; Hoek, Eric M V

2009-08-01

Nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are commonly applied to produce highly purified water from municipal wastewater effluents. In these applications, biofouling limits overall process performance and increases the cost of operation. Initial bacteria adhesion onto a membrane surface is a critical early step in the overall process of membrane biofouling. However, adsorption of effluent organic matter onto the membrane may precede bacterial deposition and change membrane surface properties. Herein we employed direct microscopic observation to elucidate mechanisms governing bacterial cell deposition onto clean and organic-fouled NF and RO membranes. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and alginic acid (AA) were used as models for protein and polysaccharide rich organic matter in secondary wastewater effluents. In all experiments, organic fouling increased membrane hydraulic resistance and salt rejection, in addition to interfacial hydrophilicity and roughness. Even though surface hydrophilicity increased, the rougher surfaces presented by organic-fouled membranes produced nano-scale features that promoted localized bacterial deposition. An extended DLVO analysis of bacterial cells and membrane surface properties suggested that bacterial deposition correlated most strongly with the Lewis acid-base free energy of adhesion and root mean square (RMS) roughness, whereas van der Waals and electrostatic free energies were weakly correlated. This was true for both clean and organic-fouled membranes. Bacterial deposition rates were clearly influenced by an antagonistic interplay between macroscopic surface hydrophilicity and nano-scale surface roughness.

The cost of a large-scale hollow fibre MBR.

PubMed

Verrecht, Bart; Maere, Thomas; Nopens, Ingmar; Brepols, Christoph; Judd, Simon

2010-10-01

A cost sensitivity analysis was carried out for a full-scale hollow fibre membrane bioreactor to quantify the effect of design choices and operational parameters on cost. Different options were subjected to a long term dynamic influent profile and evaluated using ASM1 for effluent quality, aeration requirements and sludge production. The results were used to calculate a net present value (NPV), incorporating both capital expenditure (capex), based on costs obtained from equipment manufacturers and full-scale plants, and operating expenditure (opex), accounting for energy demand, sludge production and chemical cleaning costs. Results show that the amount of contingency built in to cope with changes in feedwater flow has a large impact on NPV. Deviation from a constant daily flow increases NPV as mean plant utilisation decreases. Conversely, adding a buffer tank reduces NPV, since less membrane surface is required when average plant utilisation increases. Membrane cost and lifetime is decisive in determining NPV: an increased membrane replacement interval from 5 to 10 years reduces NPV by 19%. Operation at higher SRT increases the NPV, since the reduced costs for sludge treatment are offset by correspondingly higher aeration costs at higher MLSS levels, though the analysis is very sensitive to sludge treatment costs. A higher sustainable flux demands greater membrane aeration, but the subsequent opex increase is offset by the reduced membrane area and the corresponding lower capex. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physicochemical characterization of artificial nanoerythrosomes derived from erythrocyte ghost membranes.

PubMed

Deák, Róbert; Mihály, Judith; Szigyártó, Imola Cs; Wacha, András; Lelkes, Gábor; Bóta, Attila

2015-11-01

Colloidal stabile nanoerythrosomes with 200 nm average diameter were formed from hemoglobin-free erythrocyte ghost membrane via sonication and membrane extrusion. The incorporation of extra lipid (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, DPPC), added to the sonicated ghosts, caused significant changes in the thermotropic character of the original membranes. As a result of the increased DPPC ratio the chain melting of the hydrated DPPC system and the characteristic small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) of the lipid bilayers appeared. Significant morphological changes were followed by transmission electron microscopy combined with freeze fracture method (FF-TEM). After the ultrasonic treatment the large entities of erythrocyte ghosts transformed into nearly spherical nanoerythrosomes with diameters between 100 and 300 nm and at the same time a great number of 10-30 nm large membrane proteins or protein clusters were dispersed in the aqueous medium. The infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) pointed out, that the sonication did not cause changes in the secondary structures of the membrane proteins under our preparation conditions. About fivefold of extra lipid--compared to the lipid content of the original membrane--caused homogeneous dispersion of nanoerythrosomes however the shape of the vesicles was not uniform. After the addition of about tenfold of DPPC, monoform and monodisperse nanoerythrosomes became typical. The outer surfaces of these roughly spherical objects were frequently polygonal, consisting of a net of pentagons and hexagons. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface dynamics of voltage-gated ion channels.

PubMed

Heine, Martin; Ciuraszkiewicz, Anna; Voigt, Andreas; Heck, Jennifer; Bikbaev, Arthur

2016-07-03

Neurons encode information in fast changes of the membrane potential, and thus electrical membrane properties are critically important for the integration and processing of synaptic inputs by a neuron. These electrical properties are largely determined by ion channels embedded in the membrane. The distribution of most ion channels in the membrane is not spatially uniform: they undergo activity-driven changes in the range of minutes to days. Even in the range of milliseconds, the composition and topology of ion channels are not static but engage in highly dynamic processes including stochastic or activity-dependent transient association of the pore-forming and auxiliary subunits, lateral diffusion, as well as clustering of different channels. In this review we briefly discuss the potential impact of mobile sodium, calcium and potassium ion channels and the functional significance of this for individual neurons and neuronal networks.

Maltose-neopentyl glycol (MNG) amphiphiles for solubilization, stabilization and crystallization of membrane proteins.

PubMed

Chae, Pil Seok; Rasmussen, Søren G F; Rana, Rohini R; Gotfryd, Kamil; Chandra, Richa; Goren, Michael A; Kruse, Andrew C; Nurva, Shailika; Loland, Claus J; Pierre, Yves; Drew, David; Popot, Jean-Luc; Picot, Daniel; Fox, Brian G; Guan, Lan; Gether, Ulrik; Byrne, Bernadette; Kobilka, Brian; Gellman, Samuel H

2010-12-01

The understanding of integral membrane protein (IMP) structure and function is hampered by the difficulty of handling these proteins. Aqueous solubilization, necessary for many types of biophysical analysis, generally requires a detergent to shield the large lipophilic surfaces of native IMPs. Many proteins remain difficult to study owing to a lack of suitable detergents. We introduce a class of amphiphiles, each built around a central quaternary carbon atom derived from neopentyl glycol, with hydrophilic groups derived from maltose. Representatives of this maltose-neopentyl glycol (MNG) amphiphile family show favorable behavior relative to conventional detergents, as manifested in multiple membrane protein systems, leading to enhanced structural stability and successful crystallization. MNG amphiphiles are promising tools for membrane protein science because of the ease with which they may be prepared and the facility with which their structures may be varied.

Surface dynamics of voltage-gated ion channels

PubMed Central

Heine, Martin; Ciuraszkiewicz, Anna; Voigt, Andreas; Heck, Jennifer; Bikbaev, Arthur

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Neurons encode information in fast changes of the membrane potential, and thus electrical membrane properties are critically important for the integration and processing of synaptic inputs by a neuron. These electrical properties are largely determined by ion channels embedded in the membrane. The distribution of most ion channels in the membrane is not spatially uniform: they undergo activity-driven changes in the range of minutes to days. Even in the range of milliseconds, the composition and topology of ion channels are not static but engage in highly dynamic processes including stochastic or activity-dependent transient association of the pore-forming and auxiliary subunits, lateral diffusion, as well as clustering of different channels. In this review we briefly discuss the potential impact of mobile sodium, calcium and potassium ion channels and the functional significance of this for individual neurons and neuronal networks. PMID:26891382

Iodide handling by the thyroid epithelial cell.

PubMed

Nilsson, M

2001-01-01

Iodination of thyroglobulin, the key event in the synthesis of thyroid hormone, is an extracellular process that takes place inside the thyroid follicles at the apical membrane surface that faces the follicular lumen. The supply of iodide involves two steps of TSH-regulated transport, basolateral uptake and apical efflux, that imprint the polarized phenotype of the thyroid cell. Iodide uptake is generated by the sodium/iodide symporter present in the basolateral plasma membrane. A candidate for the apical iodide-permeating mechanism is pendrin, a chloride/iodide transporting protein recently identified in the apical membrane. In physiological conditions, transepithelial iodide transport occurs without intracellular iodination, despite the presence of large amounts of thyroglobulin and thyroperoxidase inside the cells. The reason is that hydrogen peroxide, serving as electron acceptor in iodide-protein binding and normally produced at the apical cell surface, is rapidly degraded by cytosolic glutathione peroxidase once it enters the cells. Iodinated thyroglobulin in the lumen stores not only thyroid hormone but iodine incorporated in iodotyrosine residues as well. After endocytic uptake and degradation of thyroglobulin, intracellular deiodination provides a mechanism for recycling of iodide to participate in the synthesis of new thyroid hormone at the apical cell surface.

Enhanced removal of azo dye using modified PAN nanofibrous membrane Fe complexes with adsorption/visible-driven photocatalysis bifunctional roles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fu; Dong, Yongchun; Kang, Weimin; Cheng, Bowen; Cui, Guixin

2017-05-01

A series of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous membrane Fe complexes as the Fenton heterogeneous catalysts were fabricated through surface modification with different ratio of hydrazine hydrate (HH) and hydroxylamine (HA) and subsequent coordination with Fe3+ ions for the synergistic removal of a typical azo dye, Reactive Red 195 (RR 195) via adsorption and visible-driven photocatalytic oxidation. Effect of molar ratio of HH and HA on surface structure characteristics of the resulting complexes were examined. Their adsorptive or photocatalytic activity was also compared by changing molar ratio of HH and HA. The results indicated that three PAN nanofibrous membrane Fe complexes prepared with simultaneous modification of HA and HH exhibited much higher adsorption and visible photocatalytic activities than the complex modified solely with HA or HH due to their distinctive surface structures containing more active sites. Their adsorption and visible photocatalytic kinetics of RR 195 followed pseudo-second-order model equation. Their high photocatalytic rate constant and large amount of dye adsorption were regarded as the main reasons for better dye removal efficiency and durability in cyclic reuse by means of the synergistic adsorption-photocatalysis process.

Improved PVDF membrane performance by doping extracellular polymeric substances of activated sludge.

PubMed

Guan, Yan-Fang; Huang, Bao-Cheng; Qian, Chen; Wang, Long-Fei; Yu, Han-Qing

2017-04-15

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane has been widely applied in water and wastewater treatment because of its high mechanical strength, thermal stability and chemical resistance. However, the hydrophobic nature of PVDF membrane makes it readily fouled, substantially reducing water flux and overall membrane rejection ability. In this work, an in-situ blending modifier, i.e., extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from activated sludge, was used to enhance the anti-fouling ability of PVDF membrane. Results indicate that the pure water flux of the membrane and its anti-fouling performance were substantially improved by blending 8% EPS into the membrane. By introducing EPS, the membrane hydrophilicity was increased and the cross section morphology was changed when it interacted with polyvinl pyrrolidone, resulting in the formation of large cavities below the finger-like pores. In addition, the fraction of pores with a size of 100-500 nm increased, which was also beneficial to improving membrane performance. Surface thermodynamic calculations indicate the EPS-functionalized membrane had a higher cohesion free energy, implying its good pollutant rejection and anti-fouling ability. This work provides a simple, efficient and cost-effective method to improve membrane performance and also extends the applications of EPS. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Vacuum probe surface sampler

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zahlava, B. A. (Inventor)

1973-01-01

A vacuum probe surface sampler is described for rapidly sampling relatively large surface areas which possess relatively light loading densities of micro-organism, drug particles or the like. A vacuum head with a hollow handle connected to a suitable vacuum source is frictionally attached to a cone assembly terminating in a flared tip adapted to be passed over the surface to be sampled. A fine mesh screen carried by the vacuum head provides support for a membrane filter which collects the microorganisms or other particles. The head assembly is easily removed from the cone assembly without contacting the cone assembly with human hands.

Development of large-surface Nafion-metal composite actuator and its electrochemical characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noh, Taegeun; Tak, Yong Suk; Nam, Jaedo; Jeon, Jaewook; Kim, Hunmo; Choi, Hyoukryeol; Bae, Sang Sik

2001-07-01

Behaviors of nafion-based actuators are significantly affected by interfacial area between electrode and polymer electrolyte. Replication method was utilized to manufacture a large surface-area composite actuator. Etched aluminum foil was used as a template for replication using liquid nafion solution. Measurement of double layer charging and scanning electron microscopy indicated that interfacial area was greatly increased by replication method. Higher surface area induced a better bending performance of ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). In parallel, the effect of cations on IPMC was interpreted with constant current experiment, linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. For univalent cations, ion size is the most influencing parameter on ionic mobility inside membrane. However, ion-ion interaction affects an ionic mobility for divalent cations.

Ceramic membranes: The effects of deposition and drying conditions on membrane morphology and performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webster, Elizabeth T.

Sol-gel methods for fabricating ceramic membranes on porous supports include dip coating, evaporative drying, and sintering. The ceramic membranes of interest in the present research were prepared from aqueous sols of silica, titania, or iron oxide nano-particles which were deposited on porous alumina supports. Physisorption measurements indicate that the diameters of the pores in the resulting membranes are 20 A or smaller. Defect formation during fabrication is particularly problematic for ceramic membranes with pore diameters in the nanometer range. Solutions to these problems would greatly enhance the commercial potential of nano-filtration membranes for gas-phase separations. Cracks are debilitating defects which originate during the drying and firing phases of fabrication. As water evaporates during drying, the sol-gel film is subjected to large capillary forces. Unchecked, these tensile forces result in catastrophic cracking across the membrane. A novel technique called internal deposition can be employed to deposit the sol particles within the pores of the support rather than on its surface. Internal deposition obstructs the propagation of cracks, thereby reducing the impact of crack-type defects. A patent for demonstration of proof of concept of the internal deposition technique has been received. Experimental difficulties associated with the nonuniform morphology of the tubular alumina support hindered further development of the internal deposition protocol. The final phase of the research incorporated a support containing uniform capillaries (Anotec(TM) disks). Two-level factorial experiments were conducted to determine the effects of various deposition and drying conditions (viz., speed and method of deposition, surface charge, humidity, and drying rate) on membrane performance. Membrane performance was characterized in terms of the permeabilities of nitrogen and helium in the resulting membranes. The permeability and pressure data were incorporated in a transport model to characterize the mechanisms of fluid flow and the morphologies of the membranes. Electron microscopy was employed to evaluate membrane coverage and to identify defects in the membranes. The results of the factorial experiments indicate that membrane performance is strongly affected by humidity during deposition and drying. These results underscore the importance of controlling process humidity during fabrication of ceramic membranes.

Aromaticity/Bulkiness of Surface Ligands to Promote the Interaction of Anionic Amphiphilic Gold Nanoparticles with Lipid Bilayers.

PubMed

Gao, Jinhong; Zhang, Ouyang; Ren, Jing; Wu, Chuanliu; Zhao, Yibing

2016-02-16

The presence of large hydrophobic aromatic residues in cell-penetrating peptides or proteins has been demonstrated to be advantageous for their cell penetration. This phenomenon has also been observed when AuNPs were modified with peptides containing aromatic amino acids. However, it is still not clear how the presence of hydrophobic and aromatic groups on the surface of anionic AuNPs affects their interaction with lipid bilayers. Here, we studied the interaction of a range of anionic amphiphilic AuNPs coated by different combinations of hydrophobic and anionic ligands with four different types of synthetic lipid vesicles. Our results demonstrated the important role of the surface aromatic or bulky groups, relative to the hydrocarbon chains, in the interaction of anionic AuNPs with lipid bilayers. Hydrophobic interaction itself arising from the insertion of aromatic/bulky ligands on the surface of AuNPs into lipid bilayers is sufficiently strong to cause overt disruption of lipid vesicles and cell membranes. Moreover, by comparing the results obtained from AuNPs coated with aromatic ligands and cyclohexyl ligands lacking aromaticity respectively, we demonstrated that the bulkiness of the terminal groups in hydrophobic ligands instead of the aromatic character might be more important to the interaction of AuNPs with lipid bilayers. Finally, we further correlated the observation on model liposomes with that on cell membranes, demonstrating that AuNPs that are more disruptive to the more negatively charged liposomes are also substantially more disruptive to cell membranes. In addition, our results revealed that certain cellular membrane domains that are more susceptible to disruption caused by hydrophobic interactions with nanoparticle surfaces might determine the threshold of AuNP-mediated cytotoxicity.

Plasma surface modification of polypropylene track-etched membrane to improve its performance properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kravets, L. I.; Elinson, V. M.; Ibragimov, R. G.; Mitu, B.; Dinescu, G.

2018-02-01

The surface and electrochemical properties of polypropylene track-etched membrane treated by plasma of nitrogen, air and oxygen are studied. The effect of the plasma-forming gas composition on the surface morphology is considered. It has been found that the micro-relief of the membrane surface formed under the gas-discharge etching, changes. Moreover, the effect of the non-polymerizing gas plasma leads to formation of oxygen-containing functional groups, mostly carbonyl and carboxyl. It is shown that due to the formation of polar groups on the surface and its higher roughness, the wettability of the plasma-modified membranes improves. In addition, the presence of polar groups on the membrane surface layer modifies its electrochemical properties so that conductivity of plasma-treated membranes increase.

Biofouling behavior and performance of forward osmosis membranes with bioinspired surface modification in osmotic membrane bioreactor.

PubMed

Li, Fang; Cheng, Qianxun; Tian, Qing; Yang, Bo; Chen, Qianyuan

2016-07-01

Forward osmosis (FO) has received considerable interest for water and energy related applications in recent years. Biofouling behavior and performance of cellulose triacetate (CTA) forward osmosis membranes with bioinspired surface modification via polydopamine (PD) coating and poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafting (PD-g-PEG) in a submerged osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR) were investigated in this work. The modified membranes exhibited lower flux decline than the pristine one in OMBR, confirming that the bioinspired surface modification improved the antifouling ability of the CTA FO membrane. The result showed that the decline of membrane flux related to the increase of the salinity and MLSS concentration of the mixed liquid. It was concluded that the antifouling ability of modified membranes ascribed to the change of surface morphology in addition to the improvement of membrane hydrophilicity. The bioinspired surface modifications might improve the anti-adhesion for the biopolymers and biocake. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of polymer surface modification on polymer-protein interaction via interfacial polymerization and hydrophilic polymer grafting

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Protein membrane separation is prone to fouling on the membrane surface resulting from protein adsorption onto the surface. Surface modification of synthetic membranes is one way to reduce fouling. We investigated surface modification of polyethersulfone (PES) as a way of improving hydrophilicity ...

Surface modification of poly(vinylidene fluoride) hollow fibre membranes for biogas purification in a gas-liquid membrane contactor system.

PubMed

Jin, Pengrui; Huang, Chuan; Li, Jiaxiang; Shen, Yadong; Wang, Liao

2017-11-01

The wetting of hollow fibre membranes decreases the performance of the liquid-gas membrane contactor for CO 2 capture in biogas upgrading. To solve this problem, in this work, a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hollow fibre membrane for a liquid-gas membrane contactor was coated with a superhydrophobic layer composed of a combination of hydrophobic SiO 2 nanoparticles and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by the method of spray deposition. A rough layer of SiO 2 deposited on the PVDF membrane resulted in an enhanced surface hydrophobicity. The surface structure of the pristine PVDF significantly affected the homogeneity of the generated SiO 2 layer. A uniform surface coating on the PVDF upper layer resulted from the presence of micrometre and nanometre-sized roughness on the surface of the PVDF membrane, which was achieved with a SiO 2 concentration of 4.44 mg ml -1 (0.2 g/45 ml) in the coating solution. As a result, the water contact angle of the modified surface was recorded as 155 ± 3°, which is higher than that of the pristine surface. The high contact angle is advantageous for reducing the wetting of the membrane. Additional mass transfer resistance was introduced by the superhydrophobic layer. In addition, continuous CO 2 absorption tests were carried out in original and modified PVDF hollow fibre membrane contactors, using monoethanolamine (MEA) solution as the absorbent. A long-term stability test revealed that the modified PVDF hollow fibre membrane contactor was able to outperform the original membrane contactor and demonstrated outstanding long-term stability, suggesting that spray deposition is a promising approach to obtain superhydrophobic PVDF membranes for liquid-gas membrane absorption.

Surface modification of poly(vinylidene fluoride) hollow fibre membranes for biogas purification in a gas–liquid membrane contactor system

PubMed Central

Huang, Chuan; Li, Jiaxiang; Shen, Yadong; Wang, Liao

2017-01-01

The wetting of hollow fibre membranes decreases the performance of the liquid–gas membrane contactor for CO2 capture in biogas upgrading. To solve this problem, in this work, a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hollow fibre membrane for a liquid–gas membrane contactor was coated with a superhydrophobic layer composed of a combination of hydrophobic SiO2 nanoparticles and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by the method of spray deposition. A rough layer of SiO2 deposited on the PVDF membrane resulted in an enhanced surface hydrophobicity. The surface structure of the pristine PVDF significantly affected the homogeneity of the generated SiO2 layer. A uniform surface coating on the PVDF upper layer resulted from the presence of micrometre and nanometre-sized roughness on the surface of the PVDF membrane, which was achieved with a SiO2 concentration of 4.44 mg ml−1 (0.2 g/45 ml) in the coating solution. As a result, the water contact angle of the modified surface was recorded as 155 ± 3°, which is higher than that of the pristine surface. The high contact angle is advantageous for reducing the wetting of the membrane. Additional mass transfer resistance was introduced by the superhydrophobic layer. In addition, continuous CO2 absorption tests were carried out in original and modified PVDF hollow fibre membrane contactors, using monoethanolamine (MEA) solution as the absorbent. A long-term stability test revealed that the modified PVDF hollow fibre membrane contactor was able to outperform the original membrane contactor and demonstrated outstanding long-term stability, suggesting that spray deposition is a promising approach to obtain superhydrophobic PVDF membranes for liquid–gas membrane absorption. PMID:29291117

IMPROVING THE QUALITY, AVAILABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES THROUGH ANTIFOULING AND ANTISCALING DESALINATION MEMBRANES

EPA Science Inventory

Surface modification with the selected polymers is expected to reduce the fouling and scaling propensity of desalination membranes by strongly binding water at the membrane surface. Foulants will interact with this bound water layer and not with the membrane surface itself....

Regulation of surface expression of TRPV2 channels in the retinal pigment epithelium.

PubMed

Reichhart, Nadine; Keckeis, Susanne; Fried, Frederik; Fels, Gabriele; Strauss, Olaf

2015-06-01

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interacts closely with the photoreceptors in fulfilling tasks of visual function. Since an understanding of the RPE function is essential for understanding the patho-mechanisms involved in vision loss, we explored the regulation of the vanilloid receptor subtype transient receptor potential TRPV2 channels that trigger insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-induced vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) secretion. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess TRPV2 expression in retinal cross-sections or ARPE-19 cells, and surface expression of TRPV2 was quantified using confocal microscopy. Membrane currents of ARPE-19 cells were recorded using a whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. TRPV2 expression was detected in the RPE of the mouse retina as well as in ARPE-19 cells. Increasing the temperature to 45 °C activated membrane conductance sensitive to SKF-96365 and ruthenium red in 60 % of cells. Preincubation with either cannabidiol (CBD) or IGF-1 led to a three- or fourfold increase in current density, respectively, in all cells, which was blocked by SKF-96365. In contrast to IGF-1, CBD stimulation of membrane conductance was further increased by heat. TRPV2 surface expression was increased by both IGF-1 and CBD, with the increase by CBD twice as large as that by IGF-1. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 abolished the effects on membrane conductance and surface expression. Both CBD and IGF-1 enhance TRPV2 channel activity by specific proportions of both channel activation and PI 3-kinase-dependent surface expression: IGF-1 predominantly increases ion channel activity, whereas CBD is more active in increasing TRPV2 surface expression. Thus, differential regulation of TRPV2 surface expression is an important mechanism for modulating the responsiveness of the RPE to growth factors.

Fabrication of an Absorber-Coupled MKID Detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Ari; Hsieh, Wen-Ting; Moseley, Samuel; Stevenson, Thomas; U-Yen, Kongpop; Wollack, Edward

2012-01-01

Absorber-coupled microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) arrays were developed for submillimeter and far-infrared astronomy. These sensors comprise arrays of lambda/2 stepped microwave impedance resonators patterned on a 1.5-mm-thick silicon membrane, which is optimized for optical coupling. The detector elements are supported on a 380-mm-thick micro-machined silicon wafer. The resonators consist of parallel plate aluminum transmission lines coupled to low-impedance Nb microstrip traces of variable length, which set the resonant frequency of each resonator. This allows for multiplexed microwave readout and, consequently, good spatial discrimination between pixels in the array. The transmission lines simultaneously act to absorb optical power and employ an appropriate surface impedance and effective filling fraction. The fabrication techniques demonstrate high-fabrication yield of MKID arrays on large, single-crystal membranes and sub-micron front-to-back alignment of the micro strip circuit. An MKID is a detector that operates upon the principle that a superconducting material s kinetic inductance and surface resistance will change in response to being exposed to radiation with a power density sufficient to break its Cooper pairs. When integrated as part of a resonant circuit, the change in surface impedance will result in a shift in its resonance frequency and a decrease of its quality factor. In this approach, incident power creates quasiparticles inside a superconducting resonator, which is configured to match the impedance of free space in order to absorb the radiation being detected. For this reason MKIDs are attractive for use in large-format focal plane arrays, because they are easily multiplexed in the frequency domain and their fabrication is straightforward. The fabrication process can be summarized in seven steps: (1) Alignment marks are lithographically patterned and etched all the way through a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer, which consists of a thin silicon membrane bonded to a thick silicon handle wafer. (2) The metal microwave circuitry on the front of the membrane is patterned and etched. (3) The wafer is then temporarily bonded with wafer wax to a Pyrex wafer, with the SOI side abutting the Pyrex. (4) The silicon handle component of the SOI wafer is subsequently etched away so as to expose the membrane backside. (5) The wafer is flipped over, and metal microwave circuitry is patterned and etched on the membrane backside. Furthermore, cuts in the membrane are made so as to define the individual detector array chips. (6) Silicon frames are micromachined and glued to the silicon membrane. (7) The membranes, which are now attached to the frames, are released from the Pyrex wafer via dissolution of the wafer wax in acetone.

Topography of the Dictyostelium discoideum plasma membrane: analysis of membrane asymmetry and intermolecular disulfide bonds.

PubMed

Shiozawa, J A; Jelenska, M M; Jacobson, B S

1987-07-28

Through the application of a unique method for isolating plasma membranes, it was possible to specifically iodinate cytoplasm-exposed plasma membrane proteins in vegetative cells of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. The original procedure [Chaney, L. K., & Jacobson, B. S. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 10062] which involved coating cells with colloidal silica has been modified to yield a more pure preparation. The presence of the continuous and dense silica pellicle on the outside surface of the isolated plasma membrane permitted the specific labeling of cytoplasm-exposed membrane proteins. Lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination was employed to label cell-surface and cytoplasm-exposed membrane proteins. The isolated and radioiodinated membranes were then compared and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cell-surface and cytoplasmic face labeling patterns were distinct. A total of 65 proteins were found to be accessible to at least one surface of the membrane. Sixteen intermolecular disulfide bond complexes were observed in the plasma membrane of Dictyostelium; most of these complexes involved glycoproteins and, hence, were exposed to the cell surface.

Embryonic integument and "molts" in Manduca sexta (Insecta, Lepidoptera).

PubMed

Ziese, Stefanie; Dorn, August

2003-02-01

In Manduca sexta the germ band is formed 12 h post-oviposition (p.o.) (=10% development completed) and is located above the yolk at the egg surface. The cells show a polar organization. They are engaged in the uptake and degradation of yolk globules, pinched off from the yolk cells. This process can be observed in the integumental cells during the first growth phase of the embryo that lasts until "katatrepsis," an embryonic movement that takes place at 40% development completed. At 37% development completed, the ectoderm deposits a thin membrane at its apical surface, the first embryonic membrane, which detaches immediately before katatrepsis. The second period of embryonic growth--from katatrepsis to 84 h p.o. (70% development completed)--starts with the deposition of a second embryonic membrane that is somewhat thicker than the first one and shows a trilaminar, cuticulin-like structure. Whereas the apical cell surface is largely smooth during the deposition of the first embryonic membrane, it forms microvilli during deposition of the second one. At the same time, uptake of formed yolk material ceases and the epidermal cells now contain clusters of mitochondria below the apical surface. Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) increases in the perinuclear region. The second embryonic membrane detaches about 63 h p.o. At 69 h p.o., a new generation of microvilli forms and islands of a typical cuticulin layer indicate the onset of the deposition of the larval cuticle. The third growth phase is characterized by a steady increase in the embryo length, the deposition of the larval procuticle, and by cuticular tanning at about 100 h p.o. Beginning at that stage, electron-lucent vesicles aggregate below the epidermal surface and are apparently released below the larval cuticle. Manduca sexta is the first holometabolous insect in which the deposition of embryonic membranes and cuticles has been examined by electron microscopy. In correspondence with hemimetabolous insects, the embryo of M. sexta secretes three covers at approximately the same developmental stage. A marked difference: the second embryonic cover, which in Hemimetabola clearly exhibits a cuticular organization, has instead a membranous, cuticulin-like structure. We see the difference as the result of an evolutionary reductional process promoted by the redundancy of embryonic covers in the egg shell. Embryonic "molts" also occur in noninsect arthropods; their phylogenetical aspects are discussed. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Zwitterionic sulfobetaine-grafted poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane with highly effective blood compatibility via atmospheric plasma-induced surface copolymerization.

PubMed

Chang, Yung; Chang, Wan-Ju; Shih, Yu-Ju; Wei, Ta-Chin; Hsiue, Ging-Ho

2011-04-01

Development of nonfouling membranes to prevent nonspecific protein adsorption and platelet adhesion is critical for many biomedical applications. It is always a challenge to control the surface graft copolymerization of a highly polar monomer from the highly hydrophobic surface of a fluoropolymer membrane. In this work, the blood compatibility of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes with surface-grafted electrically neutral zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA), from atmospheric plasma-induced surface copolymerization, was studied. The effect of surface composition and graft morphology, electrical neutrality, hydrophilicity and hydration capability on blood compatibility of the membranes were determined. Blood compatibility of the zwitterionic PVDF membranes was systematically evaluated by plasma protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, plasma-clotting time, and blood cell hemolysis. It was found that the nonfouling nature and hydration capability of grafted PSBMA polymers can be effectively controlled by regulating the grafting coverage and charge balance of the PSBMA layer on the PVDF membrane surface. Even a slight charge bias in the grafted zwitterionic PSBMA layer can induce electrostatic interactions between proteins and the membrane surfaces, leading to surface protein adsorption, platelet activation, plasma clotting and blood cell hemolysis. Thus, the optimized PSBMA surface graft layer in overall charge neutrality has a high hydration capability and the best antifouling, anticoagulant, and antihemolytic activities when comes into contact with human blood. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Improved antifouling potential of polyether sulfone polymeric membrane containing silver nanoparticles: self-cleaning membranes.

PubMed

Rana, Sidra; Nazar, Umair; Ali, Jafar; Ali, Qurat Ul Ain; Ahmad, Nasir M; Sarwar, Fiza; Waseem, Hassan; Jamil, Syed Umair Ullah

2018-06-01

A new strategy to enhance the antifouling potential of polyether sulfone (PES) membrane is presented. Chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used to prepare a mixed-matrix PES membrane by the phase inversion technique. Primarily, AgNPs synthesis was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance at 410-430 nm using UV-Visible spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that AgNPs were crystalline with a diameter of 21 ± 2 nm. Furthermore, PES membranes were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to confirm the incorporation of AgNPs in membranes. Hydrophilicity of the membranes was enhanced, whereas roughness, mechanical strength and biofouling were relatively reduced after embedding the AgNPs. Antibacterial potential of AgNPs was evaluated for E. coli in the disc diffusion and colony-forming unit (CFU) count method. All of the membranes were assessed for antifouling activity by filtering a control dilution (10 6  CFU/ml) of E. coli and by counting CFU. Anti-biofouling activity of the membrane was observed with different concentrations of AgNPs. Maximum reduction (66%) was observed in membrane containing 1.5% of AgNPs. The addition of antibiotic ceftriaxone enhanced the antibacterial effect of AgNPs in PES membranes. Our practicable antifouling strategy may be applied to other polymeric membranes which may pave the new way to achieve sustainable and self-cleaning membrane reactors on large scale.

Fabrication of high flux and antifouling mixed matrix fumarate-alumoxane/PAN membranes via electrospinning for application in membrane bioreactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moradi, Golshan; Zinadini, Sirus; Rajabi, Laleh; Dadari, Soheil

2018-01-01

The nanofibrous Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes embedded with fumarate-alumoxane (Fum-A) nanoparticles were prepared via electrospinning technique as high flux and antifouling membranes for membrane bioreactor (MBR) applications. The effect of Fum-A nanoparticles on membrane morphology, surface hydrophilicity, pure water flux, effluent turbidity and the antifouling property was investigated. Fum-A is a carboxylate-alumoxane nanoparticle covered by extra hydroxyl and carboxylate groups on its surface. By embedding Fum-A nanoparticles into the spinning solution, the surface hydrophilicity and pure water flux of the resulted membranes were improved. The smooth surface of fibers at the low amount of nanoparticles and the agglomeration of nanoparticles at their high concentration were shown in SEM images of the membranes surface. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the prepared Fum-A/PAN membrane confirmed the presence of carboxylate and hydroxyl functional groups of Fum-A nanoparticles on the surface of the Fum-A nanoparticles containing membrane. The results obtained from the filtration of activated sludge suspension revealed that by addition of a low amount of Fum-A nanoparticles, the irreversible fouling was significantly decreased due to the higher hydrophilicity. The Fum-A/PAN membranes showed superior permeate flux and antifouling properties compared to bare electrospun PAN membrane. Finally, 2 wt.% Fum-A/PAN membrane exhibited the highest FRR of 96% and the lowest irreversible fouling of 4% with excellent durability of antifouling property during twenty repeated activated sludge filtrations.

Involvement of vesicle coat material in casein secretion and surface regeneration

PubMed Central

1976-01-01

The ultrastructure of the apical zone of lactating rat mammary epithelial cells was studied with emphasis on vesicle coat structures. Typical 40-60 nm ID "coated vesicles" were abundant, frequently associated with the internal filamentous plasma membrane coat or in direct continuity with secretory vesicles (SV) or plasma membrane proper. Bristle coats partially or totally covered membranes of secretory vesicles identified by their casein micelle content. This coat survived SV isolation. Exocytotic fusion of SV membranes and release of the casein micelles was observed. Frequently, regularly arranged bristle coat structures were identified in those regions of the plasma membrane that were involved in exocytotic processes. Both coated and uncoated surfaces of the casein-containing vesicles, as well as typical "coated vesicles", were frequently associated with microtubules and/or microfilaments. We suggest that coat materials of vesicles are related or identical to components of the internal coat of the surface membrane and that new plasma membrane and associated internal coat is produced concomitantly by fusion and integration of bristle coat moieties. Postexocytotic association of secreted casein micelles with the cell surface, mediated by finely filamentous extensions, provided a marker for the integrated vesicle membrane. An arrangement of SV with the inner surface of the plasma membrane is described which is characterized by regularly spaced, heabily stained membrane to membrane cross-bridges (pre-exocytotic attachment plaques). Such membrane-interconnecting elements may represent a form of coat structure important to recognition and interaction of membrane surfaces. PMID:1254641

Thermodynamic assessment of adsorptive fouling with the membranes modified via layer-by-layer self-assembly technique.

PubMed

Shen, Liguo; Cui, Xia; Yu, Genying; Li, Fengquan; Li, Liang; Feng, Shushu; Lin, Hongjun; Chen, Jianrong

2017-05-15

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membrane was coated by dipping the membrane alternatingly in solutions of the polyelectrolytes (poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) and polystyrenesulfonate (PSS)) via layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique to improve the membrane antifouling ability. Filtration experiments showed that, sludge cake layer on the coated membrane could be more easily washed off, and moreover, the remained flux ratio (RFR) of the coated membrane was obviously improved as compared with the control membrane. Characterization of the membranes showed that a polyelectrolyte layer was successfully coated on the membrane surfaces, and the hydrophilicity, surface charge and surface morphology of the coated membrane were changed. Based on the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) approaches, quantification of interfacial interactions between foulants and membranes in three different scenarios was achieved. It was revealed that there existed a repulsive energy barrier when a particle foulant adhered to membrane surface, and the enhanced electrostatic double layer (EL) interaction and energy barrier should be responsible for the improved antifouling ability of the coated membrane. This study provided a combined solution to membrane modification and interaction energy evaluation related with membrane fouling simultaneously. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Composite Membrane with Underwater-Oleophobic Surface for Anti-Oil-Fouling Membrane Distillation.

PubMed

Wang, Zhangxin; Hou, Deyin; Lin, Shihong

2016-04-05

In this study, we fabricated a composite membrane for membrane distillation (MD) by modifying a commercial hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane with a nanocomposite coating comprising silica nanoparticles, chitosan hydrogel and fluoro-polymer. The composite membrane exhibits asymmetric wettability, with the modified surface being in-air hydrophilic and underwater oleophobic, and the unmodified surface remaining hydrophobic. By comparing the performance of the composite membrane and the pristine PVDF membrane in direct contact MD experiments using a saline emulsion with 1000 ppm crude oil (in water), we showed that the fabricated composite membrane was significantly more resistant to oil fouling compared to the pristine hydrophobic PVDF membrane. Force spectroscopy was conducted for the interaction between an oil droplet and the membrane surface using a force tensiometer. The difference between the composite membrane and the pristine PVDF membrane in their interaction with an oil droplet served to explain the difference in the fouling propensities between these two membranes observed in MD experiments. The results from this study suggest that underwater oleophobic coating can effectively mitigate oil fouling in MD operations, and that the fabricated composite membrane with asymmetric wettability can enable MD to desalinate hypersaline wastewater with high concentrations of hydrophobic contaminants.

Quantifying immunogold labelling patterns of cellular compartments when they comprise mixtures of membranes (surface-occupying) and organelles (volume-occupying).

PubMed

Mayhew, Terry M; Lucocq, John M

2008-03-01

In quantitative immunoelectron microscopy, subcellular compartments that are preferentially labelled with colloidal gold particles can be identified by estimating labelling densities (LDs) and relative labelling indices (RLIs). Hitherto, this approach has been limited to compartments which are either surface occupying (membranes) or volume occupying (organelles) but not a mixture of both (membranes and organelles). However, some antigens are known to translocate between membrane and organelle compartments and the problem then arises of expressing gold particle LDs in a consistent manner (e.g., as number per compartment profile area). Here, we present one possible solution to tackle this problem. With this method, each membrane is treated as a volume-occupying compartment and this is achieved by creating an acceptance zone at a fixed distance on each side of membrane images. Gold signal intensity is then expressed as an LD within the membrane profile area so created and this LD can be compared to LDs found in volume-occupying compartments. Acceptance zone width is determined largely by the expected dispersion of gold labelling. In some cases, the zone can be applied to all visible membrane images but there is a potential problem when image loss occurs due to the fact that membranes are not cut orthogonal to their surface but are tilted within the section. The solution presented here is to select a subset of clear images representing orthogonally sectioned membranes (so-called local vertical windows, LVWs). The fraction of membrane images forming LVWs can be estimated in two ways: goniometrically (by determining the angle at which images become unclear) or stereologically (by counting intersections with test lines). The fraction obtained by either method can then be used to calculate a factor correcting for membrane image loss. In turn, this factor is used to estimate the total gold labelling associated with the acceptance zone of the entire (volume-occupying) membrane. However calculated, the LDs over the chosen (membrane and organelle) compartments are used to obtain observed and expected gold particle counts. The observed distribution is determined simply by counting gold particles associated with each compartment. Next, an expected distribution is created by randomly superimposing test points and counting those hitting each compartment. LDs of the chosen compartments are used to calculate RLI and chi-squared values and these serve to identify those compartments in which there is preferential labelling. The methods are illustrated by synthetic and real data.

Functional and surface-active membranes from poly(vinylidene fluoride)-graft-poly(acrylic acid) prepared via RAFT-mediated graft copolymerization.

PubMed

Ying, L; Yu, W H; Kang, E T; Neoh, K G

2004-07-06

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with "living" poly (acrylic acid) (PAAc) side chains (PVDF-g-PAAc) was prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AAc) with the ozone-pretreated PVDF. The chemical composition and structure of the copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The copolymer could be readily cast into pH-sensitive microfiltration (MF) membranes with enriched living PAAc graft chains on the surface (including the pore surfaces) by phase inversion in an aqueous medium. The surface composition of the membranes was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphology of the membranes was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The pore size distribution of the membranes was found to be much more uniform than that of the corresponding membranes cast from PVDF-g-PAAc prepared by the "conventional" free-radical graft copolymerization process. Most important of all, the MF membranes with surface-tethered PAAc macro chain transfer agents, or the living membrane surfaces, could be further functionalized via surface-initiated block copolymerization with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) to obtain the PVDF-g-PAAc-b-PNIPAAM MF membranes, which exhibited both pH- and temperature-dependent permeability to aqueous media.

MAL facilitates the incorporation of exocytic uroplakin-delivering vesicles into the apical membrane of urothelial umbrella cells

PubMed Central

Zhou, Ge; Liang, Feng-Xia; Romih, Rok; Wang, Zefang; Liao, Yi; Ghiso, Jorge; Luque-Garcia, Jose L.; Neubert, Thomas A.; Kreibich, Gert; Alonso, Miguel A.; Schaeren-Wiemers, Nicole; Sun, Tung-Tien

2012-01-01

The apical surface of mammalian bladder urothelium is covered by large (500–1000 nm) two-dimensional (2D) crystals of hexagonally packed 16-nm uroplakin particles (urothelial plaques), which play a role in permeability barrier function and uropathogenic bacterial binding. How the uroplakin proteins are delivered to the luminal surface is unknown. We show here that myelin-and-lymphocyte protein (MAL), a 17-kDa tetraspan protein suggested to be important for the apical sorting of membrane proteins, is coexpressed with uroplakins in differentiated urothelial cell layers. MAL depletion in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells did not affect, however, the apical sorting of uroplakins, but it decreased the rate by which uroplakins were inserted into the apical surface. Moreover, MAL knockout in vivo led to the accumulation of fusiform vesicles in mouse urothelial superficial umbrella cells, whereas MAL transgenic overexpression in vivo led to enhanced exocytosis and compensatory endocytosis, resulting in the accumulation of the uroplakin-degrading multivesicular bodies. Finally, although MAL and uroplakins cofloat in detergent-resistant raft fractions, they are associated with distinct plaque and hinge membrane subdomains, respectively. These data suggest a model in which 1) MAL does not play a role in the apical sorting of uroplakins; 2) the propensity of uroplakins to polymerize forming 16-nm particles and later large 2D crystals that behave as detergent-resistant (giant) rafts may drive their apical targeting; 3) the exclusion of MAL from the expanding 2D crystals of uroplakins explains the selective association of MAL with the hinge areas in the uroplakin-delivering fusiform vesicles, as well as at the apical surface; and 4) the hinge-associated MAL may play a role in facilitating the incorporation of the exocytic uroplakin vesicles into the corresponding hinge areas of the urothelial apical surface. PMID:22323295

Synthetic Design of Polysulfone Membranes: Morphological Effect on Property and Performance in Flow Batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gindt, Brandon

This dissertation outlines a novel path towards improved understanding and function of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for redox flow batteries, a large-scale battery storage device. This research uses synthetic methods and nanotechnology through two different approaches to prepare tailored polymer membranes: 1) Ion exchange membranes with enhanced chemical structures to promote membrane morphology on the nano-scale were prepared. Specifically, functional polysulfones (PSUs) were synthesized from different pre-sulfonated monomers. These PSUs have controlled placement and content of unique sulfonic acid moieties. PEMs were fabricated and characterized. The new PEMs showed desirable physical properties and performance in a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) cell. 2) Nanoporous PSU membranes were fabricated via post-hydrolysis of polylactide (PLA) from PLA-PSU-PLA triblock copolymer membranes. The controlled morphology and pore size of the resulting nanoporous membranes were evaluated by different microscopy and scattering techniques to understand structure-property relationships. Further, the resulting nanopore surface was chemically modified with sulfonic acid moieties. Membranes were analyzed and evaluated as separators for a VRFB. The chemically modified nanoporous PEMs exhibited unique behavior with respect to their ion conductivity when exposed to solutions of increasing acid concentration. In addition, the hierarchical micro-nanoporous membranes developed further showed promising structure and properties.

Hierarchical Composite Membranes with Robust Omniphobic Surface Using Layer-By-Layer Assembly Technique.

PubMed

Woo, Yun Chul; Kim, Youngjin; Yao, Minwei; Tijing, Leonard D; Choi, June-Seok; Lee, Sangho; Kim, Seung-Hyun; Shon, Ho Kyong

2018-02-20

In this study, composite membranes were fabricated via layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of negatively charged silica aerogel (SiA) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (FTCS) on a polyvinylidene fluoride phase inversion membrane and interconnecting them with positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) via electrostatic interaction. The results showed that the PDDA-SiA-FTCS coated membrane had significantly enhanced the membrane structure and properties. New trifluoromethyl and tetrafluoroethylene bonds appeared at the surface of the coated membrane, which led to lower surface free energy of the composite membrane. Additionally, the LBL membrane showed increased surface roughness. The improved structure and property gave the LBL membrane an omniphobic property, as indicated by its good wetting resistance. The membrane performed a stable air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) flux of 11.22 L/m 2 h with very high salt rejection using reverse osmosis brine from coal seam gas produced water as feed with the addition of up to 0.5 mM SDS solution. This performance was much better compared to those of the neat membrane. The present study suggests that the enhanced membrane properties with good omniphobicity via LBL assembly make the porous membranes suitable for long-term AGMD operation with stable permeation flux when treating challenging saline wastewater containing low surface tension organic contaminants.

Effect of fluorine substitution on the interaction of lipophilic ions with the plasma membrane of mammalian cells.

PubMed Central

Kürschner, M; Nielsen, K; von Langen, J R; Schenk, W A; Zimmermann, U; Sukhorukov, V L

2000-01-01

The effects of the anionic tungsten carbonyl complex [W(CO)(5)SC(6)H(5)](-) and its fluorinated analog [W(CO)(5)SC(6)F(5)](-) on the electrical properties of the plasma membrane of mouse myeloma cells were studied by the single-cell electrorotation technique. At micromolar concentrations, both compounds gave rise to an additional antifield peak in the rotational spectra of cells, indicating that the plasma membrane displayed a strong dielectric dispersion. This means that both tungsten derivatives act as lipophilic ions that are able to introduce large amounts of mobile charges into the plasma membrane. The analysis of the rotational spectra allowed the evaluation not only of the passive electric properties of the plasma membrane and cytoplasm, but also of the ion transport parameters, such as the surface concentration, partition coefficient, and translocation rate constant of the lipophilic anions dissolved in the plasma membrane. Comparison of the membrane transport parameters for the two anions showed that the fluorine-substituted analog was more lipophilic, but its translocation across the plasma membrane was slower by at least one order of magnitude than that of the parent hydrogenated anion. PMID:10969010

Performance and Mechanisms of Ultrafiltration Membrane Fouling Mitigation by Coupling Coagulation and Applied Electric Field in a Novel Electrocoagulation Membrane Reactor.

PubMed

Sun, Jingqiu; Hu, Chengzhi; Tong, Tiezheng; Zhao, Kai; Qu, Jiuhui; Liu, Huijuan; Elimelech, Menachem

2017-08-01

A novel electrocoagulation membrane reactor (ECMR) was developed, in which ultrafiltration (UF) membrane modules are placed between electrodes to improve effluent water quality and reduce membrane fouling. Experiments with feedwater containing clays (kaolinite) and natural organic matter (humic acid) revealed that the combined effect of coagulation and electric field mitigated membrane fouling in the ECMR, resulting in higher water flux than the conventional combination of electrocoagulation and UF in separate units (EC-UF). Higher current densities and weakly acidic pH in the EMCR favored faster generation of large flocs and effectively reduced membrane pore blocking. The hydraulic resistance of the formed cake layers on the membrane surface in ECMR was reduced due to an increase in cake layer porosity and polarity, induced by both coagulation and the applied electric field. The formation of a polarized cake layer was controlled by the applied current density and voltage, with cake layers formed under higher electric field strengths showing higher porosity and hydrophilicity. Compared to EC-UF, ECMR has a smaller footprint and could achieve significant energy savings due to improved fouling resistance and a more compact reactor design.

Disturbed vesicular trafficking of membrane proteins in prion disease.

PubMed

Uchiyama, Keiji; Miyata, Hironori; Sakaguchi, Suehiro

2013-01-01

The pathogenic mechanism of prion diseases remains unknown. We recently reported that prion infection disturbs post-Golgi trafficking of certain types of membrane proteins to the cell surface, resulting in reduced surface expression of membrane proteins and abrogating the signal from the proteins. The surface expression of the membrane proteins was reduced in the brains of mice inoculated with prions, well before abnormal symptoms became evident. Prions or pathogenic prion proteins were mainly detected in endosomal compartments, being particularly abundant in recycling endosomes. Some newly synthesized membrane proteins are delivered to the surface from the Golgi apparatus through recycling endosomes, and some endocytosed membrane proteins are delivered back to the surface through recycling endosomes. These results suggest that prions might cause neuronal dysfunctions and cell loss by disturbing post-Golgi trafficking of membrane proteins via accumulation in recycling endosomes. Interestingly, it was recently shown that delivery of a calcium channel protein to the cell surface was impaired and its function was abrogated in a mouse model of hereditary prion disease. Taken together, these results suggest that impaired delivery of membrane proteins to the cell surface is a common pathogenic event in acquired and hereditary prion diseases.

Cholesterol Modulates CFTR Confinement in the Plasma Membrane of Primary Epithelial Cells

PubMed Central

Abu-Arish, Asmahan; Pandzic, Elvis; Goepp, Julie; Matthes, Elizabeth; Hanrahan, John W.; Wiseman, Paul W.

2015-01-01

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a plasma-membrane anion channel that, when mutated, causes the disease cystic fibrosis. Although CFTR has been detected in a detergent-resistant membrane fraction prepared from airway epithelial cells, suggesting that it may partition into cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains (lipid rafts), its compartmentalization has not been demonstrated in intact cells and the influence of microdomains on CFTR lateral mobility is unknown. We used live-cell imaging, spatial image correlation spectroscopy, and k-space image correlation spectroscopy to examine the aggregation state of CFTR and its dynamics both within and outside microdomains in the plasma membrane of primary human bronchial epithelial cells. These studies were also performed during treatments that augment or deplete membrane cholesterol. We found two populations of CFTR molecules that were distinguishable based on their dynamics at the cell surface. One population showed confinement and had slow dynamics that were highly cholesterol dependent. The other, more abundant population was less confined and diffused more rapidly. Treatments that deplete the membrane of cholesterol caused the confined fraction and average number of CFTR molecules per cluster to decrease. Elevating cholesterol had the opposite effect, increasing channel aggregation and the fraction of channels displaying confinement, consistent with CFTR recruitment into cholesterol-rich microdomains with dimensions below the optical resolution limit. Viral infection caused the nanoscale microdomains to fuse into large platforms and reduced CFTR mobility. To our knowledge, these results provide the first biophysical evidence for multiple CFTR populations and have implications for regulation of their surface expression and channel function. PMID:26153705

[Distribution diversity of integrins and calcium channels on major human and mouse host cells of Leptospira species].

PubMed

Li, Cheng-xue; Zhao, Xin; Qian, Jing; Yan, Jie

2012-07-01

To determine the distribution of integrins and calcium channels on major human and mouse host cells of Leptospira species. The expression of β1, β2 and β3 integrins was detected with immunofluorescence assay on the surface of human monocyte line THP-1, mouse mononuclear-macrophage-like cell line J774A.1, human vascular endothelial cell line HUVEC, mouse vascular endothelial cell EOMA, human hepatocyte line L-02, mouse hepatocyte line Hepa1-6, human renal tubular epithelial cell line HEK-293, mouse glomerular membrane epithelial cell line SV40-MES13, mouse collagen blast line NIH/3T3, human and mouse platelets. The distribution of voltage gate control calcium channels Cav3.1, Cav3.2, Cav3.3 and Cav2.3, and receptor gate calcium channels P(2)X(1), P(2)2X(2), P(2)X(3), P(2)X(4), P(2)X(5), P(2)X(6) and P(2)X(7) were determined with Western blot assay. β1 integrin proteins were positively expressed on the membrane surface of J774A.1, THP-1, HUVEC, EOMA, L-02, Hepa1-6 and HEK-239 cells as well as human and mouse platelets. β2 integrin proteins were expressed on the membrane surface of J774A.1, THP-1, HUVEC, EOMA, and NIH/3T3 cells. β3 integrin proteins were expressed on the membrane surface of J774A.1, THP-1, HUVEC, EOMA, Hepa1-6, HEK-239 and NIH/3T3 cells as well as human and mouse platelets. P(2)X(1) receptor gate calcium channel was expressed on the membrane surface of human and mouse platelets, while P(2)X(5) receptor gate calcium channel was expressed on the membrane surface of J774A.1, THP-1, L-02, Hepa1-6, HEK-239 and HUVEC cells. However, the other calcium channels were not detected on the tested cell lines or platelets. There is a large distribution diversity of integrins and calcium channel proteins on the major human and mouse host cells of Leptospira species, which may be associated with the differences of leptospira-induced injury in different host cells.

Microbial Transformation of Biomacromolecules in a Membrane Bioreactor: Implications for Membrane Fouling Investigation

PubMed Central

Zhou, Zhongbo; Meng, Fangang; Chae, So-Ryong; Huang, Guocheng; Fu, Wenjie; Jia, Xiaoshan; Li, Shiyu; Chen, Guang-Hao

2012-01-01

Background The complex characteristics and unclear biological fate of biomacromolecules (BMM), including colloidal and soluble microbial products (SMP), extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and membrane surface foulants (MSF), are crucial factors that limit our understanding of membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Findings In this study, the microbial transformation of BMM was investigated in a lab-scale MBR by well-controlled bioassay tests. The results of experimental measurements and mathematical modeling show that SMP, EPS, and MSF had different biodegradation behaviors and kinetic models. Based on the multi-exponential G models, SMP were mainly composed of slowly biodegradable polysaccharides (PS), proteins (PN), and non-biodegradable humic substances (HS). In contrast, EPS contained a large number of readily biodegradable PN, slowly biodegradable PS and HS. MSF were dominated by slowly biodegradable PS, which had a degradation rate constant similar to that of SMP-PS, while degradation behaviors of MSF-PN and MSF-HS were much more similar to those of EPS-PN and EPS-HS, respectively. In addition, the large-molecular weight (MW) compounds (>100 kDa) in BMM were found to have a faster microbial transformation rate compared to the small-MW compounds (<5 kDa). The parallel factor (PARAFAC) modeling of three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectra showed that the tryptophan-like PN were one of the major fractions in the BMM and they were more readily biodegradable than the HS. Besides microbial mineralization, humification and hydrolysis could be viewed as two important biotransformation mechanisms of large-MW compounds during the biodegradation process. Significance The results of this work can aid in tracking the origin of membrane foulants from the perspective of the biotransformation behaviors of SMP, EPS, and MSF. PMID:22912694

A Simple, Cost-Efficient Method to Separate Microalgal Lipids from Wet Biomass Using Surface Energy-Modified Membranes.

PubMed

Kwak, Moo Jin; Yoo, Youngmin; Lee, Han Sol; Kim, Jiyeon; Yang, Ji-Won; Han, Jong-In; Im, Sung Gap; Kwon, Jong-Hee

2016-01-13

For the efficient separation of lipid extracted from microalgae cells, a novel membrane was devised by introducing a functional polymer coating onto a membrane surface by means of an initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) process. To this end, a steel-use-stainless (SUS) membrane was modified in a way that its surface energy was systemically modified. The surface modification by conformal coating of functional polymer film allowed for selective separation of oil-water mixture, by harnessing the tuned interfacial energy between each liquid phase and the membrane surface. The surface-modified membrane, when used with chloroform-based solvent, exhibited superb permeate flux, breakthrough pressure, and also separation yield: it allowed separation of 95.5 ± 1.2% of converted lipid (FAME) in the chloroform phase from the water/MeOH phase with microalgal debris. This result clearly supported that the membrane-based lipid separation is indeed facilitated by way of membrane being functionalized, enabling us to simplify the whole downstream process of microalgae-derived biodiesel production.

Composite fuel cell membranes

DOEpatents

Plowman, K.R.; Rehg, T.J.; Davis, L.W.; Carl, W.P.; Cisar, A.J.; Eastland, C.S.

1997-08-05

A bilayer or trilayer composite ion exchange membrane is described suitable for use in a fuel cell. The composite membrane has a high equivalent weight thick layer in order to provide sufficient strength and low equivalent weight surface layers for improved electrical performance in a fuel cell. In use, the composite membrane is provided with electrode surface layers. The composite membrane can be composed of a sulfonic fluoropolymer in both core and surface layers.

Composite fuel cell membranes

DOEpatents

Plowman, Keith R.; Rehg, Timothy J.; Davis, Larry W.; Carl, William P.; Cisar, Alan J.; Eastland, Charles S.

1997-01-01

A bilayer or trilayer composite ion exchange membrane suitable for use in a fuel cell. The composite membrane has a high equivalent weight thick layer in order to provide sufficient strength and low equivalent weight surface layers for improved electrical performance in a fuel cell. In use, the composite membrane is provided with electrode surface layers. The composite membrane can be composed of a sulfonic fluoropolymer in both core and surface layers.

Photolithographic surface micromachining of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

PubMed

Chen, Weiqiang; Lam, Raymond H W; Fu, Jianping

2012-01-21

A major technical hurdle in microfluidics is the difficulty in achieving high fidelity lithographic patterning on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Here, we report a simple yet highly precise and repeatable PDMS surface micromachining method using direct photolithography followed by reactive ion etching (RIE). Our method to achieve surface patterning of PDMS applied an O(2) plasma treatment to PDMS to activate its surface to overcome the challenge of poor photoresist adhesion on PDMS for photolithography. Our photolithographic PDMS surface micromachining technique is compatible with conventional soft lithography techniques and other silicon-based surface and bulk micromachining methods. To illustrate the general application of our method, we demonstrated fabrication of large microfiltration membranes and free-standing beam structures in PDMS.

Photolithographic surface micromachining of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)

PubMed Central

Chen, Weiqiang; Lam, Raymond H. W.

2014-01-01

A major technical hurdle in microfluidics is the difficulty in achieving high fidelity lithographic patterning on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Here, we report a simple yet highly precise and repeatable PDMS surface micromachining method using direct photolithography followed by reactive ion etching (RIE). Our method to achieve surface patterning of PDMS applied an O2 plasma treatment to PDMS to activate its surface to overcome the challenge of poor photoresist adhesion on PDMS for photolithography. Our photolithographic PDMS surface micromachining technique is compatible with conventional soft lithography techniques and other silicon-based surface and bulk micromachining methods. To illustrate the general application of our method, we demonstrated fabrications of large microfiltration membranes and free-standing beam structures in PDMS. PMID:22089984

Helix Fraying and Lipid-Dependent Structure of a Short Amphipathic Membrane-Bound Peptide Revealed by Solid-State NMR.

PubMed

Strandberg, Erik; Grau-Campistany, Ariadna; Wadhwani, Parvesh; Bürck, Jochen; Rabanal, Francesc; Ulrich, Anne S

2018-06-14

The amphipathic α-helical peptide KIA14 [(KIAGKIA) 2 -NH 2 ] was studied in membranes using circular dichroism and solid-state NMR spectroscopy to obtain global as well as local structural information. By analyzing 2 H NMR data from 10 analogues of KIA14 that were selectively labeled with Ala- d 3 , those positions that are properly folded into a helix could be determined within the membrane-bound peptide. The N-terminus was found to be unraveled, whereas positions 4-14 formed an ideal helix all the way to the C-terminus. The helicity did not change when Gly residues were replaced by Ala- d 3 but was reduced when Ile was replaced, indicating that large hydrophobic residues are required for membrane binding and helix formation. The reduced helicity was strongly correlated with a decrease in peptide-induced leakage from lipid vesicles. The orientation of the short KIA14 peptide was assessed in several lipid systems and compared with that of the longer KIA21 sequence [(KIAGKIA) 3 -NH 2 ]. In 1,2-dioleoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine, both peptides are aligned flat on the membrane surface, whereas in 1,2-dimyristoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC)/1-myristoyl-2-hydroxy- sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (lyso-MPC) both are inserted into the membrane in an upright orientation. These two types of lipid systems had been selected for their strongly negative and positive spontaneous curvature, respectively. We propose that in these cases, the peptide orientation is largely determined by the lipid properties. On the other hand, in plain DMPC and 1,2-dilauroyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine, which have only a slight positive curvature, a marked difference in orientation is evident: the short KIA14 lies almost flat on the membrane surface, whereas the longer KIA21 is more tilted. We thus propose that out of the lipid systems tested here, DMPC (with hardly any curvature) is the least biased lipid system in which peptide orientation and realignment can be studied, allowing to compare and discriminate the intrinsic effects of the properties of the peptides as such.

Internal phase transition induced by external forces in Finsler geometric model for membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koibuchi, Hiroshi; Shobukhov, Andrey

2016-10-01

In this paper, we numerically study an anisotropic shape transformation of membranes under external forces for two-dimensional triangulated surfaces on the basis of Finsler geometry. The Finsler metric is defined by using a vector field, which is the tangential component of a three-dimensional unit vector σ corresponding to the tilt or some external macromolecules on the surface of disk topology. The sigma model Hamiltonian is assumed for the tangential component of σ with the interaction coefficient λ. For large (small) λ, the surface becomes oblong (collapsed) at relatively small bending rigidity. For the intermediate λ, the surface becomes planar. Conversely, fixing the surface with the boundary of area A or with the two-point boundaries of distance L, we find that the variable σ changes from random to aligned state with increasing of A or L for the intermediate region of λ. This implies that an internal phase transition for σ is triggered not only by the thermal fluctuations, but also by external mechanical forces. We also find that the frame (string) tension shows the expected scaling behavior with respect to A/N (L/N) at the intermediate region of A (L) where the σ configuration changes between the disordered and ordered phases. Moreover, we find that the string tension γ at sufficiently large λ is considerably smaller than that at small λ. This phenomenon resembles the so-called soft-elasticity in the liquid crystal elastomer, which is deformed by small external tensile forces.

Modelling cell motility and chemotaxis with evolving surface finite elements

PubMed Central

Elliott, Charles M.; Stinner, Björn; Venkataraman, Chandrasekhar

2012-01-01

We present a mathematical and a computational framework for the modelling of cell motility. The cell membrane is represented by an evolving surface, with the movement of the cell determined by the interaction of various forces that act normal to the surface. We consider external forces such as those that may arise owing to inhomogeneities in the medium and a pressure that constrains the enclosed volume, as well as internal forces that arise from the reaction of the cells' surface to stretching and bending. We also consider a protrusive force associated with a reaction–diffusion system (RDS) posed on the cell membrane, with cell polarization modelled by this surface RDS. The computational method is based on an evolving surface finite-element method. The general method can account for the large deformations that arise in cell motility and allows the simulation of cell migration in three dimensions. We illustrate applications of the proposed modelling framework and numerical method by reporting on numerical simulations of a model for eukaryotic chemotaxis and a model for the persistent movement of keratocytes in two and three space dimensions. Movies of the simulated cells can be obtained from http://homepages.warwick.ac.uk/∼maskae/CV_Warwick/Chemotaxis.html. PMID:22675164

A large scale membrane-binding protein conformational change that initiates at small length scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grandpre, Trevor; Andorf, Matthew; Chakravarthy, Srinivas; Lamb, Robert; Poor, Taylor; Landahl, Eric

2013-03-01

The fusion (F) protein of parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) is a membrane-bound, homotrimeric glycoprotein located on the surface of PIV5 viral envelopes. Upon being triggered by the receptor-binding protein (HN), F undergoes a greater than 100Å ATP-independent refolding event. This refolding event results in the insertion of a hydrophobic fusion peptide into the membrane of the target cell, followed by the desolvation and subsequent fusion event as the two membranes are brought together. Isothermal calorimetry and hydrophobic dye incorporation experiments indicate that the soluble construct of the F protein undergoes a conformational rearrangement event at around 55 deg C. We present the results of an initial Time-Resolved Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering (TR-SAXS) study of this large scale, entropically driven conformational change using a temperature jump. Although we the measured radius of gyration of this protein changes on a 110 second timescale, we find that the x-ray scattering intensity at higher angles (corresponding to smaller length scales in the protein) changes nearly an order of magnitude faster. We believe this may be a signature of entropically-driven conformational change. To whom correspondence should be addressed

LppX is a lipoprotein required for the translocation of phthiocerol dimycocerosates to the surface of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

PubMed Central

Sulzenbacher, Gerlind; Canaan, Stéphane; Bordat, Yann; Neyrolles, Olivier; Stadthagen, Gustavo; Roig-Zamboni, Véronique; Rauzier, Jean; Maurin, Damien; Laval, Françoise; Daffé, Mamadou; Cambillau, Christian; Gicquel, Brigitte; Bourne, Yves; Jackson, Mary

2006-01-01

Cell envelope lipids play an important role in the pathogenicity of mycobacteria, but the mechanisms by which they are transported to the outer membrane of these prokaryotes are largely unknown. Here, we provide evidence that LppX is a lipoprotein required for the translocation of complex lipids, the phthiocerol dimycocerosates (DIM), to the outer membrane of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Abolition of DIM transport following disruption of the lppX gene is accompanied by an important attenuation of the virulence of the tubercle bacillus. The crystal structure of LppX unveils an U-shaped β-half-barrel dominated by a large hydrophobic cavity suitable to accommodate a single DIM molecule. LppX shares a similar fold with the periplasmic molecular chaperone LolA and the outer membrane lipoprotein LolB, which are involved in the localization of lipoproteins to the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Based on the structure and although an indirect participation of LppX in DIM transport cannot yet be ruled out, we propose LppX to be the first characterized member of a family of structurally related lipoproteins that carry lipophilic molecules across the mycobacterial cell envelope. PMID:16541102

Antimicrobial membrane surfaces via efficient polyethyleneimine immobilization and cationization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Wen-Ze; Zhao, Zi-Shu; Du, Yong; Hu, Meng-Xin; Xu, Zhi-Kang

2017-12-01

Biofouling control is a major task in membrane separation processes for water treatment and biomedical applications. In this work, N-alkylated polyethylenimine (PEI) is facilely and efficiently introduced onto the membrane surfaces via the co-deposition of catechol (CCh) and PEI, followed by further grafting of PEIs (600 Da, 70 kDa and 750 kDa) and cationization with methyl iodide (CH3I). The physical and chemical properties of the constructed membrane surfaces are characterized with scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, zeta potential and water contact angle measurements. Antibacterial assay reveals that the optimized membrane surfaces possess around 95% antibacterial efficiency against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with weak adhesion of bacteria cells after 24 h of bacterial contact. Additionally, the membrane surfaces also exhibit much enhanced antifouling property during the filtration of opposite charged bovine serum albumin (BSA). These results demonstrate a useful strategy for the surface modification of separation membranes by a kind of antimicrobial and antifouling coating.

Comparative Kinetic Analysis of Closed-Ended and Open-Ended Porous Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yiliang; Gaur, Girija; Mernaugh, Raymond L.; Laibinis, Paul E.; Weiss, Sharon M.

2016-09-01

Efficient mass transport through porous networks is essential for achieving rapid response times in sensing applications utilizing porous materials. In this work, we show that open-ended porous membranes can overcome diffusion challenges experienced by closed-ended porous materials in a microfluidic environment. A theoretical model including both transport and reaction kinetics is employed to study the influence of flow velocity, bulk analyte concentration, analyte diffusivity, and adsorption rate on the performance of open-ended and closed-ended porous sensors integrated with flow cells. The analysis shows that open-ended pores enable analyte flow through the pores and greatly reduce the response time and analyte consumption for detecting large molecules with slow diffusivities compared with closed-ended pores for which analytes largely flow over the pores. Experimental confirmation of the results was carried out with open- and closed-ended porous silicon (PSi) microcavities fabricated in flow-through and flow-over sensor configurations, respectively. The adsorption behavior of small analytes onto the inner surfaces of closed-ended and open-ended PSi membrane microcavities was similar. However, for large analytes, PSi membranes in a flow-through scheme showed significant improvement in response times due to more efficient convective transport of analytes. The experimental results and theoretical analysis provide quantitative estimates of the benefits offered by open-ended porous membranes for different analyte systems.

Covalent attachment of phospholipid analogous polymers to modify a polymeric membrane surface: a novel approach.

PubMed

Xu, Zhi-Kang; Dai, Qing-Wen; Wu, Jian; Huang, Xiao-Jun; Yang, Qian

2004-02-17

A novel method for the surface modification of a microporous polypropylene membrane by tethering phospholipid analogous polymers (PAPs) is given, which includes the photoinduced graft polymerization of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and the ring-opening reaction of grafted poly-(DMAEMA) with 2-alkyloxy-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholanes. Five 2-alkyloxy-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholanes, containing octyloxy, dodecyloxy, tetradecyloxy, hexadecyloxy, and octadecyloxy groups in the molecular structure, were used to fabricate the PAP-modified polypropylene membranes. The attenuated total reflectance FT-IR spectra of the original, poly(DMAEMA)-grafted, and PAP-modified membranes confirmed the chemical changes on the membrane surface. Scanning electron microscope pictures showed that, compared with the original membrane, the surface porosities ofpoly(DMAEMA)-grafted and PAP-modified membranes were somewhat reduced. Water contact angles measured by the sessile drop method on PAP-modified membranes were slightly lower than that on the original polypropylene membrane, but higher than those on poly(DMAEMA)-grafted membranes with the exception of octyloxy-containing PAP-modified membranes. However, BSA adsorption experiments indicated that the five PAP-modified membranes had a much better protein-resistant property than the original polypropylene membrane and the poly(DMAEMA)-grafted membranes. For hexadecyloxy- and octadecyloxy-containing PAP-modified membranes, almost no protein adsorption was observed when the grafting degree was above 6 wt %. It was also found that the platelet adhesion was remarkably suppressed on the PAP-modified membranes. All these results demonstrate that the described approach is an effective way to improve the surface biocompatibility for polymeric membranes.

FAS grafted superhydrophobic ceramic membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Jun; Yu, Yun; Zhou, Jianer; Song, Lixin; Hu, Xingfang; Larbot, Andre

2009-08-01

The hydrophobic properties of γ-Al 2O 3 membrane have been obtained by grafting fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) on the surface of the membrane. The following grafting parameters were studied: the eroding time of the original membrane, the grafting time, the concentration of FAS solution and the multiplicity of grafting. Hydrophobicity of the membranes was characterized by contact angle (CA) measurement. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to investigate the weight loss process (25-800 °C) of the fluoroalkylsilane grafted on Al 2O 3 powders under different grafting conditions. The morphologies of the membranes modified under different parameters were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and the surface roughness (Ra) was measured using white light interferometers. A needle-like structure was observed on the membrane surface after modification, which causes the change of Ra. On the results above, we speculated a model to describe the reaction between FAS and γ-Al 2O 3 membrane surface as well as the formed surface morphology.

Printing-assisted surface modifications of patterned ultrafiltration membranes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wardrip, Nathaniel C.; Dsouza, Melissa; Urgun-Demirtas, Meltem

Understanding and restricting microbial surface attachment will enhance wastewater treatment with membranes. We report a maskless lithographic patterning technique for the generation of patterned polymer coatings on ultrafiltration membranes. Polyethylene glycol, zwitterionic, or negatively charged hydrophilic polymer compositions in parallel- or perpendicular-striped patterns with respect to feed flow were evaluated using wastewater. Membrane fouling was dependent on the orientation and chemical composition of the coatings. Modifications reduced alpha diversity in the attached microbial community (Shannon indices decreased from 2.63 to 1.89) which nevertheless increased with filtration time. Sphingomonas species, which condition membrane surfaces and facilitate cellular adhesion, were depleted inmore » all modified membranes. Microbial community structure was significantly different between control, different patterns, and different chemistries. Lastly, this study broadens the tools for surface modification of membranes with polymer coatings and for understanding and optimization of antifouling surfaces.« less

Printing-assisted surface modifications of patterned ultrafiltration membranes

DOE PAGES

Wardrip, Nathaniel C.; Dsouza, Melissa; Urgun-Demirtas, Meltem; ...

2016-10-17

Understanding and restricting microbial surface attachment will enhance wastewater treatment with membranes. We report a maskless lithographic patterning technique for the generation of patterned polymer coatings on ultrafiltration membranes. Polyethylene glycol, zwitterionic, or negatively charged hydrophilic polymer compositions in parallel- or perpendicular-striped patterns with respect to feed flow were evaluated using wastewater. Membrane fouling was dependent on the orientation and chemical composition of the coatings. Modifications reduced alpha diversity in the attached microbial community (Shannon indices decreased from 2.63 to 1.89) which nevertheless increased with filtration time. Sphingomonas species, which condition membrane surfaces and facilitate cellular adhesion, were depleted inmore » all modified membranes. Microbial community structure was significantly different between control, different patterns, and different chemistries. Lastly, this study broadens the tools for surface modification of membranes with polymer coatings and for understanding and optimization of antifouling surfaces.« less

A novel design of membrane mirror with small deformation and imaging performance analysis in infrared system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shuqing; Wang, Yongquan; Zhi, Xiyang

2017-05-01

A method of diminishing the shape error of membrane mirror is proposed in this paper. The inner inflating pressure is considerably decreased by adopting the pre-shaped membrane. Small deformation of the membrane mirror with greatly reduced shape error is sequentially achieved. Primarily a finite element model of the above pre-shaped membrane is built on the basis of its mechanical properties. Then accurate shape data under different pressures can be acquired by iteratively calculating the node displacements of the model. Shape data are applicable to build up deformed reflecting surfaces for the simulative analysis in ZEMAX. Finally, ground-based imaging experiments of 4-bar targets and nature scene are conducted. Experiment results indicate that the MTF of the infrared system can reach to 0.3 at a high spatial resolution of 10l p/mm, and texture details of the nature scene are well-presented. The method can provide theoretical basis and technical support for the applications in lightweight optical components with ultra-large apertures.

Study of the Effect of Nanoparticles and Surface Morphology on Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membrane Productivity

PubMed Central

Fang, Yuming; Duranceau, Steven J.

2013-01-01

To evaluate the significance of reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) surface morphology on membrane performance, productivity experiments were conducted using flat-sheet membranes and three different nanoparticles, which included SiO2, TiO2 and CeO2. In this study, the productivity rate was markedly influenced by membrane surface morphology. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis of membrane surfaces revealed that the higher productivity decline rates associated with polyamide RO membranes as compared to that of a cellulose acetate NF membrane was due to the inherent ridge-and-valley morphology of the active layer. The unique polyamide active layer morphology was directly related to the surface roughness, and was found to contribute to particle accumulation in the valleys causing a higher flux decline than in smoother membranes. Extended RO productivity experiments using laboratory grade water and diluted pretreated seawater were conducted to compare the effect that different nanoparticles had on membrane active layers. Membrane flux decline was not affected by particle type when the feed water was laboratory grade water. On the other hand, membrane productivity was affected by particle type when pretreated diluted seawater served as feed water. It was found that CeO2 addition resulted in the least observable flux decline, followed by SiO2 and TiO2. A productivity simulation was conducted by fitting the monitored flux data into a cake growth rate model, where the model was modified using a finite difference method to incorporate surface thickness variation into the analysis. The ratio of cake growth term (k1) and particle back diffusion term (k2) was compared in between different RO and NF membranes. Results indicated that k2 was less significant for surfaces that exhibited a higher roughness. It was concluded that the valley areas of thin-film membrane surfaces have the ability to capture particles, limiting particle back diffusion. PMID:24956946

Optimization of fluorimetric lipid membrane biosensor sensitivity through manipulation of membrane structure and nitrobenzoxadiazole dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine concentration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrive, Jason D. A.; Krull, Ulrich J.

1995-01-01

In the work reported here, surface concentrations of 0.027 and 0.073 molecules nm-2 of the fluorescent membrane probe molecule nitrobenzoxadiazole dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (NBD-PE) were shown to yield optimum sensitivity for fluorimetric transduction of membrane structural perturbations for lipid membrane-based biosensor development. These optima were obtained through correlation of experimental data with theoretical predictions of optimum surface concentrations based on a model for NBD-PE self quenching previously published by our group. It was also determined that membrane structural heterogeneity improves the sensitivity of NBD-PE labeled membrane transducers. Together with fluorescence microscopy, observations of surface potential change upon compression or expansion of phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidic acid (PA) monolayers were used to qualitatively indicate the degree of structural heterogeneity in these membranes. It was determined that sub-microscopic domains must exist in microscopically homogeneous egg PC/egg PA membranes in order to facilitate the observed NBD-PE self-quenching responses upon alteration of bulk pH and therefore, membrane surface electrostatics and structure.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma activation and surface characterization on polyethylene membrane separator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tseng, Yu-Chien; Li, Hsiao-Ling; Huang, Chun

2017-01-01

The surface hydrophilic activation of a polyethylene membrane separator was achieved using an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. The surface of the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated membrane separator was found to be highly hydrophilic realized by adjusting the plasma power input. The variations in membrane separator chemical structure were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Chemical analysis showed newly formed carbonyl-containing groups and high surface concentrations of oxygen-containing species on the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated polymeric separator surface. It also showed that surface hydrophilicity primarily increased from the polar component after atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment. The surface and pore structures of the polyethylene membrane separator were examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealing a slight alteration in the pore structure. As a result of the incorporation of polar functionalities by atmospheric-pressure plasma activation, the electrolyte uptake and electrochemical impedance of the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated membrane separator improved. The investigational results show that the separator surface can be controlled by atmospheric-pressure plasma surface treatment to tailor the hydrophilicity and enhance the electrochemical performance of lithium ion batteries.

Intermediate couplings: NMR at the solids-liquids interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spence, Megan

2006-03-01

Anisotropic interactions like dipolar couplings and chemical shift anisotropy have long offered solid-state NMR spectroscopists valuable structural information. Recently, solution-state NMR structural studies have begun to exploit residual dipolar couplings of biological molecules in weakly anisotropic solutions. These residual couplings are about 0.1% of the coupling magnitudes observed in the solid state, allowing simple, high-resolution NMR spectra to be retained. In this work, we examine the membrane-associated opioid, leucine enkephalin (lenk), in which the ordering is ten times larger than that for residual dipolar coupling experiments, requiring a combination of solution-state and solid-state NMR techniques. We adapted conventional solid-state NMR techniques like adiabatic cross- polarization and REDOR for use with such a system, and measured small amide bond dipolar couplings in order to determine the orientation of the amide bonds (and therefore the peptide) with respect to the membrane surface. However, the couplings measured indicate large structural rearrangements on the surface and contradict the published structures obtained by NOESY constraints, a reminder that such methods are of limited use in the presence of large-scale dynamics.

Viscoelastic Tamponade Applied to the Ocular Surface for Enhanced Control of Gaseous Egress From the Anterior Chamber During Final Bubble Titration in DMEK Surgery: The "Polite" Burp.

PubMed

Sales, Christopher S; Fernandez, Ana Alzaga; Anwar, Zane

2018-07-01

To present a novel technique for enhancing the surgeon's control over the volume of air or gas that is "burped" from the anterior chamber during final bubble and intraocular pressure (IOP) titration in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty. After ascertaining that the intracameral bubble is either too large and/or has rendered IOP too high, a bead of ophthalmic viscoelastic is applied to the ocular surface over a paracentesis incision, which is then depressed in the usual fashion to burp gas from the anterior chamber. The weight and viscosity of the viscoelastic create a tamponade that slows the egress of gas from the anterior chamber, thereby making it more controllable. If the bubble size or IOP needs to be reduced at the conclusion of the Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty procedure, application of ophthalmic viscoelastic over the paracentesis can enhance the surgeon's control over the volume of gas burped from the anterior chamber, thereby reducing the tendency to swing between a bubble that is too large or too small.

Adaptive microlens array based on electrically charged polyvinyl chloride/dibutyl phthalate gel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Miao; Ren, Hongwen

2016-09-01

We prepared an adaptive microlens array (MLA) using a polyvinyl chloride/dibutyl phthalate gel and an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) glass substrate. The gel forms a membrane on the glass substrate and the ITO electrode has a ring array pattern. When the membrane is electrically charged by a DC voltage, the surface of the membrane above each circular electrode in the ring array can be deformed with a convex shape. As a result, the membrane functions as an MLA. By applying a voltage from 20 to ˜65 V to the electrode, the focal length of each microlens can be tuned from 300 to ˜160 μm. The dynamic response time can by reduced largely by changing the polarity of the DC voltage. Due to the advantages of optical isotropy, compact structure, and good stability, our MLA has potential applications in imaging, biometrics, and electronic displays.

Spontaneous membrane formation and self-encapsulation of active rods in an inhomogeneous motility field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grauer, Jens; Löwen, Hartmut; Janssen, Liesbeth M. C.

2018-02-01

We study the collective dynamics of self-propelled rods in an inhomogeneous motility field. At the interface between two regions of constant but different motility, a smectic rod layer is spontaneously created through aligning interactions between the active rods, reminiscent of an artificial, semipermeable membrane. This "active membrane" engulfes rods which are locally trapped in low-motility regions and thereby further enhances the trapping efficiency by self-organization, an effect which we call "self-encapsulation." Our results are gained by computer simulations of self-propelled rod models confined on a two-dimensional planar or spherical surface with a stepwise constant motility field, but the phenomenon should be observable in any geometry with sufficiently large spatial inhomogeneity. We also discuss possibilities to verify our predictions of active-membrane formation in experiments of self-propelled colloidal rods and vibrated granular matter.

Maltose-neopentyl glycol (MNG) amphiphiles for solubilization, stabilization and crystallization of membrane proteins

PubMed Central

Chae, Pil Seok; Rasmussen, Søren G. F.; Rana, Rohini; Gotfryd, Kamil; Chandra, Richa; Goren, Michael A.; Kruse, Andrew C.; Nurva, Shailika; Loland, Claus J.; Pierre, Yves; Drew, David; Popot, Jean-Luc; Picot, Daniel; Fox, Brian G.; Guan, Lan; Gether, Ulrik; Byrne, Bernadette; Kobilka, Brian; Gellman, Samuel H.

2011-01-01

The understanding of integral membrane protein (IMP) structure and function is hampered by the difficulty of handling these proteins. Aqueous solubilization, necessary for many types of biophysical analysis, generally requires a detergent to shield the large lipophilic surfaces displayed by native IMPs. Many proteins remain difficult to study owing to a lack of suitable detergents. We introduce a class of amphiphiles, each of which is built around a central quaternary carbon atom derived from neopentyl glycol, with hydrophilic groups derived from maltose. Representatives of this maltose-neopentyl glycol (MNG) amphiphile family display favorable behavior relative to conventional detergents, as tested on multiple membrane protein systems, leading to enhanced structural stability and successful crystallization. MNG amphiphiles are promising tools for membrane protein science because of the ease with which they may be prepared and the facility with which their structures may be varied. PMID:21037590

The establishment and application of direct coupled electrostatic-structural field model in electrostatically controlled deployable membrane antenna

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Yongzhen; Duan, Baoyan; Du, Jingli

2018-05-01

The electrostatically controlled deployable membrane antenna (ECDMA) is a promising space structure due to its low weight, large aperture and high precision characteristics. However, it is an extreme challenge to describe the coupled field between electrostatic and membrane structure accurately. A direct coupled method is applied to solve the coupled problem in this paper. Firstly, the membrane structure and electrostatic field are uniformly described by energy, considering the coupled problem is an energy conservation phenomenon. Then the direct coupled electrostatic-structural field governing equilibrium equations are obtained by energy variation approach. Numerical results show that the direct coupled method improves the computing efficiency by 36% compared with the traditional indirect coupled method with the same level accuracy. Finally, the prototype has been manufactured and tested and the ECDMA finite element simulations show good agreement with the experiment results as the maximum surface error difference is 6%.

Extremely high efficient nanoreactor with Au@ZnO catalyst for photocatalysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Chung-Yi; Yang, Tung-Han; Gurylev, Vitaly; Huang, Sheng-Hsin; Wu, Jenn-Ming; Perng, Tsong-Pyng

2015-10-01

We fabricated a photocatalytic Au@ZnO@PC (polycarbonate) nanoreactor composed of monolayered Au nanoparticles chemisorbed on conformal ZnO nanochannel arrays within the PC membrane. A commercial PC membrane was used as the template for deposition of a ZnO shell into the pores by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Thioctic acid (TA) with sufficient steric stabilization was used as a molecular linker for functionalization of Au nanoparticles in a diameter of 10 nm. High coverage of Au nanoparticles anchored on the inner wall of ZnO nanochannels greatly improved the photocatalytic activity for degradation of Rhodamine B. The membrane nanoreactor achieved 63% degradation of Rhodamine B within only 26.88 ms of effective reaction time owing to its superior mass transfer efficiency based on Damköhler number analysis. Mass transfer limitation can be eliminated in the present study due to extremely large surface-to-volume ratio of the membrane nanoreactor.

Method and apparatus for determining the hydraulic conductivity of earthen material

DOEpatents

Sisson, James B.; Honeycutt, Thomas K.; Hubbell, Joel M.

1996-01-01

An earthen material hydraulic conductivity determining apparatus includes, a) a semipermeable membrane having a fore earthen material bearing surface and an opposing rear liquid receiving surface; b) a pump in fluid communication with the semipermeable membrane rear surface, the pump being capable of delivering liquid to the membrane rear surface at a plurality of selected variable flow rates or at a plurality of selected variable pressures; c) a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the pump, the liquid reservoir retaining a liquid for pumping to the membrane rear surface; and d) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the membrane rear surface to measure pressure of liquid delivered to the membrane by the pump. Preferably, the pump comprises a pair of longitudinally opposed and aligned syringes which are operable to simultaneously fill one syringe while emptying the other. Methods of determining the hydraulic conductivity of earthen material are also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for determining the hydraulic conductivity of earthen material

DOEpatents

Sisson, J.B.; Honeycutt, T.K.; Hubbell, J.M.

1996-05-28

An earthen material hydraulic conductivity determining apparatus includes: (a) a semipermeable membrane having a fore earthen material bearing surface and an opposing rear liquid receiving surface; (b) a pump in fluid communication with the semipermeable membrane rear surface, the pump being capable of delivering liquid to the membrane rear surface at a plurality of selected variable flow rates or at a plurality of selected variable pressures; (c) a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the pump, the liquid reservoir retaining a liquid for pumping to the membrane rear surface; and (d) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the membrane rear surface to measure pressure of liquid delivered to the membrane by the pump. Preferably, the pump comprises a pair of longitudinally opposed and aligned syringes which are operable to simultaneously fill one syringe while emptying the other. Methods of determining the hydraulic conductivity of earthen material are also disclosed. 15 figs.

C2 Domain of Protein Kinase Cα: Elucidation of the Membrane Docking Surface by Site-Directed Fluorescence and Spin Labeling†

PubMed Central

Kohout, Susy C.; Corbalán-García, Senena; Gómez-Fernández, Juan C.; Falke, Joseph J.

2013-01-01

The C2 domain is a conserved signaling motif that triggers membrane docking in a Ca2+-dependent manner, but the membrane docking surfaces of many C2 domains have not yet been identified. Two extreme models can be proposed for the docking of the protein kinase Cα (PKCα) C2 domain to membranes. In the parallel model, the membrane-docking surface includes the Ca2+ binding loops and an anion binding site on β-strands 3–4, such that the β-strands are oriented parallel to the membrane. In the perpendicular model, the docking surface is localized to the Ca2+ binding loops and the β-strands are oriented perpendicular to the membrane surface. The present study utilizes site-directed fluorescence and spin-labeling to map out the membrane docking surface of the PKCα C2 domain. Single cysteine residues were engineered into 18 locations scattered over all regions of the protein surface, and were used as attachment sites for spectroscopic probes. The environmentally sensitive fluorescein probe identified positions where Ca2+ activation or membrane docking trigger measurable fluorescence changes. Ca2+ binding was found to initiate a global conformational change, while membrane docking triggered the largest fluorescein environmental changes at labeling positions on the three Ca2+ binding loops (CBL), thereby localizing these loops to the membrane docking surface. Complementary EPR power saturation measurements were carried out using a nitroxide spin probe to determine a membrane depth parameter, Φ, for each spin-labeled mutant. Positive membrane depth parameters indicative of membrane insertion were found for three positions, all located on the Ca2+ binding loops: N189 on CBL 1, and both R249 and R252 on CBL 3. In addition, EPR power saturation revealed that five positions near the anion binding site are partially protected from collisions with an aqueous paramagnetic probe, indicating that the anion binding site lies at or near the surface of the headgroup layer. Together, the fluorescence and EPR results indicate that the Ca2+ first and third Ca2+ binding loops insert directly into the lipid headgroup region of the membrane, and that the anion binding site on β-strands 3–4 lies near the headgroups. The data support a model in which the β-strands are tilted toward the parallel orientation relative to the membrane surface. PMID:12564928

Biophysical model of ion transport across human respiratory epithelia allows quantification of ion permeabilities.

PubMed

Garcia, Guilherme J M; Boucher, Richard C; Elston, Timothy C

2013-02-05

Lung health and normal mucus clearance depend on adequate hydration of airway surfaces. Because transepithelial osmotic gradients drive water flows, sufficient hydration of the airway surface liquid depends on a balance between ion secretion and absorption by respiratory epithelia. In vitro experiments using cultures of primary human nasal epithelia and human bronchial epithelia have established many of the biophysical processes involved in airway surface liquid homeostasis. Most experimental studies, however, have focused on the apical membrane, despite the fact that ion transport across respiratory epithelia involves both cellular and paracellular pathways. In fact, the ion permeabilities of the basolateral membrane and paracellular pathway remain largely unknown. Here we use a biophysical model for water and ion transport to quantify ion permeabilities of all pathways (apical, basolateral, paracellular) in human nasal epithelia cultures using experimental (Ussing Chamber and microelectrode) data reported in the literature. We derive analytical formulas for the steady-state short-circuit current and membrane potential, which are for polarized epithelia the equivalent of the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation for single isolated cells. These relations allow parameter estimation to be performed efficiently. By providing a method to quantify all the ion permeabilities of respiratory epithelia, the model may aid us in understanding the physiology that regulates normal airway surface hydration. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Crystal structure of botulinum neurotoxin type A in complex with the cell surface co-receptor GT1b-insight into the toxin-neuron interaction.

PubMed

Stenmark, Pål; Dupuy, Jérôme; Imamura, Akihiro; Kiso, Makoto; Stevens, Raymond C

2008-08-15

Botulinum neurotoxins have a very high affinity and specificity for their target cells requiring two different co-receptors located on the neuronal cell surface. Different toxin serotypes have different protein receptors; yet, most share a common ganglioside co-receptor, GT1b. We determined the crystal structure of the botulinum neurotoxin serotype A binding domain (residues 873-1297) alone and in complex with a GT1b analog at 1.7 A and 1.6 A, respectively. The ganglioside GT1b forms several key hydrogen bonds to conserved residues and binds in a shallow groove lined by Tryptophan 1266. GT1b binding does not induce any large structural changes in the toxin; therefore, it is unlikely that allosteric effects play a major role in the dual receptor recognition. Together with the previously published structures of botulinum neurotoxin serotype B in complex with its protein co-receptor, we can now generate a detailed model of botulinum neurotoxin's interaction with the neuronal cell surface. The two branches of the GT1b polysaccharide, together with the protein receptor site, impose strict geometric constraints on the mode of interaction with the membrane surface and strongly support a model where one end of the 100 A long translocation domain helix bundle swing into contact with the membrane, initiating the membrane anchoring event.

Omniphobic Membrane for Robust Membrane Distillation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, SH; Nejati, S; Boo, C

2014-11-01

In this work, we fabricate an omniphobic microporous membrane for membrane distillation (MD) by modifying a hydrophilic glass fiber membrane with silica nanoparticles followed by surface fluorination and polymer coating. The modified glass fiber membrane exhibits an anti-wetting property not only against water but also against low surface tension organic solvents that easily wet a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane that is commonly used in MD applications. By comparing the performance of the PTFE and omniphobic membranes in direct contact MD experiments in the presence of a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), we show that SDS wets the hydrophobic PTFE membranemore » but not the omniphobic membrane. Our results suggest that omniphobic membranes are critical for MD applications with feed waters containing surface active species, such as oil and gas produced water, to prevent membrane pore wetting.« less

[Effect of Membrane Wettability on Membrane Fouling and Chemical Durability of SPG Membranes].

PubMed

Zhang, Jing; Xiao, Tai-min; Zhang, Jing; Cao, Li-ya; Du, Ya-wei; Liu, Chun; Zhang, Lei

2015-05-01

Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membranes have been applied for microbubble aeration in aerobic wastewater treatment. In the present study, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic SPG membranes were used in a microbubble-aerated biofilm reactor with online chemical cleaning, and their membrane fouling and chemical durability were determined to be strongly dependent on the membrane wettability. The fouling layer formed on the surface of both membranes was confirmed to be mainly organic fouling, and the hydrophobic membrane showed a relatively stronger resistance to the organic fouling. The severe chemical corrosion of the hydrophilic membrane was observed due to exposure to the alkaline sodium hypochlorite solution used for chemical cleaning, which resulted in significant increases in the median pore diameter and the porosity. On the other hand, the pore structure of the hydrophobic membrane changed slightly when exposed to the alkaline sodium hypochlorite solution, suggesting its strong alkali-resistance due to the non-wetting surface. However, the surface hydrophobic groups of hydrophobic membrane could be oxidized by sodium hypochlorite solution, resulting in more wettable membrane surface. The hydrophobic membrane also showed better performance in the respects of oxygen transfer, contaminant removal and energy-saving. Therefore, the hydrophobic membrane seemed more appropriate to be applied for microbubble aeration in aerobic wastewater treatment process.

Engineering the Re-Entrant Hierarchy and Surface Energy of PDMS-PVDF Membrane for Membrane Distillation Using a Facile and Benign Microsphere Coating.

PubMed

Lee, Eui-Jong; Deka, Bhaskar Jyoti; Guo, Jiaxin; Woo, Yun Chul; Shon, Ho Kyong; An, Alicia Kyoungjin

2017-09-05

To consolidate the position of membrane distillation (MD) as an emerging membrane technology that meets global water challenges, it is crucial to develop membranes with ideal material properties. This study reports a facile approach for a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane surface modification that is achieved through the coating of the surface with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) polymeric microspheres to lower the membrane surface energy. The hierarchical surface of the microspheres was built without any assistance of a nano/microcomposite by combining the rapid evaporation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the phase separation from condensed water vapor. The fabricated membrane exhibited superhydrophobicity-a high contact angle of 156.9° and a low contact-angle hysteresis of 11.3°-and a high wetting resistance to seawater containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Compared with the control PVDF-hexafluoropropylene (HFP) single-layer nanofiber membrane, the proposed fabricated membrane with the polymeric microsphere layer showed a smaller pore size and higher liquid entry pressure (LEP). When it was tested for the direct-contact MD (DCMD) in terms of the desalination of seawater (3.5% of NaCl) containing SDS of a progressively increased concentration, the fabricated membrane showed stable desalination and partial wetting for the 0.1 and 0.2 mM SDS, respectively.

Antifouling enhancement of polysulfone/TiO2 nanocomposite separation membrane by plasma etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Z.; Yin, C.; Wang, S.; Ito, K.; Fu, Q. M.; Deng, Q. R.; Fu, P.; Lin, Z. D.; Zhang, Y.

2017-01-01

A polysulfone/TiO2 nanocomposite membrane was prepared via casting method, followed by the plasma etching of the membrane surface. Doppler broadened energy spectra vs. positron incident energy were employed to elucidate depth profiles of the nanostructure for the as-prepared and treated membranes. The results confirmed that the near-surface of the membrane was modified by the plasma treatment. The antifouling characteristics for the membranes, evaluated using the degradation of Rhodamin B, indicated that the plasma treatment enhances the photo catalytic ability of the membrane, suggesting that more TiO2 nanoparticles are exposed at the membrane surface after the plasma treatment as supported by the positron result.

Crystallization, structure and dynamics of the proton-translocating P-type ATPase.

PubMed

Scarborough, G A

2000-01-01

Large single three-dimensional crystals of the dodecylmaltoside complex of the Neurospora crassa plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase (H(+) P-ATPase) can be grown in polyethylene-glycol-containing solutions optimized for moderate supersaturation of both the protein surfaces and detergent micellar region. Large two-dimensional H(+) P-ATPase crystals also grow on the surface of such mixtures and on carbon films located at such surfaces. Electron crystallographic analysis of the two-dimensional crystals grown on carbon films has recently elucidated the structure of the H(+) P-ATPase at a resolution of 0.8 nm in the membrane plane. The two-dimensional crystals comprise two offset layers of ring-shaped ATPase hexamers with their exocytoplasmic surfaces face to face. Side-to-side interactions between the cytoplasmic regions of the hexamers in each layer can be seen, and an interaction between identical exocytoplasmic loops in opposing hexamer layers holds the two layers together. Detergent rings around the membrane-embedded region of the hexamers are clearly visible, and detergent-detergent interactions between the rings are also apparent. The crystal packing forces thus comprise both protein-protein and detergent-detergent interactions, supporting the validity of the original crystallization strategy. Ten transmembrane helices in each ATPase monomer are well-defined in the structure map. They are all relatively straight, closely packed, moderately tilted at various angles with respect to a plane normal to the membrane surface and average approximately 3.5 nm in length. The transmembrane helix region is connected in at least three places to the larger cytoplasmic region, which comprises several discrete domains separated by relatively wide, deep clefts. Previous work has shown that the H(+) P-ATPase undergoes substantial conformational changes during its catalytic cycle that are not changes in secondary structure. Importantly, the results of hydrogen/deuterium exchange experiments indicate that these conformational changes are probably rigid-body interdomain movements that lead to cleft closure. When interpreted within the framework of established principles of enzyme catalysis, this information on the structure and dynamics of the H(+) P-ATPase molecule provides the basis of a rational model for the sequence of events that occurs as the ATPase proceeds through its transport cycle. The forces that drive the sequence can also be clearly stipulated. However, an understanding of the molecular mechanism of ion transport catalyzed by the H(+) P-ATPase awaits an atomic resolution structure.

Surface glycosylation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) membrane for selective adsorption of low-density lipoprotein.

PubMed

Wang, Wei; Lan, Ping

2014-01-01

A novel method of constructing a glycosylated surface on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] membrane surface for the selective adsorption of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was developed, which involved the photoinduced graft polymerization of acrylic acid followed by the chemical binding of carboxyl groups with glucosamine in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(dimethyl-aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxy-succinimide. The chemical structures of the fabricated membranes were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Zeta potential and water contact angle measurements were performed to investigate the surface charge and wettability of the membranes, respectively. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the LDL adsorption on the plain and modified membrane surfaces. It was found that the surface glycosylation of P(3HB-co-4HB) membrane greatly enhanced the affinity interactions with LDL and the absorbed LDL could be easily desorbed with eluents, indicating a specific and reversible binding of LDL to the surface. Furthermore, the hemocompatibility of glycosylated membrane was improved as examined by platelet adhesion. The results suggest that the glycosylated P(3HB-co-4HB) membrane is promising for application in LDL apheresis therapy.

Effect of incorporating graphene oxide and surface imprinting on polysulfone membranes on flux, hydrophilicity and rejection of salt and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kibechu, Rose Waithiegeni; Ndinteh, Derek Tantoh; Msagati, Titus Alfred Makudali; Mamba, Bhekie Briliance; Sampath, S.

2017-08-01

We report a significant enhancement of hydrophillity of polysulfone (Psf) membranes after modification with graphene oxide (GO) as a filler followed by surface imprinting on the surface of GO/Psf composite imprinted membranes (CIMs). The surface imprinting on the GO-Psf membrane was employed in order to enhance its selectivity towards polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water. The CIMs were prepared through a process of phase inversion of a mixture of graphene oxide and polysulfone (Psf) in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Fourier-transform spectroscopy (FT-IR) of the imprinted showed new peaks at 935 cm-1 and 1638 cm-1 indicating success in surface imprinting on the GO-Psf membrane. The CIM also showed improvement in flux from 8.56 LM-2 h-1 of unmodified polysulfone membrane to 15.3 LM-2 h-1 in the CIM, salt rejection increased from 57.2 ± 4.2% of polysulfone membrane to 76 ± 4.5%. The results obtained from the contact angle measurements showed a decrease with increase in GO content from 72 ± 2.7% of neat polysulfone membrane to 62.3 ± 2.1% of CIM indicating an improvement in surface hydrophilicity. The results from this study shows that, it is possible to improve the hydrophilicity of the membranes without affecting the performance of the membranes.

PES Surface Modification Using Green Chemistry: New Generation of Antifouling Membranes.

PubMed

Nady, Norhan

2016-04-18

A major limitation in using membrane-based separation processes is the loss of performance due to membrane fouling. This drawback can be addressed thanks to surface modification treatments. A new and promising surface modification using green chemistry has been recently investigated. This modification is carried out at room temperature and in aqueous medium using green catalyst (enzyme) and nontoxic modifier, which can be safely labelled "green surface modification". This modification can be considered as a nucleus of new generation of antifouling membranes and surfaces. In the current research, ferulic acid modifier and laccase bio-catalyst were used to make poly(ethersulfone) (PES) membrane less vulnerable to protein adsorption. The blank and modified PES membranes are evaluated based on e.g., their flux and protein repellence. Both the blank and the modified PES membranes (or laminated PES on silicon dioxide surface) are characterized using many techniques e.g., SEM, EDX, XPS and SPM, etc. The pure water flux of the most modified membranes was reduced by 10% on average relative to the blank membrane, and around a 94% reduction in protein adsorption was determined. In the conclusions section, a comparison between three modifiers-ferulic acid, and two other previously used modifiers (4-hydroxybenzoic acid and gallic acid)-is presented.

PES Surface Modification Using Green Chemistry: New Generation of Antifouling Membranes

PubMed Central

Nady, Norhan

2016-01-01

A major limitation in using membrane-based separation processes is the loss of performance due to membrane fouling. This drawback can be addressed thanks to surface modification treatments. A new and promising surface modification using green chemistry has been recently investigated. This modification is carried out at room temperature and in aqueous medium using green catalyst (enzyme) and nontoxic modifier, which can be safely labelled “green surface modification”. This modification can be considered as a nucleus of new generation of antifouling membranes and surfaces. In the current research, ferulic acid modifier and laccase bio-catalyst were used to make poly(ethersulfone) (PES) membrane less vulnerable to protein adsorption. The blank and modified PES membranes are evaluated based on e.g., their flux and protein repellence. Both the blank and the modified PES membranes (or laminated PES on silicon dioxide surface) are characterized using many techniques e.g., SEM, EDX, XPS and SPM, etc. The pure water flux of the most modified membranes was reduced by 10% on average relative to the blank membrane, and around a 94% reduction in protein adsorption was determined. In the conclusions section, a comparison between three modifiers—ferulic acid, and two other previously used modifiers (4-hydroxybenzoic acid and gallic acid)—is presented. PMID:27096873

Endocytosis of GPI-linked membrane folate receptor-alpha

PubMed Central

1996-01-01

GPI-linked membrane folate receptors (MFRs) have been implicated in the receptor-mediated uptake of reduced folate cofactors and folate-based chemotherapeutic drugs. We have studied the biosynthetic transport to and internalization of MFR isoform alpha in KB-cells. MFR-alpha was synthesized as a 32-kD protein and converted in a maturely glycosylated 36-38-kD protein 1 h after synthesis. 32-kD MFR-alpha was completely soluble in Triton X-100 at 0 degree C. In contrast, only 33% of the 36- 38-kD species could be solubilized at these conditions whereas complete solubilization was obtained in Triton X-100 at 37 degrees C or in the presence of saponin at 0 degree C. Similar solubilization characteristics were found when MFR-alpha at the plasma membrane was labeled with a crosslinkable 125I-labeled photoaffinity-analog of folic acid as a ligand. Triton X-100-insoluble membrane domains containing MFR-alpha could be separated from soluble MFR-alpha on sucrose flotation gradients. Only Triton X-100 soluble MFR-alpha was internalized from the plasma membrane. The reduced-folate-carrier, an integral membrane protein capable of translocating (anti-)folates across membranes, was completely excluded from the Triton X-100- resistant membrane domains. Internalized MFR-alpha recycled slowly to the cell surface during which it remained soluble in Triton X-100 at 0 degree C. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we found MFR-alpha along the entire endocytic pathway: in clathrin-coated buds and vesicles, and in small and large endosomal vacuoles. In conclusion, our data indicate that a large fraction, if not all, of internalizing MFR-alpha bypasses caveolae. PMID:8567728

Endocytosis of GPI-linked membrane folate receptor-alpha.

PubMed

Rijnboutt, S; Jansen, G; Posthuma, G; Hynes, J B; Schornagel, J H; Strous, G J

1996-01-01

GPI-linked membrane folate receptors (MFRs) have been implicated in the receptor-mediated uptake of reduced folate cofactors and folate-based chemotherapeutic drugs. We have studied the biosynthetic transport to and internalization of MFR isoform alpha in KB-cells. MFR-alpha was synthesized as a 32-kD protein and converted in a maturely glycosylated 36-38-kD protein 1 h after synthesis. 32-kD MFR-alpha was completely soluble in Triton X-100 at 0 degree C. In contrast, only 33% of the 36-38-kD species could be solubilized at these conditions whereas complete solubilization was obtained in Triton X-100 at 37 degrees C or in the presence of saponin at 0 degree C. Similar solubilization characteristics were found when MFR-alpha at the plasma membrane was labeled with a crosslinkable 125I-labeled photoaffinity-analog of folic acid as a ligand. Triton X-100-insoluble membrane domains containing MFR-alpha could be separated from soluble MFR-alpha on sucrose flotation gradients. Only Triton X-100 soluble MFR-alpha was internalized from the plasma membrane. The reduced-folate-carrier, an integral membrane protein capable of translocating (anti-)folates across membranes, was completely excluded from the Triton X-100-resistant membrane domains. Internalized MFR-alpha recycled slowly to the cell surface during which it remained soluble in Triton X-100 at 0 degree C. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we found MFR-alpha along the entire endocytic pathway: in clathrin-coated buds and vesicles, and in small and large endosomal vacuoles. In conclusion, our data indicate that a large fraction, if not all, of internalizing MFR-alpha bypasses caveolae.

Development of Ultrafiltration Membrane-Separation Technology for Energy-Efficient Water Treatment and Desalination Process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yim, Woosoon; Bae, Chulsung

The growing scarcity of fresh water is a major political and economic challenge in the 21st century. Compared to thermal-based distillation technique of water production, pressure driven membrane-based water purification process, such as ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO), can offer more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution to clean water production. Potential applications also include removal of hazardous chemicals (i.e., arsenic, pesticides, organics) from water. Although those membrane-separation technologies have been used to produce drinking water from seawater (desalination) and non-traditional water (i.e., municipal wastewater and brackish groundwater) over the last decades, they still have problems in ordermore » to be applied in large-scale operations. Currently, a major huddle of membrane-based water purification technology for large-scale commercialization is membrane fouling and its resulting increases in pressure and energy cost of filtration process. Membrane cleaning methods, which can restore the membrane properties to some degree, usually cause irreversible damage to the membranes. Considering that electricity for creating of pressure constitutes a majority of cost (~50%) in membrane-based water purification process, the development of new nano-porous membranes that are more resistant to degradation and less subject to fouling is highly desired. Styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer is one of the best known block copolymers that induces well defined morphologies. Due to the polarity difference of aromatic styrene unit and saturated ethylene/butylene unit, these two polymer chains self-assemble each other and form different phase-separated morphologies depending on the ratios of two polymer chain lengths. Because the surface of SEBS is hydrophobic which easily causes fouling of membrane, incorporation of ionic group (e,g, sulfonate) to the polymer is necessary to reduces fouling. Recently, sulfonated SEBS became commercially available and has been extensively explored for membrane-mediated water purification technology. The sulfonated block copolymer creates a well developed nano-sale phase-separated morphologies composed of hydrophilic domains (sulfonated polystyrene) and hydrophobic domains (polyethylene/polybutylene). The hydrophilic domains determines transport properties (water transport, salt and/or ion rejection, etc) and the hydrophobic domains provides mechanical stability of the membrane. Unfortunately, a high degree of sulfonation of SEBS induces excessive swelling and deterioration of mechanical stability of the membrane. In an effort to develop robust polymeric membrane materials for water purification technology, phosphonic acid-functionalized SEBS membranes are investigated during this report period. In compare to sulfonated polymers, the corresponding phosphonated polymers are known to swell less because of the formation of extensive hydrogen bonding networks between phosphonates. In addition to the expected better mechanical stability, phosphonated polymers has another advantage over sulfonated polymers for the use water purification membrane; each phosphonate can accommodate two ions while each sulfonate accommodates only one ion. Membrane properties (ion type, ionic density, etc) of new membranes will be studied and their separation performance will be evaluated in water purification and desalination process. Through systematic study of the relationship of chemical structure–surface property–membrane performance, we aim to better understand the nature of membrane fouling and develop more fouling-resistant water purification membranes. The basic understanding of this relationship will lead to the development of advanced membrane materials which can offer a solution to environmentally sustainable production of fresh water.« less

GARP (LRRC32) is essential for the surface expression of latent TGF-beta on platelets and activated FOXP3+ regulatory T cells.

PubMed

Tran, Dat Q; Andersson, John; Wang, Rui; Ramsey, Heather; Unutmaz, Derya; Shevach, Ethan M

2009-08-11

TGF-beta family members are highly pleiotropic cytokines with diverse regulatory functions. TGF-beta is normally found in the latent form associated with latency-associated peptide (LAP). This latent complex can associate with latent TGFbeta-binding protein (LTBP) to produce a large latent form. Latent TGF-beta is also found on the surface of activated FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs), but it is unclear how it is anchored to the cell membrane. We show that GARP or LRRC32, a leucine-rich repeat molecule of unknown function, is critical for tethering TGF-beta to the cell surface. We demonstrate that platelets and activated Tregs co-express latent TGF-beta and GARP on their membranes. The knockdown of GARP mRNA with siRNA prevented surface latent TGF-beta expression on activated Tregs and recombinant latent TGF-beta1 is able to bind directly with GARP. Confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation strongly support their interactions. The role of TGF-beta on Tregs appears to have dual functions, both for Treg-mediated suppression and infectious tolerance mechanism.

GARP (LRRC32) is essential for the surface expression of latent TGF-β on platelets and activated FOXP3+ regulatory T cells

PubMed Central

Tran, Dat Q.; Andersson, John; Wang, Rui; Ramsey, Heather; Unutmaz, Derya; Shevach, Ethan M.

2009-01-01

TGF-β family members are highly pleiotropic cytokines with diverse regulatory functions. TGF-β is normally found in the latent form associated with latency-associated peptide (LAP). This latent complex can associate with latent TGFβ-binding protein (LTBP) to produce a large latent form. Latent TGF-β is also found on the surface of activated FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), but it is unclear how it is anchored to the cell membrane. We show that GARP or LRRC32, a leucine-rich repeat molecule of unknown function, is critical for tethering TGF-β to the cell surface. We demonstrate that platelets and activated Tregs co-express latent TGF-β and GARP on their membranes. The knockdown of GARP mRNA with siRNA prevented surface latent TGF-β expression on activated Tregs and recombinant latent TGF-β1 is able to bind directly with GARP. Confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation strongly support their interactions. The role of TGF-β on Tregs appears to have dual functions, both for Treg-mediated suppression and infectious tolerance mechanism. PMID:19651619

Inward rectifier potassium currents in mammalian skeletal muscle fibres

PubMed Central

DiFranco, Marino; Yu, Carl; Quiñonez, Marbella; Vergara, Julio L

2015-01-01

Inward rectifying potassium (Kir) channels play a central role in maintaining the resting membrane potential of skeletal muscle fibres. Nevertheless their role has been poorly studied in mammalian muscles. Immunohistochemical and transgenic expression were used to assess the molecular identity and subcellular localization of Kir channel isoforms. We found that Kir2.1 and Kir2.2 channels were targeted to both the surface andthe transverse tubular system membrane (TTS) compartments and that both isoforms can be overexpressed up to 3-fold 2 weeks after transfection. Inward rectifying currents (IKir) had the canonical features of quasi-instantaneous activation, strong inward rectification, depended on the external [K+], and could be blocked by Ba2+ or Rb+. In addition, IKir records show notable decays during large 100 ms hyperpolarizing pulses. Most of these properties were recapitulated by model simulations of the electrical properties of the muscle fibre as long as Kir channels were assumed to be present in the TTS. The model also simultaneously predicted the characteristics of membrane potential changes of the TTS, as reported optically by a fluorescent potentiometric dye. The activation of IKir by large hyperpolarizations resulted in significant attenuation of the optical signals with respect to the expectation for equal magnitude depolarizations; blocking IKir with Ba2+ (or Rb+) eliminated this attenuation. The experimental data, including the kinetic properties of IKir and TTS voltage records, and the voltage dependence of peak IKir, while measured at widely dissimilar bulk [K+] (96 and 24 mm), were closely predicted by assuming Kir permeability (PKir) values of ∼5.5 × 10−6 cm s−1 and equal distribution of Kir channels at the surface and TTS membranes. The decay of IKir records and the simultaneous increase in TTS voltage changes were mostly explained by K+ depletion from the TTS lumen. Most importantly, aside from allowing an accurate estimation of most of the properties of IKir in skeletal muscle fibres, the model demonstrates that a substantial proportion of IKir (>70%) arises from the TTS. Overall, our work emphasizes that measured intrinsic properties (inward rectification and external [K] dependence) and localization of Kir channels in the TTS membranes are ideally suited for re-capturing potassium ions from the TTS lumen during, and immediately after, repetitive stimulation under physiological conditions. Key points This paper provides a comprehensive electrophysiological characterization of the external [K+] dependence and inward rectifying properties of Kir channels in fast skeletal muscle fibres of adult mice. Two isoforms of inward rectifier K channels (IKir2.1 and IKir2.2) are expressed in both the surface and the transverse tubular system (TTS) membranes of these fibres. Optical measurements demonstrate that Kir currents (IKir) affect the membrane potential changes in the TTS membranes, and result in a reduction in luminal [K+]. A model of the muscle fibre assuming that functional Kir channels are equally distributed between the surface and TTS membranes accounts for both the electrophysiological and the optical data. Model simulations demonstrate that the more than 70% of IKir arises from the TTS membranes. [K+] increases in the lumen of the TTS resulting from the activation of K delayed rectifier channels (Kv) lead to drastic enhancements of IKir, and to right-shifts in their reversal potential. These changes are predicted by the model. PMID:25545278

Conductive super-hydrophobic surfaces of polyaniline modified porous anodic alumina membranes.

PubMed

Chen, Xinhua; Chen, Guangming; Ma, Yongmei; Li, Xinhong; Jiang, Lei; Wang, Fosong

2006-03-01

A conductive polymer polyaniline (PANI) was employed to achieve surfaces of both super-hydrophobic and conductive on NaOH etched porous anodic alumina (PAA) membranes. The surfaces exhibit micro- and nanostructures. In the PANI modified PAA membrane, PANI is mainly emeraldine. After the membrane was immersed in HCl, the content of the protonated nitrogen increased, which increased the conductivity.

Development of Omniphobic Desalination Membranes Using a Charged Electrospun Nanofiber Scaffold.

PubMed

Lee, Jongho; Boo, Chanhee; Ryu, Won-Hee; Taylor, André D; Elimelech, Menachem

2016-05-04

In this study, we present a facile and scalable approach to fabricate omniphobic nanofiber membranes by constructing multilevel re-entrant structures with low surface energy. We first prepared positively charged nanofiber mats by electrospinning a blend polymer-surfactant solution of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) and cationic surfactant (benzyltriethylammonium). Negatively charged silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were grafted on the positively charged electrospun nanofibers via dip-coating to achieve multilevel re-entrant structures. Grafted SiNPs were then coated with fluoroalkylsilane to lower the surface energy of the membrane. The fabricated membrane showed excellent omniphobicity, as demonstrated by its wetting resistance to various low surface tension liquids, including ethanol with a surface tension of 22.1 mN/m. As a promising application, the prepared omniphobic membrane was tested in direct contact membrane distillation to extract water from highly saline feed solutions containing low surface tension substances, mimicking emerging industrial wastewaters (e.g., from shale gas production). While a control hydrophobic PVDF-HFP nanofiber membrane failed in the desalination/separation process due to low wetting resistance, our fabricated omniphobic membrane exhibited a stable desalination performance for 8 h of operation, successfully demonstrating clean water production from the low surface tension feedwater.

Origin of 1/f noise in hydration dynamics on lipid membrane surfaces

PubMed Central

Yamamoto, Eiji; Akimoto, Takuma; Yasui, Masato; Yasuoka, Kenji

2015-01-01

Water molecules on lipid membrane surfaces are known to contribute to membrane stability by connecting lipid molecules and acting as a water bridge. Although water structures and diffusivities near the membrane surfaces have been extensively studied, hydration dynamics on the surfaces has remained an open question. Here we investigate residence time statistics of water molecules on the surface of lipid membranes using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We show that hydration dynamics on the lipid membranes exhibits 1/f noise. Constructing a dichotomous process for the hydration dynamics, we find that residence times in each state follow a power-law with exponential cutoff and that the process can be regarded as a correlated renewal process where interoccurrence times are correlated. The results imply that the origin of the 1/f noise in hydration dynamics on the membrane surfaces is a combination of a power-law distribution with cutoff of interoccurrence times of switching events and a long-term correlation between the interoccurrence times. These results suggest that the 1/f noise attributed to the correlated renewal process may contribute to the stability of the hydration layers and lipid membranes. PMID:25743377

Large Plasma Membrane Disruptions Are Rapidly Resealed by Ca2+-dependent Vesicle–Vesicle Fusion Events

PubMed Central

Terasaki, Mark; Miyake, Katsuya; McNeil, Paul L.

1997-01-01

A microneedle puncture of the fibroblast or sea urchin egg surface rapidly evokes a localized exocytotic reaction that may be required for the rapid resealing that follows this breach in plasma membrane integrity (Steinhardt, R.A,. G. Bi, and J.M. Alderton. 1994. Science (Wash. DC). 263:390–393). How this exocytotic reaction facilitates the resealing process is unknown. We found that starfish oocytes and sea urchin eggs rapidly reseal much larger disruptions than those produced with a microneedle. When an ∼40 by 10 μm surface patch was torn off, entry of fluorescein stachyose (FS; 1,000 mol wt) or fluorescein dextran (FDx; 10,000 mol wt) from extracellular sea water (SW) was not detected by confocal microscopy. Moreover, only a brief (∼5–10 s) rise in cytosolic Ca2+ was detected at the wound site. Several lines of evidence indicate that intracellular membranes are the primary source of the membrane recruited for this massive resealing event. When we injected FS-containing SW deep into the cells, a vesicle formed immediately, entrapping within its confines most of the FS. DiI staining and EM confirmed that the barrier delimiting injected SW was a membrane bilayer. The threshold for vesicle formation was ∼3 mM Ca2+ (SW is ∼10 mM Ca2+). The capacity of intracellular membranes for sealing off SW was further demonstrated by extruding egg cytoplasm from a micropipet into SW. A boundary immediately formed around such cytoplasm, entrapping FDx or FS dissolved in it. This entrapment did not occur in Ca2+-free SW (CFSW). When egg cytoplasm stratified by centrifugation was exposed to SW, only the yolk platelet–rich domain formed a membrane, suggesting that the yolk platelet is a critical element in this response and that the ER is not required. We propose that plasma membrane disruption evokes Ca2+ regulated vesicle–vesicle (including endocytic compartments but possibly excluding ER) fusion reactions. The function in resealing of this cytoplasmic fusion reaction is to form a replacement bilayer patch. This patch is added to the discontinuous surface bilayer by exocytotic fusion events. PMID:9314529

New Method for Super Hydrophobic Treatment of Gas Diffusion Layers for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Using Electrochemical Reduction of Diazonium Salts.

PubMed

Thomas, Yohann R J; Benayad, Anass; Schroder, Maxime; Morin, Arnaud; Pauchet, Joël

2015-07-15

The purpose of this article is to report a new method for the surface functionalization of commercially available gas diffusion layers (GDLs) by the electrochemical reduction of diazonium salt containing hydrophobic functional groups. The method results in superhydrophobic GDLs, over a large area, without pore blocking. An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study based on core level spectra and chemical mapping has demonstrated the successful grafting route, resulting in a homogeneous distribution of the covalently bonded hydrophobic molecules on the surface of the GDL fibers. The result was corroborated by contact angle measurement, showing similar hydrophobicity between the grafted and PTFE-modified GDLs. The electrochemically modified GDLs were tested in proton exchange membrane fuel cells under automotive, wet, and dry conditions and demonstrated improved performance over traditional GDLs.

Two independent forms of endocytosis maintain embryonic cell surface homeostasis during early development

PubMed Central

Covian-Nares, J. Fernando; Smith, Robert M.; Vogel, Steven S.

2008-01-01

Eukaryotic cells have multiple forms of endocytosis which maintain cell surface homeostasis. One explanation for this apparent redundancy is to allow independent retrieval of surface membranes derived from different types of vesicles. Consistent with this hypothesis we find that sea urchin eggs have at least two types of compensatory endocytosis. One is associated with retrieving cortical vesicle membranes, and formed large endosomes by a mechanism that was inhibited by agatoxin, cadmium, staurosporine and FK506. The second type is thought to compensate for constitutive exocytosis, and formed small endosomes using a mechanism that was insensitive to the above mentioned reagents, but was inhibited by phenylarsine oxide (PAO), and by microinjection of mRNA encoding Src kinase. Both mechanisms could act concurrently, and account for all of the endocytosis occurring during early development. Inhibition of either form did not trigger compensation by the other form, and phorbol ester treatment rescued the endocytotic activity blocked by agatoxin, but not the retrieval blocked by PAO. PMID:18281031

Tracking inorganic foulants irreversibly accumulated on low-pressure membranes for treating surface water.

PubMed

Yamamura, Hiroshi; Kimura, Katsuki; Higuchi, Kumiko; Watanabe, Yoshimasa; Ding, Qing; Hafuka, Akira

2015-12-15

While low-pressure membrane filtration processes (i.e., microfiltration and ultrafiltration) can offer precise filtration than sand filtration, they pose the problem of reduced efficiency due to membrane fouling. Although many studies have examined membrane fouling by organic substances, there is still not enough data available concerning membrane fouling by inorganic substances. The present research investigated changes in the amounts of inorganic components deposited on the surface of membrane filters over time using membrane specimens sampled thirteen times at arbitrary time intervals during pilot testing in order to determine the mechanism by which irreversible fouling by inorganic substances progresses. The experiments showed that the inorganic components that primarily contribute to irreversible fouling vary as filtration continues. It was discovered that, in the initial stage of operation, the main membrane-fouling substance was iron, whereas the primary membrane-fouling substances when operation finished were manganese, calcium, and silica. The amount of iron accumulated on the membrane increased up to the thirtieth day of operation, after which it reached a steady state. After the accumulation of iron became static, subsequent accumulation of manganese was observed. The fact that the removal rates of these inorganic components also increased gradually shows that the size of the exclusion pores of the membrane filter narrows as operation continues. Studying particle size distributions of inorganic components contained in source water revealed that while many iron particles are approximately the same size as membrane pores, the fraction of manganese particles slightly smaller than the pores in diameter was large. From these results, it is surmised that iron particles approximately the same size as the pores block them soon after the start of operation, and as the membrane pores narrow with the development of fouling, they become further blocked by manganese particles approximately the same size as the narrowed pores. Calcium and silica are assumed to accumulate on the membrane due to their cross-linking action and/or complex formation with organic substances such as humic compounds. The present research is the first to clearly show that the inorganic components that contribute to membrane fouling differ according to the stage of membrane fouling progression; the information obtained by this research should enable chemical cleaning or operational control in accordance with the stage of membrane fouling progression. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modification of the erythrocyte membrane dielectric constant by alcohols.

PubMed

Orme, F W; Moronne, M M; Macey, R I

1988-08-01

Aliphatic alcohols are found to stimulate the transmembrane fluxes of a hydrophobic cation (tetraphenylarsonium, TPA) and anion (AN-12) 5-20 times in red blood cells. The results are analyzed using the Born-Parsegian equation (Parsegian, A., 1969, Nature (London) 221:844-846), together with the Clausius-Mossotti equation to calculate membrane dielectric energy barriers. Using established literature values of membrane thickness, native membrane dielectric constant, TPA ionic radius, and alcohol properties (partition coefficient, molar volume, dielectric constant), the TPA permeability data is predicted remarkably well by theory. If the radius of AN-12 is taken as 1.9 A, its permeability in the presence of butanol is also described by our analysis. Further, the theory quantitatively accounts for the data of Gutknecht and Tosteson (Gutknecht, J., Tosteson, D.C., 1970, J. Gen. Physiol. 55:359-374) covering alcohol-induced conductivity changes of 3 orders of magnitude in artificial bilayers. Other explanations including perturbations of membrane fluidity, surface charge, membrane thickness, and dipole potential are discussed. However, the large magnitude of the stimulation, the more pronounced effect on smaller ions, and the acceleration of both anions and cations suggest membrane dielectric constant change as the primary basis of alcohol effects.

A stepwise mechanism for the permeation of phloretin through a lipid bilayer

PubMed Central

1982-01-01

The thermodynamics of interactions between phloretin and a phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicle membrane are characterized using equilibrium spectrophotometric titration, stopped-flow, and temperature- jump techniques. Binding of phloretin to a PC vesicle membrane is diffusion limited, with an association rate constant greater than 10(8) M-1s-1, and an interfacial activation free energy of less than 2 kcal/mol. Equilibrium binding of phloretin to a vesicle membrane is characterized by a single class of high-affinity (8 micro M), noninteracting sites. Binding is enthalpy driven (delta H = -4.9 kcal/mol) at 23 degrees C. Analysis of amplitudes of kinetic processes shows that 66 +/- 3% of total phloretin binding sites are exposed at the external vesicle surface. The rate of phloretin movement between binding sites located near the external and internal interfaces is proportional to the concentration of un-ionized phloretin, with a rate constant of 5.7 X 10(4) M-1s-1 at 23 degrees C. The rate of this process is limited by a large enthalpic (9 kcal/mol) and entropic (-31 entropy units) barrier. An analysis of the concentration dependence of the rate of transmembrane movement suggests the presence of multiple intramembrane potential barriers. Permeation of phloretin through a lipid bilayer is modeled quantitatively in terms of discrete steps: binding to a membrane surface, translocation across a series of intramembrane barriers, and dissociation from the opposite membrane surface. The permeability coefficient for phloretin is calculated as 1.9 X 10(-3) cm/s on the basis of the model presented. Structure- function relationships are examined for a number of phloretin analogues. PMID:7142954

MYONEURAL JUNCTIONS OF TWO ULTRASTRUCTURALLY DISTINCT TYPES IN EARTHWORM BODY WALL MUSCLE

PubMed Central

Rosenbluth, Jack

1972-01-01

The longitudinal muscle of the earthworm body wall is innervated by nerve bundles containing axons of two types which form two corresponding types of myoneural junction with the muscle fibers Type I junctions resemble cholinergic neuromuscular junctions of vertebrate skeletal muscle and are characterized by three features: (a) The nerve terminals contain large numbers of spherical, clear, ∼500 A vesicles plus a small number of larger dense-cored vesicles (b) The junctional gap is relatively wide (∼900 A), and it contains a basement membrane-like material, (c) The postjunctional membrane, although not folded, displays prominent specializations on both its external and internal surfaces The cytoplasmic surface is covered by a dense matrix ∼200 A thick which appears to be the site of insertion of fine obliquely oriented cytoplasmic filaments The external surface exhibits rows of projections ∼200 A long whose bases consist of hexagonally arrayed granules seated in the outer dense layer of the plasma membrane The concentration of these hexagonally disposed elements corresponds to the estimated concentration of both receptor sites and acetylcholinesterase sites at cholinergic junctions elsewhere. Type II junctions resemble the adrenergic junctions in vertebrate smooth muscle and exhibit the following structural characteristics: (a) The nerve fibers contain predominantly dense-cored vesicles ∼1000 A in diameter (b) The junctional gap is relatively narrow (∼150 A) and contains no basement membrane-like material, (c) Postjunctional membrane specialization is minimal. It is proposed that the structural differences between the two types of myoneural junction reflect differences in the respective transmitters and corresponding differences in the mechanisms of transmitter action and/or inactivation. PMID:5044759

Membrane Bending by Protein Crowding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stachowiak, Jeanne

2014-03-01

From endosomes and synaptic vesicles to the cristae of the mitochondria and the annulus of the nuclear pore, highly curved membranes are fundamental to the structure and physiology of living cells. The established view is that specific families of proteins are able to bend membranes by binding to them. For example, inherently curved proteins are thought to impose their structure on the membrane surface, while membrane-binding proteins with hydrophobic motifs are thought to insert into the membrane like wedges, driving curvature. However, computational models have recently revealed that these mechanisms would require specialized membrane-bending proteins to occupy nearly 100% of a curved membrane surface, an improbable physiological situation given the immense density and diversity of membrane-bound proteins, and the low expression levels of these specialized proteins within curved regions of the membrane. How then does curvature arise within the complex and crowded environment of cellular membranes? Our recent work using proteins involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, as well as engineered protein-lipid interactions, has suggested a new hypothesis - that lateral pressure generated by collisions between membrane-bound proteins can drive membrane bending. Specifically, by correlating membrane bending with quantitative optical measurements of protein density on synthetic membrane surfaces and simple physical models of collisions among membrane-bound proteins, we have demonstrated that protein-protein steric interactions can drive membrane curvature. These findings suggest that a simple imbalance in the concentration of membrane-bound proteins across a membrane surface can drive a membrane to bend, providing an efficient mechanism by which essentially any protein can contribute to shaping membranes.

Large plasma-membrane depolarization precedes rapid blue-light-induced growth inhibition in cucumber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spalding, E. P.; Cosgrove, D. J.

1989-01-01

Blue-light (BL)-induced suppression of elongation of etiolated Cucumis sativus L. hypocotyls began after a 30-s lag time, which was halved by increasing the fluence rate from 10 to 100 micromoles m-2 s-1. Prior to the growth suppression, the plasma-membrane of the irradiated cells depolarized by as much as 100 mV, then returned within 2-3 min to near its initial value. The potential difference measured with surface electrodes changed with an identical time course but opposite polarity. The lag time for the change in surface potential showed an inverse dependence on fluence rate, similar to the lag for the growth inhibition. Green light and red light caused neither the electrical response nor the rapid inhibition of growth. The depolarization by BL did not propagate to nonirradiated regions and exhibited a refractory period of about 10 min following a BL pulse. Fluence-response relationships for the electrical and growth responses provide correlational evidence that the plasma-membrane depolarization reflects an event in the transduction chain of this light-growth response.

CryoEM structures of membrane pore and prepore complex reveal cytolytic mechanism of Pneumolysin

PubMed Central

van Pee, Katharina; Neuhaus, Alexander; D'Imprima, Edoardo; Mills, Deryck J; Kühlbrandt, Werner; Yildiz, Özkan

2017-01-01

Many pathogenic bacteria produce pore-forming toxins to attack and kill human cells. We have determined the 4.5 Å structure of the ~2.2 MDa pore complex of pneumolysin, the main virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae, by cryoEM. The pneumolysin pore is a 400 Å ring of 42 membrane-inserted monomers. Domain 3 of the soluble toxin refolds into two ~85 Å β-hairpins that traverse the lipid bilayer and assemble into a 168-strand β-barrel. The pore complex is stabilized by salt bridges between β-hairpins of adjacent subunits and an internal α-barrel. The apolar outer barrel surface with large sidechains is immersed in the lipid bilayer, while the inner barrel surface is highly charged. Comparison of the cryoEM pore complex to the prepore structure obtained by electron cryo-tomography and the x-ray structure of the soluble form reveals the detailed mechanisms by which the toxin monomers insert into the lipid bilayer to perforate the target membrane. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23644.001 PMID:28323617

Large transient nonproton ion movements in purple membrane suspensions are abolished by solubilization in Triton X-100.

PubMed Central

Marinetti, T; Mauzerall, D

1986-01-01

Light-induced release/uptake of both protons and other ions cause transient changes in conductivity in suspensions of purple membrane (PM) fragments (Marinetti, Tim, and David Mauzerall, 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80:178-180). We find that the release/uptake of nonproton ions with quantum yield greater than 1 is observed at most pHs and ionic strengths. Only at both low pH and low ionic strength is the conductivity transient mostly due to protons. Our hypothesis is that during the photocycle, changes occur in the PM's dense surface charge distribution that result in changes in the number of counterions bound or condensed at the membrane surface. To test this, the PM structure was perturbed with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. Immediately after addition, Triton does not abolish the nonproton ion movements; in fact at low detergent concentrations (0.02% vol/vol) the signal amplitudes increased considerably. However, when PM is completely solubilized into monomers in Triton, the conductivity transients are due to protons alone, though at lower quantum yield compared with native PM. These results suggest that changes in the surface charge distribution in native PM's photocycle could contribute to proton transfer between the aqueous phase and bR itself. PMID:3019444

Chlorobenzene Poisoning and Recovery of Platinum-Based Cathodes in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

PubMed Central

Zhai, Yunfeng; Baturina, Olga; Ramaker, David; Farquhar, Erik; St-Pierre, Jean; Swider-Lyons, Karen

2015-01-01

The platinum electrocatalysts found in proton exchange membrane fuel cells are poisoned both reversibly and irreversibly by air pollutants and residual manufacturing contaminants. In this work, the poisoning of a Pt/C PEMFC cathode was probed by a trace of chlorobenzene in the air feed. Chlorobenzene inhibits the oxygen reduction reaction and causes significant cell performance loss. The performance loss is largely restored by neat air operation and potential cycling between 0.08 V and 1.2 V under H2/N2 (anode/cathode). The analysis of emissions, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectra show the chlorobenzene adsorption/reaction and molecular orientation on Pt surface depend on the electrode potential. At low potentials, chlorobenzene deposits either on top of adsorbed H atoms or on the Pt surface via the benzene ring and is converted to benzene (ca. 0.1 V) or cyclohexane (ca. 0 V) upon Cl removal. At potentials higher than 0.2 V, chlorobenzene binds to Pt via the Cl atom and can be converted to benzene (less than 0.3 V) or desorbed. Cl− is created and remains in the membrane electrode assembly. Cl− binds to the Pt surface much stronger than chlorobenzene, but can slowly be flushed out by liquid water. PMID:26388963

Model for capping of membrane receptors based on boundary surface effects

PubMed Central

Gershon, N. D.

1978-01-01

Crosslinking of membrane surface receptors may lead to their segregation into patches and then into a single large aggregate at one pole of the cell. This process is called capping. Here, a novel explanation of such a process is presented in which the membrane is viewed as a supersaturated solution of receptors in the lipid bilayer and the adjacent two aqueous layers. Without a crosslinking agent, a patch of receptors that is less than a certain size cannot stay in equilibrium with the solution and thus should dissolve. Patches greater than a certain size are stable and can, in principle, grow by the precipitation of the remaining dissolved receptors from the supersaturated solution. The task of the crosslinking molecules is to form such stable patches. These considerations are based on a qualitative thermodynamic calculation that takes into account the existence of a boundary tension in a patch (in analogy to the surface tension of a droplet). Thermodynamically, these systems should cap spontaneously after the patches have reached a certain size. But, in practice, such a process can be very slow. A suspension of patches may stay practically stable. The ways in which a cell may abolish this metastable equilibrium and thus achieve capping are considered and possible effects of capping inhibitors are discussed. PMID:274724

Probing the Interaction of Dielectric Nanoparticles with Supported Lipid Membrane Coatings on Nanoplasmonic Arrays

PubMed Central

Ferhan, Abdul Rahim; Ma, Gamaliel Junren; Jackman, Joshua A.; Sut, Tun Naw; Park, Jae Hyeon; Cho, Nam-Joon

2017-01-01

The integration of supported lipid membranes with surface-based nanoplasmonic arrays provides a powerful sensing approach to investigate biointerfacial phenomena at membrane interfaces. While a growing number of lipid vesicles, protein, and nucleic acid systems have been explored with nanoplasmonic sensors, there has been only very limited investigation of the interactions between solution-phase nanomaterials and supported lipid membranes. Herein, we established a surface-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing platform for probing the interaction of dielectric nanoparticles with supported lipid bilayer (SLB)-coated, plasmonic nanodisk arrays. A key emphasis was placed on controlling membrane functionality by tuning the membrane surface charge vis-à-vis lipid composition. The optical sensing properties of the bare and SLB-coated sensor surfaces were quantitatively compared, and provided an experimental approach to evaluate nanoparticle–membrane interactions across different SLB platforms. While the interaction of negatively-charged silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) with a zwitterionic SLB resulted in monotonic adsorption, a stronger interaction with a positively-charged SLB resulted in adsorption and lipid transfer from the SLB to the SiNP surface, in turn influencing the LSPR measurement responses based on the changing spatial proximity of transferred lipids relative to the sensor surface. Precoating SiNPs with bovine serum albumin (BSA) suppressed lipid transfer, resulting in monotonic adsorption onto both zwitterionic and positively-charged SLBs. Collectively, our findings contribute a quantitative understanding of how supported lipid membrane coatings influence the sensing performance of nanoplasmonic arrays, and demonstrate how the high surface sensitivity of nanoplasmonic sensors is well-suited for detecting the complex interactions between nanoparticles and lipid membranes. PMID:28644423

In vitro tympanic membrane position identification with a co-axial fiber-optic otoscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundberg, Mikael; Peebo, Markus; Strömberg, Tomas

2011-09-01

Otitis media diagnosis can be assisted by measuring the shape of the tympanic membrane. We have developed an ear speculum for an otoscope, including spatially distributed source and detector optical fibers, to generate source-detector intensity matrices (SDIMs), representing the curvature of surfaces. The surfaces measured were a model ear with a latex membrane and harvested temporal bones including intact tympanic membranes. The position of the tympanic membrane was shifted from retracted to bulging by air pressure and that of the latex membrane by water displacement. The SDIM was normalized utilizing both external (a sheared flat plastic cylinder) and internal references (neutral position of the membrane). Data was fitted to a two-dimensional Gaussian surface representing the shape by its amplitude and offset. Retracted and bulging surfaces were discriminated for the model ear by the sign of the Gaussian amplitude for both internal and external reference normalization. Tympanic membranes were separated after a two-step normalization: first to an external reference, adjusted for the distance between speculum and the surfaces, and second by comparison with an average normally positioned SDIM from tympanic membranes. In conclusion, we have shown that the modified otoscope can discriminate between bulging and retracted tympanic membranes in a single measurement, given a two-step normalization.

Relocation of the disulfonic stilbene sites of AE1 (band 3) on the basis of fluorescence energy transfer measurements.

PubMed

Knauf, Philip A; Law, Foon-Yee; Leung, Tze-Wah Vivian; Atherton, Stephen J

2004-09-28

Previous fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements, using BIDS (4-benzamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate) as a label for the disulfonic stilbene site and FM (fluorescein-5-maleimide) as a label for the cytoplasmic SH groups on band 3 (AE1), combined with data showing that the cytoplasmic SH groups lie about 40 A from the cytoplasmic surface of the lipid bilayer, would place the BIDS sites very near the membrane's inner surface, a location that seems to be inconsistent with current models of AE1 structure and mechanism. We reinvestigated the BIDS-FM distance, using laser single photon counting techniques as well as steady-state fluorescence of AE1, in its native membrane environment. Both techniques agree that there is very little energy transfer from BIDS to FM. The mean energy transfer (E), based on three-exponential fits to the fluorescence decay data, is 2.5 +/- 0.7% (SEM, N = 12). Steady-state fluorescence measurements also indicate <3% energy transfer from BIDS to FM. These data indicate that the BIDS sites are probably over 63 A from the cytoplasmic SH groups, placing them near the middle or the external half of the lipid bilayer. This relocation of the BIDS sites fits with other evidence that the disulfonic stilbene sites are located farther toward the external membrane surface than Glu-681, a residue near the inner membrane surface whose modification affects the pH dependence and anion selectivity of band 3. The involvement of two relatively distant parts of the AE1 protein in transport function suggests that the transport mechanism requires coordinated large-scale conformational changes in the band 3 protein.

Relationships between resting conductances, excitability, and t-system ionic homeostasis in skeletal muscle.

PubMed

Fraser, James A; Huang, Christopher L-H; Pedersen, Thomas H

2011-07-01

Activation of skeletal muscle fibers requires rapid sarcolemmal action potential (AP) conduction to ensure uniform excitation along the fiber length, as well as successful tubular excitation to initiate excitation-contraction coupling. In our companion paper in this issue, Pedersen et al. (2011. J. Gen. Physiol. doi:10.1085/jgp.201010510) quantify, for subthreshold stimuli, the influence upon both surface conduction velocity and tubular (t)-system excitation of the large changes in resting membrane conductance (G(M)) that occur during repetitive AP firing. The present work extends the analysis by developing a multi-compartment modification of the charge-difference model of Fraser and Huang to provide a quantitative description of the conduction velocity of actively propagated APs; the influence of voltage-gated ion channels within the t-system; the influence of t-system APs on ionic homeostasis within the t-system; the influence of t-system ion concentration changes on membrane potentials; and the influence of Phase I and Phase II G(M) changes on these relationships. Passive conduction properties of the novel model agreed with established linear circuit analysis and previous experimental results, while key simulations of AP firing were tested against focused experimental microelectrode measurements of membrane potential. This study thereby first quantified the effects of the t-system luminal resistance and voltage-gated Na(+) channel density on surface AP propagation and the resultant electrical response of the t-system. Second, it demonstrated the influence of G(M) changes during repetitive AP firing upon surface and t-system excitability. Third, it showed that significant K(+) accumulation occurs within the t-system during repetitive AP firing and produces a baseline depolarization of the surface membrane potential. Finally, it indicated that G(M) changes during repetitive AP firing significantly influence both t-system K(+) accumulation and its influence on the resting membrane potential. Thus, the present study emerges with a quantitative description of the changes in membrane potential, excitability, and t-system ionic homeostasis that occur during repetitive AP firing in skeletal muscle.

Measurements of three-dimensional shape and sound-induced motion of the chinchilla tympanic membrane

PubMed Central

Rosowski, John J; Dobrev, Ivo; Khaleghi, Morteza; Lu, Weina; Cheng, Jeffrey Tao; Harrington, Ellery; Furlong, Cosme

2013-01-01

Opto-electronic computer holographic measurements were made of the tympanic membrane (TM) in cadaveric chinchillas. Measurements with two laser wavelengths were used to compute the 3D-shape of the TM. Single laser wavelength measurements locked to eight distinct phases of a tonal stimulus were used to determine the magnitude and the relative phase of the surface displacements. These measurements were made at over 250,000 points on the TM surface. The measured motions contained spatial phase variations consistent with relatively low-order (large spatial frequency) modal motions and smaller magnitude higher-order (smaller spatial frequency) motions that appear to travel, but may also be explained by losses within the membrane. The measurement of shape and thin shell theory allowed us to separate the measured motions into those components orthogonal to the plane of the tympanic ring, and those components within the plane of the tympanic ring based on the 3D-shape. The predicted in-plane motion components are generally smaller than the out-of-plane perpendicular component of motion. Since the derivation of in-plane and out-of plane depended primarily on the membrane shape, the relative sizes of the predicted motion components did not vary with frequency. PMID:23247058

Coating cells with colloidal silica for high yield isolation of plasma membrane sheets and identification of transmembrane proteins.

PubMed

Chaney, L K; Jacobson, B S

1983-08-25

Plasma membrane (PM) can be isolated by binding to a positively charged solid support. Using this concept, we have developed a novel method of PM isolation using cationic colloidal silica. The method is designed for the comparative study of various physiological states of PM and for transbilayer protein mapping. The procedure consists of coating intact cells with a dense pellicle of silica particles and polyanion. Since cells remain intact during pellicle formation, the external face of the PM is selectively coated. The pellicle greatly enhances PM density and stabilizes it against vesiculation or lateral reorientation. Upon cell lysis, large open sheets of PM are rapidly isolated by centrifugation. PM from Dictyostelium discoideum was prepared by this method. Marker enzymes, cell surface labeling and microscopy demonstrate that the PM was isolated in high yield (70-80%) with a 10-17-fold purification and only low levels of cytoplasmic contamination. The pellicle remains intact during cell lysis and membrane isolation, shielding the external surface of the membranes up to 92% from chemical or enzymatic attack. The PM can thus be labeled selectively from inside and/or outside. Transmembrane proteins were identified in Dictyostelium PM by means of lactoperoxidase iodination and autoradiography.

Probing lipid membrane electrostatics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yi

The electrostatic properties of lipid bilayer membranes play a significant role in many biological processes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is highly sensitive to membrane surface potential in electrolyte solutions. With fully characterized probe tips, AFM can perform quantitative electrostatic analysis of lipid membranes. Electrostatic interactions between Silicon nitride probes and supported zwitterionic dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayer with a variable fraction of anionic dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) were measured by AFM. Classical Gouy-Chapman theory was used to model the membrane electrostatics. The nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation was numerically solved with finite element method to provide the potential distribution around the AFM tips. Theoretical tip-sample electrostatic interactions were calculated with the surface integral of both Maxwell and osmotic stress tensors on tip surface. The measured forces were interpreted with theoretical forces and the resulting surface charge densities of the membrane surfaces were in quantitative agreement with the Gouy-Chapman-Stern model of membrane charge regulation. It was demonstrated that the AFM can quantitatively detect membrane surface potential at a separation of several screening lengths, and that the AFM probe only perturbs the membrane surface potential by <2%. One important application of this technique is to estimate the dipole density of lipid membrane. Electrostatic analysis of DOPC lipid bilayers with the AFM reveals a repulsive force between the negatively charged probe tips and the zwitterionic lipid bilayers. This unexpected interaction has been analyzed quantitatively to reveal that the repulsion is due to a weak external field created by the internai membrane dipole moment. The analysis yields a dipole moment of 1.5 Debye per lipid with a dipole potential of +275 mV for supported DOPC membranes. This new ability to quantitatively measure the membrane dipole density in a noninvasive manner will be useful in identifying the biological effects of the dipole potential. Finally, heterogeneous model membranes were studied with fluid electric force microscopy (FEFM). Electrostatic mapping was demonstrated with 50 nm resolution. The capabilities of quantitative electrostatic measurement and lateral charge density mapping make AFM a unique and powerful probe of membrane electrostatics.

Transportation and Accumulation of Redox Active Species at the Buried Interfaces of Plasticized Membrane Electrodes.

PubMed

Sohail, Manzar; De Marco, Roland; Jarolímová, Zdeňka; Pawlak, Marcin; Bakker, Eric; He, Ning; Latonen, Rose-Marie; Lindfors, Tom; Bobacka, Johan

2015-09-29

The transportation and accumulation of redox active species at the buried interface between glassy carbon electrodes and plasticized polymeric membranes have been studied using synchrotron radiation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SR-XPS), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), in situ electrochemical Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Ferrocene tagged poly(vinyl chloride) [FcPVC], ferrocene (Fc), and its derivatives together with tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) doped plasticized polymeric membrane electrodes have been investigated, so as to extend the study of the mechanism of this reaction chemistry to different time scales (both small and large molecules with variable diffusion coefficients) using a range of complementary electrochemical and surface analysis techniques. This study also provides direct spectroscopic evidence for the transportation and electrochemical reactivity of redox active species, regardless of the size of the electrochemically reactive molecule, at the buried interface of the substrate electrode. With all redox dopants, when CA electrolysis was performed, redox active species were undetectable (<1 wt % of signature elements or below the detection limit of SR-XPS and NEXAFS) in the outermost surface layers of the membrane, while a high concentration of redox species was located at the electrode substrate as a consequence of the deposition of the reaction product (Fc(+)-anion complex) at the buried interface between the electrode and the membrane. This reaction chemistry for redox active species within plasticized polymeric membranes may be useful in the fashioning of multilayered polymeric devices (e.g., chemical sensors, organic electronic devices, protective laminates, etc.) based on an electrochemical tunable deposition of redox molecules at the buried substrate electrode beneath the membrane.

Cholesterol modulates CFTR confinement in the plasma membrane of primary epithelial cells.

PubMed

Abu-Arish, Asmahan; Pandzic, Elvis; Goepp, Julie; Matthes, Elizabeth; Hanrahan, John W; Wiseman, Paul W

2015-07-07

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a plasma-membrane anion channel that, when mutated, causes the disease cystic fibrosis. Although CFTR has been detected in a detergent-resistant membrane fraction prepared from airway epithelial cells, suggesting that it may partition into cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains (lipid rafts), its compartmentalization has not been demonstrated in intact cells and the influence of microdomains on CFTR lateral mobility is unknown. We used live-cell imaging, spatial image correlation spectroscopy, and k-space image correlation spectroscopy to examine the aggregation state of CFTR and its dynamics both within and outside microdomains in the plasma membrane of primary human bronchial epithelial cells. These studies were also performed during treatments that augment or deplete membrane cholesterol. We found two populations of CFTR molecules that were distinguishable based on their dynamics at the cell surface. One population showed confinement and had slow dynamics that were highly cholesterol dependent. The other, more abundant population was less confined and diffused more rapidly. Treatments that deplete the membrane of cholesterol caused the confined fraction and average number of CFTR molecules per cluster to decrease. Elevating cholesterol had the opposite effect, increasing channel aggregation and the fraction of channels displaying confinement, consistent with CFTR recruitment into cholesterol-rich microdomains with dimensions below the optical resolution limit. Viral infection caused the nanoscale microdomains to fuse into large platforms and reduced CFTR mobility. To our knowledge, these results provide the first biophysical evidence for multiple CFTR populations and have implications for regulation of their surface expression and channel function. Copyright © 2015 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Membrane projection lithography

DOEpatents

Burckel, David Bruce; Davids, Paul S; Resnick, Paul J; Draper, Bruce L

2015-03-17

The various technologies presented herein relate to a three dimensional manufacturing technique for application with semiconductor technologies. A membrane layer can be formed over a cavity. An opening can be formed in the membrane such that the membrane can act as a mask layer to the underlying wall surfaces and bottom surface of the cavity. A beam to facilitate an operation comprising any of implantation, etching or deposition can be directed through the opening onto the underlying surface, with the opening acting as a mask to control the area of the underlying surfaces on which any of implantation occurs, material is removed, and/or material is deposited. The membrane can be removed, a new membrane placed over the cavity and a new opening formed to facilitate another implantation, etching, or deposition operation. By changing the direction of the beam different wall/bottom surfaces can be utilized to form a plurality of structures.

Effect of gamma-ray irradiation at low doses on the performance of PES ultrafiltration membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xue; Niu, Lixia; Li, Fuzhi; Yu, Suping; Zhao, Xuan; Hu, Hongying

2016-10-01

The influence of gamma irradiation on the performance of polyether sulfone (PES) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was investigated at low absorbed doses (0-75 kGy) using a cobalt source. The performance of the UF membranes was tested using low level radioactive wastewater (LLRW) containing three types of surfactants (anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants). The physical and chemical properties of membrane surface were analyzed, and relationships between these properties and separation performance and fouling characteristics were determined. At 10-75 kGy irradiation, there were no significant changes observed in the membrane surface roughness or polymer functional groups, however the contact angle decreased sharply from 92° to ca. 70° at irradiation levels as low as 10 kGy. When membranes were exposed to the surfactant-containing LLRW, the flux decreased more sharply for higher dosed irradiated membranes, while flux in virgin membranes increased during the filtration processes. The study highlights that fouling properties of membrane may be changed due to the changes of surface hydrophilicity at low dose irradiation, while other surface properties and retentions remain stable. Therefore, a membrane fouling test with real or simulated wastewater is recommended to fully evaluate the membrane irradiation resistance.

Study on surface adhesion of Plasma modified Polytetrafluoroethylene hollow fiber membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jiangrong; Zhang, Huifeng; Liu, Guochang; Guo, Chungang; Lv, Jinglie; Zhangb, Yushan

2018-01-01

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is popular membrane material because of its excellent thermal stability, chemical stability and mechanical stability. However, the low surface energy and non-sticky property of PTFE present challenges for modification. In the present study, plasma treatment was performed to improve the surface adhesion of PTFE hollow fiber membrane. The effect of discharge voltage, treatment time on the adhesion of PTFE hollow fiber membrane was symmetrically evaluated. Results showed that the plasma treatment method contributed to improve the surface activity and roughness of PTFE hollow fiber membrane, and the adhesion strength depend significantly on discharge voltage, which was beneficial to seepage pressure of PTFE hollow fiber membrane module. The adhesion strength of PTFE membrane by plasma treated at 220V for 3min reached as high as 86.2 N, far surpassing the adhesion strength 12.7 N of pristine membrane. Furthermore, improvement of content of free radical and composition analysis changes of the plasma modified PTFE membrane were investigated. The seepage pressure of PTFE membrane by plasma treated at 220V for 3min was 0.375 MPa, which means that the plasma treatment is an effective technique to improve the adhesion strength of membrane.

Complete wetting of graphene by biological lipids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luan, Binquan; Huynh, Tien; Zhou, Ruhong

2016-03-01

Graphene nanosheets have been demonstrated to extract large amounts of lipid molecules directly out of the cell membrane of bacteria and thus cause serious damage to the cell's integrity. This interesting phenomenon, however, is so far not well understood theoretically. Here through extensive molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical analyses, we show that this phenomenon can be categorized as a complete wetting of graphene by membrane lipids in water. A wetting-based theory was utilized to associate the free energy change during the microscopic extraction of a lipid with the spreading parameter for the macroscopic wetting. With a customized thermodynamic cycle for detailed energetics, we show that the dispersive adhesion between graphene and lipids plays a dominant role during this extraction as manifested by the curved graphene. Our simulation results suggest that biological lipids can completely wet the concave, flat or even convex (with a small curvature) surface of a graphene sheet.Graphene nanosheets have been demonstrated to extract large amounts of lipid molecules directly out of the cell membrane of bacteria and thus cause serious damage to the cell's integrity. This interesting phenomenon, however, is so far not well understood theoretically. Here through extensive molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical analyses, we show that this phenomenon can be categorized as a complete wetting of graphene by membrane lipids in water. A wetting-based theory was utilized to associate the free energy change during the microscopic extraction of a lipid with the spreading parameter for the macroscopic wetting. With a customized thermodynamic cycle for detailed energetics, we show that the dispersive adhesion between graphene and lipids plays a dominant role during this extraction as manifested by the curved graphene. Our simulation results suggest that biological lipids can completely wet the concave, flat or even convex (with a small curvature) surface of a graphene sheet. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: The movie showing the simulation trajectory for the extraction of lipids from the membrane. See DOI: 10.1039/C6NR00202A

Fabrication of polyamide thin-film nanocomposite membranes with enhanced surface charge for nitrate ion removal from water resources.

PubMed

Ghaee, A; Zerafat, M M; Askari, P; Sabbaghi, S; Sadatnia, B

2017-03-01

Exclusion due to membrane surface charge is considered as one of the main separation mechanisms occurring in charged membranes, which can be varied through various approaches to affect membrane rejection performance. In this study, thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) membranes were fabricated via interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine (m-PDA) and 2,4-diaminobenzene sulfonic acid with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) on a polysulfone sub-layer. The ability of the prepared membrane to remove nitrate ions from water resources has been investigated. In order to improve membrane permeability, zeolite-PA thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes were fabricated by incorporating natural zeolite nanoparticles obtained through ball milling of an Iranian natural zeolite powder in the interfacial polymerization process. The size, morphology and specific surface area of the as-obtained nanozeolite were characterized using particle size analysis, FE-SEM and BET. The functional groups, morphology and surface charge of the membrane were characterized using ATR-FTIR, SEM and zeta potential analyses. Also, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to determine the distribution of nanozeolite in TFN membranes. The influence of zeolite addition to surface roughness was accessed by atomic force microscopy. The performance of TFC and TFN membranes was evaluated in terms of pure water flux and nitrate rejection. The results showed that in case of sulfonated diamine, nitrate ions rejection was enhanced from 63% to 85% which could be attributed to surface charge enhancement. TFN permeability was almost doubled by the addition of nanozeolite.

Fluorescent Probe Study of AOT Vesicle Membranes and Their Alteration upon Addition of Aniline or the Aniline Dimer p-Aminodiphenylamine (PADPA).

PubMed

Iwasaki, Fumihiko; Luginbühl, Sandra; Suga, Keishi; Walde, Peter; Umakoshi, Hiroshi

2017-02-28

Artificial vesicles formed from sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) in aqueous solution are used successfully as additives for enzymatic oligomerizations or polymerizations of aniline or the aniline dimer p-aminodiphenylamine (PADPA) under slightly acidic conditions (e.g., pH 4.3 with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide as oxidants). In these systems, the reactions occur membrane surface-confined. Therefore, (i) the physicochemical properties of the vesicle membrane and (ii) the interaction of aniline or PADPA with the AOT membrane play crucial roles in the progress and final outcome of the reactions. For this reason, the properties of AOT vesicles with and without added aniline or PADPA were investigated by using two fluorescent membrane probes: 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and 6-lauroyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Laurdan). DPH and Laurdan were used as "sensors" of the membrane fluidity, surface polarity, and membrane phase state. Moreover, the effect of hexanol, alone or in combination with aniline or PADPA, as a possible modifier of the AOT membrane, was also studied with the aim of evaluating whether the membrane fluidity and surface polarity is altered significantly by hexanol, which, in turn, may have an influence on the mentioned types of reactions. The data obtained indicate that the AOT vesicle membrane at room temperature and pH 4.3 (0.1 M NaH 2 PO 4 ) is more fluid and has a more polar surface than in the case of fluid phospholipid vesicle membranes formed from 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). Furthermore, the fluorescence measurements indicate that mixed AOT-hexanol membranes are less fluid than pure AOT membranes and that they have a lower surface polarity than pure AOT membranes. PADPA strongly binds to AOT and to mixed AOT/hexanol membranes and leads to drastic changes in the membrane properties (decrease in fluidity and surface polarity), resulting in Laurdan fluorescence spectra, which are characteristic for intramembrane phase separations (coexistence of ordered and disordered domains). This means that highly fluid AOT membranes transform upon the addition of PADPA into membranes that have ordered domains. Although the relevance of this finding for the enzymatic oligomerization of PADPA is not yet clear, it is also of interest if one likes to use heterogeneous vesicle membranes as additives for carrying out membrane surface-confined reactions that do not necessarily involve PADPA as a reactant.

Cell surface dynamics - how Rho GTPases orchestrate the interplay between the plasma membrane and the cortical cytoskeleton.

PubMed

de Curtis, Ivan; Meldolesi, Jacopo

2012-10-01

Small GTPases are known to regulate hundreds of cell functions. In particular, Rho family GTPases are master regulators of the cytoskeleton. By regulating actin nucleation complexes, Rho GTPases control changes in cell shape, including the extension and/or retraction of surface protrusions and invaginations. Protrusion and invagination of the plasma membrane also involves the interaction between the plasma membrane and the cortical cytoskeleton. This interplay between membranes and the cytoskeleton can lead to an increase or decrease in the plasma membrane surface area and its tension as a result of the fusion (exocytosis) or internalization (endocytosis) of membranous compartments, respectively. For a long time, the cytoskeleton and plasma membrane dynamics were investigated separately. However, studies from many laboratories have now revealed that Rho GTPases, their modulation of the cytoskeleton, and membrane traffic are closely connected during the dynamic remodeling of the cell surface. Arf- and Rab-dependent exocytosis of specific vesicles contributes to the targeting of Rho GTPases and their regulatory factors to discrete sites of the plasma membrane. Rho GTPases regulate the tethering of exocytic vesicles and modulate their subsequent fusion. They also have crucial roles in the different forms of endocytosis, where they participate in the sorting of membrane domains as well as the sculpting and sealing of membrane flasks and cups. Here, we discuss how cell surface dynamics depend on the orchestration of the cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane by Rho GTPases.

Surface interactions and fouling properties of Micrococcus luteus with microfiltration membranes.

PubMed

Feng, Lei; Li, Xiufen; Song, Ping; Du, Guocheng; Chen, Jian

2011-11-01

This study was conducted to investigate microbial adhesion of Micrococcus luteus to polypropylene (PP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes in relation to the variation of the interfacial energies in the membrane-bacteria systems, for revealing effects of short-range surface interactions on filtration behavior. Both the membranes and M. luteus showed typical strong electron donors and hydrophilic properties. The AB component was dominant in the interfacial energies of the two membrane-bacteria systems. M. luteus presented larger negative U(mlb)(XDLVO) to the PP membrane than to the PVDF membrane. The adhesion experiments also proved that M. luteus had higher adhesion percentage to the PP membrane. This study demonstrated that the adhesion potentials of M. luteus to the PP and PVDF membranes might be explained in terms of bacterium, membrane, and intervening medium surface properties, which are mainly determined by the interfacial energies in the systems according to the XDLVO theory.

Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction analysis of zeolite NaA membranes on porous alumina tubes.

PubMed

Kyotani, Tomohiro

2006-07-01

Zeolite NaA-type membranes hydrothermally synthesized on porous alumina tubes, for dehydration process, were characterized by grazing incidence 2 theta scan X-ray diffraction analysis (GIXRD). The fine structure of the membrane was studied fractionally for surface layer and for materials embedded in the porous alumina tube. The thickness of the surface layer on the porous alumina tube in the membranes used in this study was approximately 2-3 microm as determined from transmission electron microscopy with focused ion beam thin-layer specimen preparation technique (FIB-TEM). To discuss the effects of the membrane surface morphology on the GIXRD measurements, CaA-type membrane prepared by ion exchange from the NaA-type membrane and surface-damaged NaA-type membrane prepared by water leaching were also studied. For the original NaA-type membrane, 2 theta scan GIXRD patterns could be clearly measured at X-ray incidence angles (alpha) ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 deg in increments of 0.1 deg. The surface layers of the 2 - 3 microm on the porous alumina tube correspond to the alpha values up to ca. 0.2 deg. For the CaA-type and the surface-damaged NaA-type membranes, however, diffraction patterns from the surface layer could not be successfully detected and the others were somewhat broad. For all the three samples, diffraction intensities of both zeolite and alumina increased with depth (X-ray incidence angle, alpha) in the porous alumina tube region. The depth profile analysis of the membranes based on the GIXRD first revealed that amount of zeolite crystal embedded in the porous alumina tube is much larger than that in the surface layer. Thus, the 2 theta scan GIXRD is a useful method to study zeolite crystal growth mechanism around (both inside and outside) the porous alumina support during hydrothermal synthesis and to study water permeation behavior in the dehydration process.

Preparation of robust braid-reinforced poly(vinyl chloride) ultrafiltration hollow fiber membrane with antifouling surface and application to filtration of activated sludge solution.

PubMed

Zhou, Zhuang; Rajabzadeh, Saeid; Fang, Lifeng; Miyoshi, Taro; Kakihana, Yuriko; Matsuyama, Hideto

2017-08-01

Braid-reinforced hollow fiber membranes with high mechanical properties and considerable antifouling surface were prepared by blending poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with poly(vinyl chloride-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (poly(VC-co-PEGMA)) copolymer via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). The tensile strength of the braid-reinforced PVC hollow fiber membranes were significantly larger than those of previously reported various types of PVC hollow fiber membranes. The high interfacial bonding strength indicated the good compatibility between the coating materials and the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-braid. Owing to the surface segregation phenomena, the membrane surface PEGMA coverage increased upon increasing the poly(VC-co-PEGMA)/PVC blending ratio, resulting in higher hydrophilicities and bovine serum albumin (BSA) repulsion. To compare the fouling properties, membranes with similar PWPs were prepared by adjusting the dope solution composition to eliminate the effect of hydrodynamic conditions on the membrane fouling performance. The blend membranes surface exhibited considerable fouling resistance to the molecular adsorption from both BSA solution and activated sludge solution. In both cases, the flux recovered to almost 80% of the initial flux using only water backflush. Considering their great mechanical properties and antifouling resistance to activated sludge solution, these novel membranes show good potential for application in wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pore surface fractal analysis of palladium-alumina ceramic membrane using Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) model.

PubMed

Ahmad, A L; Mustafa, N N N

2006-09-15

The alumina ceramic membrane has been modified by the addition of palladium in order to improve the H(2) permeability and selectivity. Palladium-alumina ceramic membrane was prepared via a sol-gel method and subjected to thermal treatment in the temperature range 500-1100 degrees C. Fractal analysis from nitrogen adsorption isotherm is used to study the pore surface roughness of palladium-alumina ceramic membrane with different chemical composition (nitric acid, PVA and palladium) and calcinations process in terms of surface fractal dimension, D. Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) model was used to determine the D value of palladium-alumina membrane. Following FHH model, the D value of palladium-alumina membrane increased as the calcinations temperature increased from 500 to 700 degrees C but decreased after calcined at 900 and 1100 degrees C. With increasing palladium concentration from 0.5 g Pd/100 ml H(2)O to 2 g Pd/100 ml H(2)O, D value of membrane decreased, indicating to the smoother surface. Addition of higher amount of PVA and palladium reduced the surface fractal of the membrane due to the heterogeneous distribution of pores. However, the D value increased when nitric acid concentration was increased from 1 to 15 M. The effect of calcinations temperature, PVA ratio, palladium and acid concentration on membrane surface area, pore size and pore distribution also studied.

Amino-functionalized surface modification of polyacrylonitrile hollow fiber-supported polydimethylsiloxane membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Leiqing; Cheng, Jun; Li, Yannan; Liu, Jianzhong; Zhou, Junhu; Cen, Kefa

2017-08-01

This study aimed to improve surface polarity of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes and provide surface active sites which were easy to react with other chemicals. 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) containing an amino group was introduced into a PDMS membrane by crosslinking to prepare polyacrylonitrile hollow fiber-supported PDMS membranes with an amino-functionalized surface. Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses proved the existence of APTES and its amino group in the PDMS membrane. The concentration of N atoms on the PDMS membrane surface reached ∼6% when the mass ratio of APTES/PDMS oligomer in the PDMS coating solution was increased to 4/3. The water contact angle decreased from ∼114° to ∼87.5°, indicating the improved surface polarization of the PDMS membrane. The density and swelling degree of the PDMS membrane decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing APTES content in PDMS. This phenomenon increased CO2 permeability and decreased CO2/H2 selectivity, CO2/CH4 selectivity, and CO2/N2 selectivity. When the mass ratio of APTES/PDMS oligomer was increased from 0 to 4/3, the CO2 permeation rate of the hollow fiber-supported PDMS membranes initially decreased from ∼2370 GPU to ∼860 GPU and then increased to ∼2000 GPU due to the change in coating solution viscosity.

Design and fabrication of zeolite macro- and micromembranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chau, Lik Hang Joseph

2001-07-01

The chemical nature of the support surface influences zeolite nucleation, crystal growth and elm adhesion. It had been demonstrated that chemical modification of support surface can significantly alter the zeolite film and has a good potential for large-scale applications for zeolite membrane production. The incorporation of titanium and vanadium metal ions into the structural framework of MFI zeolite imparts the material with catalytic properties. The effects of silica and metal (i.e., Ti and V) content, template concentration and temperature on the zeolite membrane growth and morphology were investigated. Single-gas permeation experiments were conducted for noble gases (He and Ar), inorganic gases (H2, N2, SF6) and hydrocarbons (methane, n-C4, i-C4) to determine the separation performance of these membranes. Using a new fabrication method based on microelectronic fabrication and zeolite thin film technologies, complex microchannel geometry and network (<5 mum), as well as zeolite arrays (<10 mum) were successfully fabricated onto highly orientated supported zeolite films. The zeolite micropatterns were stable even after repeated thermal cycling between 303 K and 873 K for prolonged periods of time. This work also demonstrates that zeolites (i.e., Sil-1, ZSM-5 and TS-1) can be employed as catalyst, membrane or structural materials in miniature chemical devices. Traditional semiconductor fabrication technology was employed in micromachining the device architecture. Four strategies for the manufacture of zeolite catalytic microreactors were discussed: zeolite powder coating, uniform zeolite film growth, localized zeolite growth, and etching of zeolite-silicon composite film growth inhibitors. Silicalite-1 was also prepared as free-standing membrane for zeolite membrane microseparators.

Beyond the hydrophobic effect: Critical function of water at biological phase boundaries--A hypothesis.

PubMed

Damodaran, Srinivasan

2015-07-01

Many life-sustaining processes in living cells occur at the membrane-water interface. The pertinent questions that need to be asked are what is the evolutionary reason for biology to choose the membrane-water interface as the site for performing and/or controlling crucial biological reactions and what is the key physical principle that is singular to the membrane-water interface that biology exploits for regulating metabolic processes in cells? In this review, a hypothesis is developed, which espouses that cells control activities of membrane-bound enzymes and receptor activated processes via manipulating the thermodynamic activity of water at the membrane-water interfacial region. In support of this hypothesis, first we establish that the surface pressure of a lipid monolayer is a direct measure of a reduction in the thermodynamic activity of interfacial water. Second, we show that the surface pressure-dependent activation/inactivation of interfacial enzymes is fundamentally related to their dependence on interfacial water activity. We extend this argument to infer that cells might manipulate activities of membrane-associated biological processes via manipulating the activity of interfacial water via localized compression or expansion of the interface. In this paper, we critically analyze literature data on mechano-activation of large pore ion channels in Escherichia coli spheroplasts and G-proteins in reconstituted lipid vesicles, and show that these pressure-induced activation processes are fundamentally and quantitatively related to changes in the thermodynamic state of interfacial water, caused by mechanical stretching of the bilayer. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improved antifouling performance of ultrafiltration membrane via preparing novel zwitterionic polyimide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Haitao; Yu, Jiayu; Guo, Hanxiang; Shen, Yibo; Yang, Fan; Wang, Han; Liu, Rong; Liu, Yang

2018-01-01

On the basis of the outstanding fouling resistance of zwitterionic polymers, an antifouling ultrafiltration membrane was fabricated through phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation method, directly using the novel zwitterionic polyimide (Z-PI), which was synthesized via a two-step procedure including polycondensation and quaternary amination reaction, as membrane material. The chemical structure and composition of the obtained polymer were confirmed by using FTIR, 1H NMR and XPS analysis, and its thermal stability was thoroughly characterized by TGA measurement, respectively. The introduction of zwitterionic groups into polyimide could effectively increase membrane pore size, porosity and wettability, and convert the membrane surface from hydrophobic to highly hydrophilic. As a result, Z-PI membrane displayed significantly improved water permeability compared with that of the reference polyimide (R-PI) membrane without having an obvious compromise in protein rejection. According to the static adsorption and dynamic cycle ultrafiltration experiments of bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution, Z-PI membrane exhibited better fouling resistant ability, especially irreversible fouling resistant ability, suggesting superior antifouling property and long-term performance stability. Moreover, Z-PI membrane had a water flux recovery ratio of 93.7% after three cycle of BSA solution filtration, whereas only about 68.5% was obtained for the control R-PI membrane. These findings demonstrated the advantages of Z-PI membrane material and aimed to provide a facile and scalable method for the large-scale preparation of low fouling ultrafiltration membranes for potential applications.

Ras Diffusion Is Sensitive to Plasma Membrane Viscosity

PubMed Central

Goodwin, J. Shawn; Drake, Kimberly R.; Remmert, Catha L.; Kenworthy, Anne K.

2005-01-01

The cell surface contains a variety of barriers and obstacles that slow the lateral diffusion of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored and transmembrane proteins below the theoretical limit imposed by membrane viscosity. How the diffusion of proteins residing exclusively on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane is regulated has been largely unexplored. We show here that the diffusion of the small GTPase Ras is sensitive to the viscosity of the plasma membrane. Using confocal fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we examined the diffusion of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged HRas, NRas, and KRas in COS-7 cells loaded with or depleted of cholesterol, a well-known modulator of membrane bilayer viscosity. In cells loaded with excess cholesterol, the diffusional mobilities of GFP-HRas, GFP-NRas, and GFP-KRas were significantly reduced, paralleling the behavior of the viscosity-sensitive lipid probes DiIC16 and DiIC18. However, the effects of cholesterol depletion on protein and lipid diffusion in cell membranes were highly dependent on the depletion method used. Cholesterol depletion with methyl-β-cyclodextrin slowed Ras diffusion by a viscosity-independent mechanism, whereas overnight cholesterol depletion slightly increased both protein and lipid diffusion. The ability of Ras to sense membrane viscosity may represent a general feature of proteins residing on the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane. PMID:15923235

A novel biotinylated lipid raft reporter for electron microscopic imaging of plasma membrane microdomains[S

PubMed Central

Krager, Kimberly J.; Sarkar, Mitul; Twait, Erik C.; Lill, Nancy L.; Koland, John G.

2012-01-01

The submicroscopic spatial organization of cell surface receptors and plasma membrane signaling molecules is readily characterized by electron microscopy (EM) via immunogold labeling of plasma membrane sheets. Although various signaling molecules have been seen to segregate within plasma membrane microdomains, the biochemical identity of these microdomains and the factors affecting their formation are largely unknown. Lipid rafts are envisioned as submicron membrane subdomains of liquid ordered structure with differing lipid and protein constituents that define their specific varieties. To facilitate EM investigation of inner leaflet lipid rafts and the localization of membrane proteins therein, a unique genetically encoded reporter with the dually acylated raft-targeting motif of the Lck kinase was developed. This reporter, designated Lck-BAP-GFP, incorporates green fluorescent protein (GFP) and biotin acceptor peptide (BAP) modules, with the latter allowing its single-step labeling with streptavidin-gold. Lck-BAP-GFP was metabolically biotinylated in mammalian cells, distributed into low-density detergent-resistant membrane fractions, and was readily detected with avidin-based reagents. In EM images of plasma membrane sheets, the streptavidin-gold-labeled reporter was clustered in 20–50 nm microdomains, presumably representative of inner leaflet lipid rafts. The utility of the reporter was demonstrated in an investigation of the potential lipid raft localization of the epidermal growth factor receptor. PMID:22822037

A review on bisphenol A occurrences, health effects and treatment process via membrane technology for drinking water.

PubMed

Muhamad, Mimi Suliza; Salim, Mohd Razman; Lau, Woei Jye; Yusop, Zulkifli

2016-06-01

Massive utilization of bisphenol A (BPA) in the industrial production of polycarbonate plastics has led to the occurrence of this compound (at μg/L to ng/L level) in the water treatment plant. Nowadays, the presence of BPA in drinking water sources is a major concern among society because BPA is one of the endocrine disruption compounds (EDCs) that can cause hazard to human health even at extremely low concentration level. Parallel to these issues, membrane technology has emerged as the most feasible treatment process to eliminate this recalcitrant contaminant via physical separation mechanism. This paper reviews the occurrences and effects of BPA toward living organisms as well as the application of membrane technology for their removal in water treatment plant. The potential applications of using polymeric membranes for BPA removal are also discussed. Literature revealed that modifying membrane surface using blending approach is the simple yet effective method to improve membrane properties with respect to BPA removal without compromising water permeability. The regeneration process helps in maintaining the performances of membrane at desired level. The application of large-scale membrane process in treatment plant shows the feasibility of the technology for removing BPA and possible future prospect in water treatment process.

Stalk model of membrane fusion: solution of energy crisis.

PubMed Central

Kozlovsky, Yonathan; Kozlov, Michael M

2002-01-01

Membrane fusion proceeds via formation of intermediate nonbilayer structures. The stalk model of fusion intermediate is commonly recognized to account for the major phenomenology of the fusion process. However, in its current form, the stalk model poses a challenge. On one hand, it is able to describe qualitatively the modulation of the fusion reaction by the lipid composition of the membranes. On the other, it predicts very large values of the stalk energy, so that the related energy barrier for fusion cannot be overcome by membranes within a biologically reasonable span of time. We suggest a new structure for the fusion stalk, which resolves the energy crisis of the model. Our approach is based on a combined deformation of the stalk membrane including bending of the membrane surface and tilt of the hydrocarbon chains of lipid molecules. We demonstrate that the energy of the fusion stalk is a few times smaller than those predicted previously and the stalks are feasible in real systems. We account quantitatively for the experimental results on dependence of the fusion reaction on the lipid composition of different membrane monolayers. We analyze the dependence of the stalk energy on the distance between the fusing membranes and provide the experimentally testable predictions for the structural features of the stalk intermediates. PMID:11806930

Idiopathic preretinal glia in aging and age-related macular degeneration

PubMed Central

Edwards, Malia M.; McLeod, D. Scott; Bhutto, Imran A.; Villalonga, Mercedes B.; Seddon, Johanna M.; Lutty, Gerard A.

2015-01-01

During analysis of glia in wholemount aged human retinas, frequent projections onto the vitreal surface of the inner limiting membrane (ILM) were noted. The present study characterized these preretinal glial structures. The amount of glial cells on the vitreal side of the ILM was compared between eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-matched control eyes. Retinal wholemounts were stained for markers of retinal astrocytes and activated Müller cells (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP), Müller cells (vimentin, glutamine synthetase) and microglia/hyalocytes (IBA-1). Retinal vessels were labeled with UEA lectin. Images were collected using a Zeiss 710 confocal microscope. Retinas were then cryopreserved. Laminin labeling of cryosections determined the location of glial structures in relation to the ILM. All retinas investigated herein had varied amounts of preretinal glial. These glial structures were classified into three groups based on size: sprouts, blooms, and membranes. The simplest of the glial structures observed were focal sprouts of singular GFAP-positive cells or processes on the vitreal surface of the ILM. The intermediate structures observed, glial blooms, were created by multiple cells/processes exiting from a single point and extending along the vitreoretinal surface. The most extensive structures, glial membranes, consisted of compact networks of cells and processes. Preretinal glia were observed in all areas of the retina but they were most prominent over large vessels. While all glial blooms and membranes contained vimentin and GFAP-positive cells, these proteins did not always co-localize. Many areas had no preretinal GFAP but had numerous vimentin only glial sprouts. In double labelled glial sprouts, vimentin staining extended beyond that of GFAP. Hyalocytes and microglia were detected along with glial sprouts, blooms, and membranes. They did not, however, concentrate in the retina below these structures. Cross sectional analysis identified small breaks in the ILM above large retinal vessels through which glial cells exited the retina. Preretinal glial structures of varied sizes are a common occurrence in aged retinas and, in most cases, are subclinical. While all retinal glia are found in blooms, vimentin labeling suggests that Müller cells form the leading edge. All retinas investigated from eyes with active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) had extensive glial membranes on the vitreal surface of the ILM. Although these structures may be benign, they may exert traction on the retina as they spread along the vitreoretinal interface. In cases with CNV, glial cells in the vitreous could bind intravitreally injected anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. These preretinal glial structures indicate the remodeling of both astrocytes and Müller cells in aged retinas, in particular those with advanced AMD. PMID:26220834

Surface engineering: molecularly imprinted affinity membranes by photograft polymerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matuschewski, Heike; Sergeyeva, Tatiana A.; Bendig, Juergen; Piletsky, Sergey A.; Ulbricht, Matthies; Schedler, Uwe

2001-02-01

Commercial polymer microfiltration membranes were surface-modified with a graft copolymer of a functional monomer and a crosslinker in the presence of a template (triazine-herbicide). As result, membranes covered with a thin layer of imprinted polymer (MIP) selective to the template were obtained. The influence of the polymerization conditions on membrane recognition properties was studied by membranes

Two component-three dimensional catalysis

DOEpatents

Schwartz, Michael; White, James H.; Sammells, Anthony F.

2002-01-01

This invention relates to catalytic reactor membranes having a gas-impermeable membrane for transport of oxygen anions. The membrane has an oxidation surface and a reduction surface. The membrane is coated on its oxidation surface with an adherent catalyst layer and is optionally coated on its reduction surface with a catalyst that promotes reduction of an oxygen-containing species (e.g., O.sub.2, NO.sub.2, SO.sub.2, etc.) to generate oxygen anions on the membrane. The reactor has an oxidation zone and a reduction zone separated by the membrane. A component of an oxygen containing gas in the reduction zone is reduced at the membrane and a reduced species in a reactant gas in the oxidation zone of the reactor is oxidized. The reactor optionally contains a three-dimensional catalyst in the oxidation zone. The adherent catalyst layer and the three-dimensional catalyst are selected to promote a desired oxidation reaction, particularly a partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon.

Organization and mobility of CD11b/CD18 and targeting of superoxide on the surface of degranulated human neutrophils.

PubMed

Mukherjee, G; Rasmusson, B; Linner, J G; Quinn, M T; Parkos, C A; Magnusson, K E; Jesaitis, A J

1998-09-01

A monoclonal IgM, specifically recognizing both CD11b and CD18 of human neutrophils, was used to examine the organization and mobility of CD11b/CD18 in the plasma membrane of human neutrophils degranulated by dihydrocytochalasin B (dhCB) treatment and fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLF) stimulation. Subcellular fractionation analysis of untreated or dhCB-treated control neutrophils indicated that 20% of CD11b/CD18 cosedimented with plasma membrane and the remainder with specific granules. In contrast, fMLF stimulation of dhCB-treated cells caused a major reorganization of CD11b/CD18, in which 60-70% of CD11b/CD18 sedimented in dense plasma membrane fractions that were also enriched in superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase activity. Similarly pretreated neutrophils were fixed, immunogold labeled, and examined by scanning electron microscopy. Immunogold particles were distributed uniformly over the symmetrically ruffled surface of unstimulated neutrophils. On dhCB-treated cells, immunogold was mostly uniformly distributed on a smooth membrane with a small percentage of particles lining up into linear arrays. After fMLF + dhCB stimulation, CD11b/CD18 gold label was more abundant on the cell surface and formed large aggregates on polarized membrane protrusions. However, when cells were adhered to an albumin-coated quartz surface and stimulated with fMLF in the presence of dhCB, immunogold was excluded on the articulated and rounded cell body but concentrated on the periphery of adherent lamellae. Fluorescence photobleaching recovery indicated that in unstimulated cells 38 +/- 3% of CD11b/CD18 was mobile (R) with a diffusion constant D of 3.1 +/- 0.3 x 10(-10) cm2/s. Treatment with dhCB raised R and D 24 and 74%, respectively. Stimulation using 1 microM fMLF with dhCB lowered D and R to near control levels. Since NADPH oxidase and CD11b/CD18 cosediment in high-density plasma membrane domains after fMLF + dhCB stimulation, we speculate that a stimulus-induced reorganization of CD11b/CD18 and NADPH oxidase to common membrane domains may occur in fMLF + dhCB-degranulated neutrophils. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Analysis of diffusion in curved surfaces and its application to tubular membranes

PubMed Central

Klaus, Colin James Stockdale; Raghunathan, Krishnan; DiBenedetto, Emmanuele; Kenworthy, Anne K.

2016-01-01

Diffusion of particles in curved surfaces is inherently complex compared with diffusion in a flat membrane, owing to the nonplanarity of the surface. The consequence of such nonplanar geometry on diffusion is poorly understood but is highly relevant in the case of cell membranes, which often adopt complex geometries. To address this question, we developed a new finite element approach to model diffusion on curved membrane surfaces based on solutions to Fick’s law of diffusion and used this to study the effects of geometry on the entry of surface-bound particles into tubules by diffusion. We show that variations in tubule radius and length can distinctly alter diffusion gradients in tubules over biologically relevant timescales. In addition, we show that tubular structures tend to retain concentration gradients for a longer time compared with a comparable flat surface. These findings indicate that sorting of particles along the surfaces of tubules can arise simply as a geometric consequence of the curvature without any specific contribution from the membrane environment. Our studies provide a framework for modeling diffusion in curved surfaces and suggest that biological regulation can emerge purely from membrane geometry. PMID:27733625

Plasma surface modification of nanofiltration (NF) thin-film composite (TFC) membranes to improve anti organic fouling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Eun-Sik; Yu, Qingsong; Deng, Baolin

2011-09-01

Commercial nanofiltration (NF) thin-film composite (TFC) membranes were treated by low-pressure NH3 plasma, and the effects of the plasma treatment were investigated in terms of the membrane hydrophilicity, pure water flux, salt rejection, protein adsorption, and humic acid fouling. Experimental results indicated that the membrane surface hydrophilicity was increased by the plasma treatment, and changes in the hydrophilicity as well as membrane performance including permeate flux and fouling varied with the original membrane characteristics (e.g., roughness and hydrophilicity). Water flux of plasma treated membranes was the highest with 10 min and 90 W of plasma treatment, and salt rejection was mainly affected by the intensity of the plasma power. Results of bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption demonstrated that the protein adsorption decreased with increasing plasma treatment time. The plasma treatment that resulted in more negatively charged surfaces could also better prevent Aldrich humic acid (AHA) attachment on the membrane surface.

Modified polyether-sulfone membrane: a mini review

PubMed Central

Alenazi, Noof A.; Hussein, Mahmoud A.; Alamry, Khalid A.; Asiri, Abdullah M.

2017-01-01

Abstract Polyethersulfone has been widely used as a promising material in medical applications and waste-treatment membranes since it provides excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Hydrophobicity of polyethersulfone is considered one main disadvantage of using this material because hydrophobic surface causes biofouling effects to the membrane which is always thought to be a serious limitation to the use of polyethersulfone in membrane technology. Chemical modification to the material is a promising solution to this problem. More specifically surface modification is an excellent technique to introduce hydrophilic properties and functional groups to the polyethersulfone membrane surface. This review covers chemical modifications of the polyethersulfone and covers different methods used to enhance the hydrophilicity of polyethersulfone membrane. In particular, the addition of amino functional groups to polyethersulfone is used as a fundamental method either to introduce hydrophilic properties or introduce nanomaterials to the surface of polyethersulfone membrane. This work reviews also previous research reports explored the use of amino functionalized polyethersulfone with different nanomaterials to induce biological activity and reduce fouling effects of the fabricated membrane. PMID:29491825

Modified polyether-sulfone membrane: a mini review.

PubMed

Alenazi, Noof A; Hussein, Mahmoud A; Alamry, Khalid A; Asiri, Abdullah M

2017-01-01

Polyethersulfone has been widely used as a promising material in medical applications and waste-treatment membranes since it provides excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Hydrophobicity of polyethersulfone is considered one main disadvantage of using this material because hydrophobic surface causes biofouling effects to the membrane which is always thought to be a serious limitation to the use of polyethersulfone in membrane technology. Chemical modification to the material is a promising solution to this problem. More specifically surface modification is an excellent technique to introduce hydrophilic properties and functional groups to the polyethersulfone membrane surface. This review covers chemical modifications of the polyethersulfone and covers different methods used to enhance the hydrophilicity of polyethersulfone membrane. In particular, the addition of amino functional groups to polyethersulfone is used as a fundamental method either to introduce hydrophilic properties or introduce nanomaterials to the surface of polyethersulfone membrane. This work reviews also previous research reports explored the use of amino functionalized polyethersulfone with different nanomaterials to induce biological activity and reduce fouling effects of the fabricated membrane.

Comparing the antifouling effects of activated carbon and TiO2 in ultrafiltration membrane development.

PubMed

Liu, Qianyu; Huang, Shaobin; Zhang, Yongqing; Zhao, Shuaifei

2018-04-01

We use activated carbon (AC) and titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) nanomaterials as the additives to prepare four polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based ultrafiltration membranes by nonsolvent induced phase separation. The surface properties (pore size, porosity, hydrophilicity and roughness) of the membranes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle measurement, and atomic force microscopy. The chemical properties of the membranes are evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection and X-ray diffraction. All these additives can improve the surface hydrophilicity and water permeation flux of the membrane. However, the addition of TiO 2 nanoparticles (20-30 nm) results in larger surface porosities and pore sizes, which causes more severe membrane fouling compared with the neat PVDF membrane. The PVDF-AC membrane exhibits excellent fouling resistance. Particularly, the irreversible fouling after blending AC into PVDF reduces dramatically from 40% to 25%. The antifouling performance of the PVDF-AC membrane may result from the improved hydrophilicity and the favorable surface and structure properties of the membrane. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the antifouling function of AC in membrane preparation. This study suggests that AC could be a new type of nanomaterial for developing antifouling membranes. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Free-Standing Air Cathodes Based on 3D Hierarchically Porous Carbon Membranes: Kinetic Overpotential of Continuous Macropores in Li-O2 Batteries.

PubMed

Xu, Shu-Mao; Liang, Xiao; Ren, Zhi-Chu; Wang, Kai-Xue; Chen, Jie-Sheng

2018-06-04

Free-standing macroporous air electrodes with enhanced interfacial contact, rapid mass transport, and tailored deposition space for large amounts of Li 2 O 2 are essential for improving the rate performance of Li-O 2 batteries. An ordered mesoporous carbon membrane with continuous macroporous channels was prepared by inversely topological transformation from ZnO nanorod array. Utilized as a free-standing air cathode for Li-O 2 battery, the hierarchically porous carbon membrane shows superior rate performance. However, the increased cross-sectional area of the continuous macropores on the cathode surface leads to a kinetic overpotential with large voltage hysteresis and linear voltage variation against Butler-Volmer behavior. The kinetics were investigated based on the rate-determining step of second electron transfer accompanied by migration of Li + in solid or quasi-solid intermediates. These discoveries shed light on the design of the air cathode for Li-O 2 batteries with high-rate performance. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

MUC1 and MUC4: Switching the Emphasis from Large to Small

PubMed Central

Carraway, Kermit L.

2011-01-01

Summation The MUC1 and MUC4 membrane mucins are each composed of a large alpha (α) and a small beta (β) subunit. The α subunits are fully exposed at the cell surface and contain variable numbers of repeated amino acid sequences that are heavily glycosylated. In contrast, the β subunits are much smaller and are anchored within the cell membrane, with their amino-terminal portions exposed at the cell surface and their carboxy-terminal tails facing the cytosol. Studies over the last several years are challenging the long-held belief that α subunits play the predominant role in cancer by conferring cellular properties that allow tumor cells to evade immune recognition and destruction. Indeed, the β subunits of MUC1 and MUC4 have emerged as oncogenes, as they engage signaling pathways responsible for tumor initiation and progression. Thus, a switch in the emphasis from the large α to the small β subunits offers attractive possibilities for successful clinical application. Such a focus shift is further supported by the absence of allelic polymorphism and variable glycosylation in the β subunit as well as by the presence of the β subunit in most MUC1 and MUC4 isoforms expressed by tumors. MUC1α, also known as CA15.3, is a Food and Drug Administration-approved serum biomarker for breast cancer, but its use is no longer recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. However, comparison of β subunit expression in normal and malignant breast tissues may offer a novel approach to the exploitation of membrane mucins as biomarkers, as MUC1β-induced gene signatures with prognostic and predictive values in breast cancer have been reported. Preclinical studies with peptides that interfere with MUC1β oncogenic functions also look promising. PMID:21728842

Biologically Complex Planar Cell Plasma Membranes Supported on Polyelectrolyte Cushions Enhance Transmembrane Protein Mobility and Retain Native Orientation.

PubMed

Liu, Han-Yuan; Chen, Wei-Liang; Ober, Christopher K; Daniel, Susan

2018-01-23

Reconstituted supported lipid bilayers (SLB) are widely used as in vitro cell-surface models because they are compatible with a variety of surface-based analytical techniques. However, one of the challenges of using SLBs as a model of the cell surface is the limited complexity in membrane composition, including the incorporation of transmembrane proteins and lipid diversity that may impact the activity of those proteins. Additionally, it is challenging to preserve the transmembrane protein native orientation, function, and mobility in SLBs. Here, we leverage the interaction between cell plasma membrane vesicles and polyelectrolyte brushes to create planar bilayers from cell plasma membrane vesicles that have budded from the cell surface. This approach promotes the direct incorporation of membrane proteins and other species into the planar bilayer without using detergent or reconstitution and preserves membrane constituents. Furthermore, the structure of the polyelectrolyte brush serves as a cushion between the planar bilayer and rigid supporting surface, limiting the interaction of the cytosolic domains of membrane proteins with this surface. Single particle tracking was used to analyze the motion of GPI-linked yellow fluorescent proteins (GPI-YFP) and neon-green fused transmembrane P2X2 receptors (P2X2-neon) and shows that this platform retains over 75% mobility of multipass transmembrane proteins in its native membrane environment. An enzyme accessibility assay confirmed that the protein orientation is preserved and results in the extracellular domain facing toward the bulk phase and the cytosolic side facing the support. Because the platform presented here retains the complexity of the cell plasma membrane and preserves protein orientation and mobility, it is a better representative mimic of native cell surfaces, which may find many applications in biological assays aimed at understanding cell membrane phenomena.

Method of separating organic contaminants from fluid feedstreams with polyphosphazene membranes

DOEpatents

McCaffrey, Robert R.; Cummings, Daniel G.

1991-01-01

A method is provided for separating halogenated hydrocarbons from a fluid feedstream. The fluid feedstream is flowed across a first surface of a polyphosphazene semipermeable membrane. At least one halogenated hydrocarbon from the fluid feedstream permeates through the polyphosphazene semipermeable membrane to a second opposed surface of the semipermeable membrane. Then the permeated polar hydrocarbon is removed from the second opposed surface of the polyphosphazene semipermeable membrane. Outstanding and unexpected separation selectivities on the order of 10,000 were obtained for methylene chloride when a methylene chloride in water feedstream was flowed across the polyphosphazene semipermeable membrane in the invented method.

Immobilization of β-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis onto polymeric membrane surfaces: effect of surface characteristics.

PubMed

Güleç, Hacı Ali

2013-04-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of surface characteristics of plain and plasma modified cellulose acetate (CA) membranes on the immobilization yield of β-galactosidases from Kluyveromyces lactis (KLG) and its galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) yield, respectively. Low pressure plasma treatments involving oxygen plasma activation, plasma polymerization (PlsP) of ethylenediamine (EDA) and PlsP of 2-mercaptoethanol were used to modify plain CA membrane surfaces. KLG enzyme was immobilized onto plain and oxygen plasma treated membrane surfaces by simple adsorption. Oxygen plasma activation increased the hydrophylicity of CA membrane surfaces and it improved the immobilization yield of the enzyme by 42%. KLG enzyme was also immobilized onto CA membrane surfaces through amino groups created by PlsP of EDA via covalent binding. Plasma action at 60W plasma power and 15 min. exposure time improved the amount of membrane bounded enzyme by 3.5-fold. The enrichment of the amount of amino groups via polyethyleneimine (PEI) addition enhanced this increase from 3.5-fold to 4.5-fold. Although high enzyme loading was achived (65-83%), both of the methods dramatically decreased the enzyme activity (11-12%) and GOS yield due to probably negative effects of active amino groups. KLG enzyme was more effectively immobilized onto thiolated CA membrane surface created by PlsP of 2-mercaptoethanol with high immobilization yield (70%) and especially high enzyme activity (46%). Immobilized enzymes on the CA membranes treated by PlsP were successively reutilized for 5-8 cycles at 25°C and enzymatic derivatives retained approximately 75-80% of their initial activites at the end of the reactions. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication and characterization of conductive anodic aluminum oxide substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altuntas, Sevde; Buyukserin, Fatih

2014-11-01

Biomaterials that allow the utilization of electrical, chemical and topographic cues for improved neuron-material interaction and neural regeneration hold great promise for nerve tissue engineering applications. The nature of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes intrinsically provides delicate control over topographic and chemical cues for enhanced cell interaction; however their use in nerve regeneration is still very limited. Herein, we report the fabrication and characterization of conductive AAO (CAAO) surfaces for the ultimate goal of integrating electrical cues for improved nerve tissue behavior on the nanoporous substrate material. Parafilm was used as a protecting polymer film, for the first time, in order to obtain large area (50 cm2) free-standing AAO membranes. Carbon (C) was then deposited on the AAO surface via sputtering. Morphological characterization of the CAAO surfaces revealed that the pores remain open after the deposition process. The presence of C on the material surface and inside the nanopores was confirmed by XPS and EDX studies. Furthermore, I-V curves of the surface were used to extract surface resistance values and conductive AFM demonstrated that current signals can only be achieved where conductive C layer is present. Finally, novel nanoporous C films with controllable pore diameters and one dimensional (1-D) C nanostructures were obtained by the dissolution of the template AAO substrate.

Mouse Elberfeld (ME) virus determines the cell surface alterations when mixedly infecting poliovirus-infected cells.

PubMed

Zeichhardt, H; Schlehofer, J R; Wetz, K; Hampl, H; Habermehl, K O

1982-02-01

The surface alterations of HEp-2 cells induced by mixed infection with two different picornaviruses (poliovirus and ME virus) were compared by scanning electron microscopic and transmission electron microscopic studies and by 51Cr-release assay. The contribution of each of the viruses to the resulting surface changes was discernible, as investigations on the chronology of the cytopathic alterations demonstrated that the changes were distinct for either virus. The surface of ME virus-infected cells was characterized by large membranous structures ('sheets' and blebs) representing huge vacuoles. These sheets were not seen in poliovirus-infected cells. Poliovirus induced more prominent cell pycnosis, elongation of filopodia and condensation of collapsed microvilli on the cell surface than ME virus. Mixed infection with these two viruses led to surface alterations typical for ME virus. These ME virus-specific changes occurred irrespective of poliovirus reproduction or its inhibition by guanidine. ME virus-specific alterations also predominated in cytolytic membrane damage as expressed by 51Cr-release from infected cells. 51Cr-release was more pronounced from ME virus than from poliovirus-infected cells, even when ME virus reproduction was suppressed by interfering poliovirus. However, alteration of the internal structures of the infected cells was only dominated by ME virus when the reproduction of poliovirus was suppressed.

40 CFR 265.1086 - Standards: Surface impoundments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... floating membrane cover in accordance with the provisions specified in paragraph (c) of this section; or (2... emissions from a surface impoundment using a floating membrane cover shall meet the requirements specified... with a floating membrane cover designed to meet the following specifications: (i) The floating membrane...

Evaluation of adhesive and anti-adhesive properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms and their inhibition by herbal plants

PubMed Central

Zameer, Farhan; MS, Rukmangada; Chauhan, Jyoti Bala; Khanum, Shaukath Ara; Kumar, Pramod; Devi, Aishwarya Tripurasundari; MN, Nagendra Prasad; BL, Dhananjaya

2016-01-01

Background and Objectives: Adhesion and colonization are prerequisites for the establishment of bacterial pathogenesis. The biofilm development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed on adhesive surfaces like dialysis membrane, stainless steel, glass and polystyrene. Materials and Methods: Microtiter plate biofilm assay was performed to assess the effect of nutrient medium and growth parameters of P. aeruginosa. Further, its growth on adhesive surfaces namely hydrophilic (dialysis membrane) and hydrophobic (polystyrene plate, square glass and stainless steel coupon) was assessed. The exopolysaccharide (EPS) was quantified using ruthenium red microplate assay and microscopic analysis was used to observe P. aeruginosa biofilm architecture. The anti-biofilm activity of herbal extracts on mature P. aeruginosa was performed. Results: The formation of large scale biofilms on dialysis membrane for 72 h was proved to be the best surface. In microscopic studies, very few exopolysaccaride fibrils, indicating a rather loose matrix was observed at 48 h. Further, thick exopolysaccaride, indicated higher adhesive properties at 72 h which is evident from ruthenium red staining. Among the plant extract used, Justicia wynaadensis leaf and Aristolochia indica (Eswari) root extract showed significant reduction of anti-biofilm activity of 0.178 OD and 0.192 OD in inhibiting mature biofilms at 0.225 OD respectively, suggesting the possible use of these extracts as efficient anti-adhesive and biofilm-disrupting agents with potential applications in controlling biofilms on surfaces. Conclusion: Our study facilitates better understanding in the development of P. aeruginosa biofilms on different food processing and clinical surfaces ultimately taking care of food safety and hygiene. PMID:27307976

In situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes: linking basic nanotechniques to cell biology, immunology and medicine.

PubMed

Pi, Jiang; Jin, Hua; Yang, Fen; Chen, Zheng W; Cai, Jiye

2014-11-07

The cell membrane, which consists of a viscous phospholipid bilayer, different kinds of proteins and various nano/micrometer-sized domains, plays a very important role in ensuring the stability of the intracellular environment and the order of cellular signal transductions. Exploring the precise cell membrane structure and detailed functions of the biomolecules in a cell membrane would be helpful to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in cell membrane signal transductions, which could further benefit research into cell biology, immunology and medicine. The detection of membrane biomolecules at the single molecule level can provide some subtle information about the molecular structure and the functions of the cell membrane. In particular, information obtained about the molecular mechanisms and other information at the single molecule level are significantly different from that detected from a large amount of biomolecules at the large-scale through traditional techniques, and can thus provide a novel perspective for the study of cell membrane structures and functions. However, the precise investigations of membrane biomolecules prompts researchers to explore cell membranes at the single molecule level by the use of in situ imaging methods, as the exact conformation and functions of biomolecules are highly controlled by the native cellular environment. Recently, the in situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes has attracted increasing attention from cell biologists and immunologists. The size of biomolecules and their clusters on the cell surface are set at the nanoscale, which makes it mandatory to use high- and super-resolution imaging techniques to realize the in situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes. In the past few decades, some amazing imaging techniques and instruments with super resolution have been widely developed for molecule imaging, which can also be further employed for the in situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes. In this review, we attempt to summarize the characteristics of these advanced techniques for use in the in situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes. We believe that this work will help to promote the technological and methodological developments of super-resolution techniques for the single molecule imaging of cell membranes and help researchers better understand which technique is most suitable for their future exploring of membrane biomolecules; ultimately promoting further developments in cell biology, immunology and medicine.

In situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes: linking basic nanotechniques to cell biology, immunology and medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pi, Jiang; Jin, Hua; Yang, Fen; Chen, Zheng W.; Cai, Jiye

2014-10-01

The cell membrane, which consists of a viscous phospholipid bilayer, different kinds of proteins and various nano/micrometer-sized domains, plays a very important role in ensuring the stability of the intracellular environment and the order of cellular signal transductions. Exploring the precise cell membrane structure and detailed functions of the biomolecules in a cell membrane would be helpful to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in cell membrane signal transductions, which could further benefit research into cell biology, immunology and medicine. The detection of membrane biomolecules at the single molecule level can provide some subtle information about the molecular structure and the functions of the cell membrane. In particular, information obtained about the molecular mechanisms and other information at the single molecule level are significantly different from that detected from a large amount of biomolecules at the large-scale through traditional techniques, and can thus provide a novel perspective for the study of cell membrane structures and functions. However, the precise investigations of membrane biomolecules prompts researchers to explore cell membranes at the single molecule level by the use of in situ imaging methods, as the exact conformation and functions of biomolecules are highly controlled by the native cellular environment. Recently, the in situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes has attracted increasing attention from cell biologists and immunologists. The size of biomolecules and their clusters on the cell surface are set at the nanoscale, which makes it mandatory to use high- and super-resolution imaging techniques to realize the in situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes. In the past few decades, some amazing imaging techniques and instruments with super resolution have been widely developed for molecule imaging, which can also be further employed for the in situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes. In this review, we attempt to summarize the characteristics of these advanced techniques for use in the in situ single molecule imaging of cell membranes. We believe that this work will help to promote the technological and methodological developments of super-resolution techniques for the single molecule imaging of cell membranes and help researchers better understand which technique is most suitable for their future exploring of membrane biomolecules; ultimately promoting further developments in cell biology, immunology and medicine.

Microbial Attachment Inhibition through Low-Voltage Electrochemical Reactions on Electrically Conducting Membranes.

PubMed

Ronen, Avner; Duan, Wenyan; Wheeldon, Ian; Walker, Sharon; Jassby, David

2015-11-03

Bacterial biofilm formation on membrane surfaces remains a serious challenge in water treatment systems. The impact of low voltages on microbial attachment to electrically conducting ultrafiltration membranes was investigated using a direct observation cross-flow membrane system mounted on a fluorescence microscope. Escherichia coli and microparticle deposition and detachment rates were measured as a function of the applied electrical potential to the membrane surface. Selecting bacteria and particles with low surface charge minimized electrostatic interactions between the bacteria and charged membrane surface. Application of an electrical potential had a significant impact on the detachment of live bacteria in comparison to dead bacteria and particles. Image analysis indicated that when a potential of 1.5 V was applied to the membrane/counter electrode pair, the percent of dead bacteria was 32±2.1 and 67±3.6% when the membrane was used as a cathode or anode, respectively, while at a potential of 1 V, 92±2.4% were alive. The application of low electrical potentials resulted in the production of low (μM) concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (HP) through the electroreduction of oxygen. The electrochemically produced HP reduced microbial cell viability and increased cellular permeability. Exposure to low concentrations of electrochemically produced HP on the membrane surface prevents bacterial attachment, thus ensuring biofilm-free conditions during membrane filtration operations.

Antifouling Thin-Film Composite Membranes by Controlled Architecture of Zwitterionic Polymer Brush Layer.

PubMed

Liu, Caihong; Lee, Jongho; Ma, Jun; Elimelech, Menachem

2017-02-21

In this study, we demonstrate a highly antifouling thin-film composite (TFC) membrane by grafting a zwitterionic polymer brush via atom-transfer radical-polymerization (ATRP), a controlled, environmentally benign chemical process. Initiator molecules for polymerization were immobilized on the membrane surface by bioinspired catechol chemistry, leading to the grafting of a dense zwitterionic polymer brush layer. Surface characterization revealed that the modified membrane exhibits reduced surface roughness, enhanced hydrophilicity, and lower surface charge. Chemical force microscopy demonstrated that the modified membrane displayed foulant-membrane interaction forces that were 1 order of magnitude smaller than those of the pristine TFC membrane. The excellent fouling resistance imparted by the zwitterionic brush layer was further demonstrated by significantly reduced adsorption of proteins and bacteria. In addition, forward osmosis fouling experiments with a feed solution containing a mixture of organic foulants (bovine-serum albumin, alginate, and natural organic matter) indicated that the modified membrane exhibited significantly lower water flux decline compared to the pristine TFC membrane. The controlled architecture of the zwitterionic polymer brush via ATRP has the potential for a facile antifouling modification of a wide range of water treatment membranes without compromising intrinsic transport properties.

P2X7 receptors regulate multiple types of membrane trafficking responses and non-classical secretion pathways.

PubMed

Qu, Yan; Dubyak, George R

2009-06-01

Activation of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) triggers a remarkably diverse array of membrane trafficking responses in leukocytes and epithelial cells. These responses result in altered profiles of cell surface lipid and protein composition that can modulate the direct interactions of P2X7R-expressing cells with other cell types in the circulation, in blood vessels, at epithelial barriers, or within sites of immune and inflammatory activation. Additionally, these responses can result in the release of bioactive proteins, lipids, and large membrane complexes into extracellular compartments for remote communication between P2X7R-expressing cells and other cells that amplify or modulate inflammation, immunity, and responses to tissue damages. This review will discuss P2X7R-mediated effects on membrane composition and trafficking in the plasma membrane (PM) and intracellular organelles, as well as actions of P2X7R in controlling various modes of non-classical secretion. It will review P2X7R regulation of: (1) phosphatidylserine distribution in the PM outer leaflet; (2) shedding of PM surface proteins; (3) release of PM-derived microvesicles or microparticles; (4) PM blebbing; (5) cell-cell fusion resulting in formation of multinucleate cells; (6) phagosome maturation and fusion with lysosomes; (7) permeability of endosomes with internalized pathogen-associated molecular patterns; (8) permeability/integrity of mitochondria; (9) exocytosis of secretory lysosomes; and (10) release of exosomes from multivesicular bodies.

Studies of the molecular effects of a solid support upon lipid membranes and membrane bound proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartshorn, Christopher M.

Often, membrane/protein systems are studied and/or utilized on solid supports. The underlying substrate in solid supported lipid bilayer assemblies causes large perturbations to the membrane, but the nature of these effects are not well understood. To gain an understanding, these effects were studied on two fronts: the effect upon the membrane by itself, and then the effects upon a membrane/protein system. First, all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of DLPC, DMPC, POPC, and DEPC on a hydroxylated nanocrystalline alpha-quartz (011) slab revealed a pronounced thinning effect in the lipid bilayers. It was shown that this thinning effect proceeded by one of two mechanisms: the first through a curling of the terminal methyl groups at the interface of the opposing leaflets, and the second through increased interdigitation of the alkyl chains. Also, with the introduction of the solid support, marked asymmetries in a number of structural properties were reported. These asymmetries included (a) the surface area per lipid, (b) the electron densities of the polar head groups, (c) the radial distributions of the choline groups, and (d) the average orientation of water surrounding the membranes. Next, the free energy perturbation method was used to begin calculating the change in free energy (DeltaGbinding) from a Gramicidin monomer to its dimeric state, which were simulated via MD of supported DLPC, DMPC, and DEPC bilayers. The most notable effect was an asymmetry of the calculated free energies relative to the bilayer side closest to the solid support. In all three systems, there was a large difference in free energy between the Gramicidin monomers that were close to the support and the monomers further from the support.

The chemical modification and characterization of polypropylene membrane with environment response by in-situ chlorinating graft copolymerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yue; Liu, Jiankai; Hu, Wenjie; Feng, Ying; Zhao, Jiruo

2017-08-01

In this study, a novel chemical surface modification method of polyolefin membranes is applied following the in-situ chlorinating graft copolymerization (ISCGC). Polypropylene (PP)/methyl methacrylate (MMA) system was used as an example. A unique structure was formed by the modification process on the original membrane surface and the product exhibited an environmental response. Chlorine free radicals were generated using ultraviolet and heat and were used to capture the hydrogen in the polymer chains on the substrate surface. The formed macromolecular radicals could react with MMA over 2 h to achieve a high coverage ratio polymer on the PP membrane surface. The graft copolymers were characterized using FTIR, 1H-NMR, DSC, and XPS, which all proved the feasibility of chemically modifying the PP membrane surface by ISCGC. The surface morphology of the grafted PP membrane was characterized using SEM and AFM. The results showed that the grafted product presents a uniform, neat, and dense mastoid structure with an average thickness of 4.44 μm, which was expected to be similar to the brush-like surface structure. The contact angle and AFM tests indicated that the product surface is responsive to solvent and pH. The experimental results showed that the PP membrane surface structure can be reconstructed using ISCGC, a method that can be used for environment-responsive polymer materials. Moreover, the product has the characteristics of polymer interfacial brush.

ESTIMATION OF EFFECTIVE SHEAR STRESS WORKING ON FLAT SHEET MEMBRANE USING FLUIDIZED MEDIA IN MBRs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaw, Hlwan Moe; Li, Tairi; Nagaoka, Hiroshi; Mishima, Iori

This study was aimed at estimating effective shear stress working on flat sheet membrane by the addition of fluidized media in MBRs. In both of laboratory-scale aeration tanks with and without fluidized media, shear stress variations on membrane surface and water phase velocity variations were measured and MBR operation was conducted. For the evaluation of the effective shear stress working on membrane surface to mitigate membrane surface, simulation of trans-membrane pressure increase was conducted. It was shown that the time-averaged absolute value of shear stress was smaller in the reactor with fluidized media than without fluidized media. However, due to strong turbulence in the reactor with fluidized media caused by interaction between water-phase and media and also due to the direct interaction between membrane surface and fluidized media, standard deviation of shear stress on membrane surface was larger in the reactor with fluidized media than without media. Histograms of shear stress variation data were fitted well to normal distribution curves and mean plus three times of standard deviation was defined to be a maximum shear stress value. By applying the defined maximum shear stress to a membrane fouling model, trans-membrane pressure curve in the MBR experiment was simulated well by the fouling model indicting that the maximum shear stress, not time-averaged shear stress, can be regarded as an effective shear stress to prevent membrane fouling in submerged flat-sheet MBRs.

Laurdan spectrum decomposition as a tool for the analysis of surface bilayer structure and polarity: a study with DMPG, peptides and cholesterol.

PubMed

Lúcio, Aline D; Vequi-Suplicy, Cíntia C; Fernandez, Roberto M; Lamy, M Teresa

2010-03-01

The highly hydrophobic fluorophore Laurdan (6-dodecanoyl-2-(dimethylaminonaphthalene)) has been widely used as a fluorescent probe to monitor lipid membranes. Actually, it monitors the structure and polarity of the bilayer surface, where its fluorescent moiety is supposed to reside. The present paper discusses the high sensitivity of Laurdan fluorescence through the decomposition of its emission spectrum into two Gaussian bands, which correspond to emissions from two different excited states, one more solvent relaxed than the other. It will be shown that the analysis of the area fraction of each band is more sensitive to bilayer structural changes than the largely used parameter called Generalized Polarization, possibly because the latter does not completely separate the fluorescence emission from the two different excited states of Laurdan. Moreover, it will be shown that this decomposition should be done with the spectrum as a function of energy, and not wavelength. Due to the presence of the two emission bands in Laurdan spectrum, fluorescence anisotropy should be measured around 480 nm, to be able to monitor the fluorescence emission from one excited state only, the solvent relaxed state. Laurdan will be used to monitor the complex structure of the anionic phospholipid DMPG (dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol) at different ionic strengths, and the alterations caused on gel and fluid membranes due to the interaction of cationic peptides and cholesterol. Analyzing both the emission spectrum decomposition and anisotropy it was possible to distinguish between effects on the packing and on the hydration of the lipid membrane surface. It could be clearly detected that a more potent analog of the melanotropic hormone alpha-MSH (Ac-Ser(1)-Tyr(2)-Ser(3)-Met(4)-Glu(5)-His(6)-Phe(7)-Arg(8)-Trp(9)-Gly(10)-Lys(11)-Pro(12)-Val(13)-NH(2)) was more effective in rigidifying the bilayer surface of fluid membranes than the hormone, though the hormone significantly decreases the bilayer surface hydration.

3D hydrophobic moment vectors as a tool to characterize the surface polarity of amphiphilic peptides.

PubMed

Reißer, Sabine; Strandberg, Erik; Steinbrecher, Thomas; Ulrich, Anne S

2014-06-03

The interaction of membranes with peptides and proteins is largely determined by their amphiphilic character. Hydrophobic moments of helical segments are commonly derived from their two-dimensional helical wheel projections, and the same is true for β-sheets. However, to the best of our knowledge, there exists no method to describe structures in three dimensions or molecules with irregular shape. Here, we define the hydrophobic moment of a molecule as a vector in three dimensions by evaluating the surface distribution of all hydrophilic and lipophilic regions over any given shape. The electrostatic potential on the molecular surface is calculated based on the atomic point charges. The resulting hydrophobic moment vector is specific for the instantaneous conformation, and it takes into account all structural characteristics of the molecule, e.g., partial unfolding, bending, and side-chain torsion angles. Extended all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are then used to calculate the equilibrium hydrophobic moments for two antimicrobial peptides, gramicidin S and PGLa, under different conditions. We show that their effective hydrophobic moment vectors reflect the distribution of polar and nonpolar patches on the molecular surface and the calculated electrostatic surface potential. A comparison of simulations in solution and in lipid membranes shows how the peptides undergo internal conformational rearrangement upon binding to the bilayer surface. A good correlation with solid-state NMR data indicates that the hydrophobic moment vector can be used to predict the membrane binding geometry of peptides. This method is available as a web application on http://www.ibg.kit.edu/HM/. Copyright © 2014 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mango core inner shell membrane template-directed synthesis of porous ZnO films and their application for enzymatic glucose biosensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Yu; Wang, Lei; Ye, Zhizhen; Zhao, Minggang; Cai, Hui; Huang, Jingyun

2013-11-01

Micro/nano-porous ZnO films were synthesized through a simple biotemplate-directed method using mango core inner shell membranes as templates. The achieved ZnO films with wrinkles on the surface are combined of large holes and small pores in the bulk. High specific surface area, numerous microspaces, and small channels for fluid circulation provided by this unique structure along with the good biocompatibility and electron communication features of ZnO material make the product an ideal platform for the immobilization of enzymes The fabricated glucose biosensor based on the porous ZnO films exhibits good selective detection ability of analyte with good stability, high sensitivity of 50.58 μA cm-2 mM-1 and a wide linear range of 0.2-5.6 mM along with a low detection limit of 10 μM.

Constructing dual-defense mechanisms on membrane surfaces by synergy of PFSA and SiO2 nanoparticles for persistent antifouling performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Linjie; Gao, Kang; Jiao, Zhiwei; Wu, Mengyuan; He, Mingrui; Su, Yanlei; Jiang, Zhongyi

2018-05-01

Synthetic antifouling membrane surfaces with dual-defense mechanisms (fouling-resistant and fouling-release mechanism) were constructed through the synergy of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) and SiO2 nanoparticles. During the nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) process, the amphiphilic PFSA polymers spontaneously segregated to membrane surfaces and catalyzed the hydrolysis-polycondensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to generate hydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The resulting PVDF/PFSA/SiO2 hybrid membranes were characterized by contact angle measurements, FTIR, XPS, SEM, AFM, TGA, and TEM. The hydrophilic microdomains and low surface energy microdomains of amphiphilic PFSA polymers respectively endowed membrane surfaces with fouling-resistant mechanism and fouling-release mechanism, while the hydrophilic SiO2 NPs intensified the fouling-resistant mechanism. When the addition of TEOS reached 3 wt%, the hybrid membrane with optimal synergy of PFSA and SiO2 NPs displayed low flux decline (17.4% DRt) and high flux recovery (99.8% FRR) during the filtration of oil-in-water emulsion. Meanwhile, the long-time stability test verified that the hybrid membrane possessed persistent antifouling performance.

Interfacial preparation and optical transmission surface plasmon resonance of Janus metamaterials membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Yixuan; Zhang, Xiaowei; Li, Yunbo

2018-01-01

Janus metamaterials membrane had been fabricated using self-assembly strategy at the oil/water interface with thiol-terminated polymers. Janus metamaterials membrane exhibits a characteristic surface plasmon absorption band, in which the peak position is sensitive to the addition of polymer. The optical transmission surface plasmon resonance (T-SPR) peak has a blue shift at the visible region with addition of thiol-terminated polystyrene (PS-SH). With thiol-terminated poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG-SH) attachment onto the surface side of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), the T-SPR band has a successive blue shift. One surprising thing is that it has a flat terrace on T-SPR band from 580 to 740 nm. In addition, The T-SPR of Janus metamaterials membrane dramatically changed with the addition PS-SH when the PEG-SH was capped on the opposite side. The morphologies of AuNPs membrane and Janus metamaterials membrane support the above mentioned result of SPR. In virtue of tunable SPR band, the Janus metamaterials membrane has great potential application in science-based design of optical sensing sensors and surface-enhanced optic sensitive detection.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kawamoto, Shuhei; Shinoda, Wataru, E-mail: w.shinoda@apchem.nagoya-u.ac.jp; Klein, Michael L.

The effects of membrane curvature on the free energy barrier for membrane fusion have been investigated using coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations, assuming that fusion takes place through a stalk intermediate. Free energy barriers were estimated for stalk formation as well as for fusion pore formation using the guiding potential method. Specifically, the three different geometries of two apposed membranes were considered: vesicle–vesicle, vesicle–planar, and planar–planar membranes. The free energy barriers for the resulting fusion were found to depend importantly on the fusing membrane geometries; the lowest barrier was obtained for vesicular membranes. Further, lipid sorting was observed in fusionmore » of the mixed membranes of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine and dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Specifically, DOPE molecules were found to assemble around the stalk to support the highly negative curved membrane surface. A consistent result for lipid sorting was observed when a simple continuum model (CM) was used, where the Helfrich energy and mixing entropy of the lipids were taken into account. However, the CM predicts a much higher free energy barrier than found using CG-MD. This discrepancy originates from the conformational changes of lipids, which were not considered in the CM. The results of the CG-MD simulations reveal that a large conformational change in the lipid takes place around the stalk region, which results in a reduction of free energy barriers along the stalk mechanism of membrane fusion.« less

Characterization of femtosecond-laser pulse induced cell membrane nanosurgical attachment.

PubMed

Katchinskiy, Nir; Godbout, Roseline; Elezzabi, Abdulhakem Y

2016-07-01

This article provides insight into the mechanism of femtosecond laser nanosurgical attachment of cells. We have demonstrated that during the attachment of two retinoblastoma cells using sub-10 femtosecond laser pulses, with 800 nm central wavelength, the phospholipid molecules of both cells hemifuse and form one shared phospholipid bilayer, at the attachment location. In order to verify the hypothesis that hemifusion takes place, transmission electron microscope images of the cell membranes of retinoblastoma cells were taken. It is shown that at the attachment interface, the two cell membranes coalesce and form one single membrane shared by both cells. Thus, further evidence is provided to support the hypothesis that laser-induced ionization process led to an ultrafast reversible destabilization of the phospholipid layer of the cellular membrane, which resulted in cross-linking of the phospholipid molecules in each membrane. This process of hemifusion occurs throughout the entire penetration depth of the femtosecond laser pulse train. Thus, the attachment between the cells takes place across a large surface area, which affirms our findings of strong physical attachment between the cells. The femtosecond laser pulse hemifusion technique can potentially provide a platform for precise molecular manipulation of cellular membranes. Manipulation of the cellular membrane is an important procedure that could aid in studying diseases such as cancer; where the expression level of plasma proteins on the cell membrane is altered.

Effect of phloretin on the permeability of thin lipid membranes

PubMed Central

1976-01-01

Phloretin dramatically increases cation conductances and decreases anion conductances of membranes treated with ion carriers (nonactin, valinomycin, carbonyl-cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone [CCCP], and Hg(C6F5)2) or lipophilic ions (tetraphenylarsonium [tphAs+] and tetraphenylborate [TPhB-]). For example, on phosphatidylethanolamine membranes, 10(-4) M phloretin increases K+ -nonactin and TPhAs+ conductances and decreases CCCP- and TPhB- conductances 10(3)-fold; on lecithin: cholesterol membranes, it increases K+-nonactin conductance 10(5)-fold and decreases CCCP- conductance 10(3)-fold. Similar effects are obtained with p- and m-nitrophenol at 10(-2) M. These effects are produced by the un-ionized form of phloretin and the nitrophenols. We believe that phloretin, which possesses a large dipole moment, adsorbs and orients at the membrane surface to introduce a dipole potential of opposite polarity to the preexisting positive one, thus increasing the partition coefficient of cations into the membrane interior and decreasing the partition coefficient of anions. (Phloretin may also increase the fluidity of cholesterol-containing membranes; this is manifested by its two- to three-fold increase in nonelectrolyte permeability and its asymmetrical effect on cation and anion conductances in cholesterol-containing membranes.) It is possible that pholoretin's inhibition of chloride, urea, and glucose transport in biological membranes results from the effects of these intense intrafacial dipole fields on the translocator(s) of these molecules. PMID:946975

Crystal Structure of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type a in Complex With the Cell Surface Co-Receptor GT1b-Insight Into the Toxin-Neuron Interaction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stenmark, P.; Dupuy, J.; Inamura, A.

2009-05-26

Botulinum neurotoxins have a very high affinity and specificity for their target cells requiring two different co-receptors located on the neuronal cell surface. Different toxin serotypes have different protein receptors; yet, most share a common ganglioside co-receptor, GT1b. We determined the crystal structure of the botulinum neurotoxin serotype A binding domain (residues 873-1297) alone and in complex with a GT1b analog at 1.7 A and 1.6 A, respectively. The ganglioside GT1b forms several key hydrogen bonds to conserved residues and binds in a shallow groove lined by Tryptophan 1266. GT1b binding does not induce any large structural changes in themore » toxin; therefore, it is unlikely that allosteric effects play a major role in the dual receptor recognition. Together with the previously published structures of botulinum neurotoxin serotype B in complex with its protein co-receptor, we can now generate a detailed model of botulinum neurotoxin's interaction with the neuronal cell surface. The two branches of the GT1b polysaccharide, together with the protein receptor site, impose strict geometric constraints on the mode of interaction with the membrane surface and strongly support a model where one end of the 100 A long translocation domain helix bundle swing into contact with the membrane, initiating the membrane anchoring event.« less

Interactions between Membranes and "Metaphilic" Polypeptide Architectures with Diverse Side-Chain Populations.

PubMed

Lee, Michelle W; Han, Ming; Bossa, Guilherme Volpe; Snell, Carly; Song, Ziyuan; Tang, Haoyu; Yin, Lichen; Cheng, Jianjun; May, Sylvio; Luijten, Erik; Wong, Gerard C L

2017-03-28

At physiological conditions, most proteins or peptides can fold into relatively stable structures that present on their molecular surfaces specific chemical patterns partially smeared out by thermal fluctuations. These nanoscopically defined patterns of charge, hydrogen bonding, and/or hydrophobicity, along with their elasticity and shape stability (folded proteins have Young's moduli of ∼1 × 10 8 Pa), largely determine and limit the interactions of these molecules, such as molecular recognition and allosteric regulation. In this work, we show that the membrane-permeating activity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can be significantly enhanced using prototypical peptides with "molten" surfaces: metaphilic peptides with quasi-liquid surfaces and adaptable shapes. These metaphilic peptides have a bottlebrush-like architecture consisting of a rigid helical core decorated with mobile side chains that are terminated by cationic or hydrophobic groups. Computer simulations show that these flexible side chains can undergo significant rearrangement in response to different environments, giving rise to adaptable surface chemistry of the peptide. This quality makes it possible to control their hydrophobicity over a broad range while maintaining water solubility, unlike many AMPs and CPPs. Thus, we are able to show how the activity of these peptides is amplified by hydrophobicity and cationic charge, and rationalize these results using a quantitative mean-field theory. Computer simulations show that the shape-changing properties of the peptides and the resultant adaptive presentation of chemistry play a key enabling role in their interactions with membranes.

New electrocatalysts for unitized regenerative fuel cell: Pt-Ir alloy deposited on the proton exchange membrane surface by impregnation-reduction method.

PubMed

Wan, Chieh-Hao; Wu, Chun-Lin; Lin, Meng-Tsun; Shih, Chihhsiong

2010-07-01

In this paper, a modified technique to prepare Pt-Ir catalyst layer on the proton exchange membrane (PEM) surface using the impregnation-reduction (IR) method is proposed to improve the electrocatalytic activity as well as the life cycle of the bifunctional oxygen electrode (BOE). The resulted electrocatalysts were characterized by the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The electrocatalytic properties of the Pt-Ir layer on PEM surface for the oxygen reduction and water oxidation reactions as well as the life cycle of MEA were investigated. Experimental results showed that the Ir particles were dispersed densely in the platinum layer through the modified IR technique. The atomic ratio of Pt over Ir elements was 9:1, and the resulted thickness of the obtained Pt-Ir catalyst layer was about 1.0 microm. The Pt-Ir catalyst layer was composed of Pt layer doped with Ir nano-particles comprising nano Pt-Ir alloy phase. The large surface area of Ir core with Pt shell particles and the presence of nano Pt-Ir alloy phase led to a higher electrocatalytic activity of BOE. Due to the good binding between the Nafion membrane and the Pt-Ir alloy catalyst, as well as the composite structure of the resulted Pt-Ir, the life cycle of Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell (URFC) is improved through this novel BOE.

Mesoscale studies of ionic closed membranes with polyhedral geometries

DOE PAGES

Olvera de la Cruz, Monica

2016-06-01

Large crystalline molecular shells buckle spontaneously into icosahedra while multicomponent shells buckle into various polyhedra. Continuum elastic theory explains the buckling of closed shells with one elastic component into icosahedra. A generalized elastic model, on the other hand, describes the spontaneous buckling of inhomogeneous shells into regular and irregular polyhedra. By coassembling water-insoluble anionic (–1) amphiphiles with cationic (3+) amphiphiles, we realized ionic vesicles. Results revealed that surface crystalline domains and the unusual shell shapes observed arise from the competition of ionic correlations with charge-regulation. We explain here the mechanism by which these ionic membranes generate a mechanically heterogeneous vesicle.

Lytic agents, cell permeability, and monolayer penetrability.

PubMed

Salton, M R

1968-07-01

Cell lysis induced by lytic agents is the terminal phase of a series of events leading to membrane disorganization and breadkdown with the release of cellular macromolecules. Permeability changes following exposure to lytic systems may range from selective effects on ion fluxes to gross membrane damage and cell leakage. Lysis can be conceived as an interfacial phenomenon, and the action of surface-active agents on erythrocytes has provided a model in which to investigate relationships between hemolysis and chemical structure, ionic charge, surface tension lowering, and ability to penetrate monolayers of membrane lipid components. Evidence suggests that lysis follows the attainment of surface pressures exceeding a "critical collapse" level and could involve membrane cholesterol or phospholipid. Similarities of chemical composition of membranes from various cell types could account for lytic responses observed on interaction with surface-active agents. Cell membranes usually contain about 20-30 % lipid and 50-75 % protein. One or two major phospholipids are present in all cell membranes, but sterols are not detectable in bacterial membranes other than those of the Mycoplasma group. The rigid cell wall in bacteria has an important bearing on their response to treatment with lytic agents. Removal of the wall renders the protoplast membrane sensitive to rapid lysis with surfactants. Isolated membranes of erythrocytes and bacteria are rapidly dissociated by surface-active agents. Products of dissociation of bacterial membranes have uniform behavior in the ultracentrifuge (sedimentation coefficients 2-3S). Dissociation of membrane proteins from lipids and the isolation and characterization of these proteins will provide a basis for investigating the specificity of interaction of lytic agents with biomembranes.

Large divalent cations and electrostatic potentials adjacent to membranes. Experimental results with hexamethonium.

PubMed Central

Alvarez, O; Brodwick, M; Latorre, R; McLaughlin, A; McLaughlin, S; Szabo, G

1983-01-01

A simple extension of the Gouy-Chapman theory predicts that the ability of a divalent cation to screen charges at a membrane-solution interface decreases significantly if the distance between the charges on the cation is comparable with the Debye length. We tested this prediction by investigating the effect of hexamethonium on the electrostatic potential adjacent to negatively charged phospholipid bilayer membranes. The distance between the two charges of an extended hexamethonium molecule is approximately 1 nm, which is the Debye length in the 0.1 M monovalent salt solutions used in these experiments. Six different experimental approaches were utilized. We measured the electrophoretic mobility of multilamellar vesicles to determine the zeta potential, the line width of the 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal from sonicated vesicles to calculate the change in potential at the phosphodiester moiety of the lipid, and the conductance of planar bilayer membranes exposed to either carriers (nonactin) or pore formers (gramicidin) to estimate the change in potential within the membrane. We also measured directly the effect of hexamethonium on the potential above a monolayer formed from negative lipids, and attempted to calculate the change in the surface potential of a bilayer membrane from capacitance measurements. With the exception of the capacitance calculations, each of the techniques gave comparable results: hexamethonium exerts a smaller effect on the potential than that predicted by the classic screening theory. The results are consistent with the predictions of the extended Gouy-Chapman theory and are relevant to the interpretation of physiological and pharmacological experiments that utilize hexamethonium and other large divalent cations. PMID:6198001

Morphology, histochemistry and glycosylation of the placenta and associated tissues in the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).

PubMed

Jones, Carolyn J P; Carter, A M; Allen, W R; Wilsher, Sandra A

2016-12-01

There are few descriptions of the placenta and associated tissues of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and here we present findings on a near-term pregnant specimen. Tissues were examined grossly and then formalin fixed and wax-embedded for histology and immunocytochemistry (cytokeratin) and resin embedded for lectin histochemistry. Each of four well-developed and near term hoglets displayed a discoid, haemochorial placenta with typical labyrinth and spongy zones. In addition there was a paraplacenta incorporating Reichert's membrane and a largely detached yolk sac. The trophoblast of the placenta contained diverse populations of granule which expressed most classes of glycan. Intercellular membranes were also glycosylated and this tended to be heavier in the labyrinth zone. Fetal capillary endothelium had glycosylated apical surfaces expressing sialic acid and various other glycans. Glycogen was present in large cells situated between the spongy zone and the endometrium. Trophoblast cells in the placental disc and under Reichert's membrane, as well as yolk sac endoderm and mesothelium, were cytokeratin positive. Reichert's membrane was heavily glycosylated. Yolk sac inner and outer endoderm expressed similar glycans except for N-acetylgalactosamine residues in endodermal acini. New features of near-term hedgehog placenta and associated tissues are presented, including their glycosylation, and novel yolk sac acinar structures are described. The trophoblast of the placental disc showed significant differences from that underlying Reichert's membrane while the glycan composition of the membrane itself showed some similarity to that of rat thereby implying a degree of biochemical conservation of this structure. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two-dimensional materials for novel liquid separation membranes.

PubMed

Ying, Yulong; Yang, Yefeng; Ying, Wen; Peng, Xinsheng

2016-08-19

Demand for a perfect molecular-level separation membrane with ultrafast permeation and a robust mechanical property for any kind of species to be blocked in water purification and desalination is urgent. In recent years, due to their intrinsic characteristics, such as a unique mono-atom thick structure, outstanding mechanical strength and excellent flexibility, as well as facile and large-scale production, graphene and its large family of two-dimensional (2D) materials are regarded as ideal membrane materials for ultrafast molecular separation. A perfect separation membrane should be as thin as possible to maximize its flux, mechanically robust and without failure even if under high loading pressure, and have a narrow nanochannel size distribution to guarantee its selectivity. The latest breakthrough in 2D material-based membranes will be reviewed both in theories and experiments, including their current state-of-the-art fabrication, structure design, simulation and applications. Special attention will be focused on the designs and strategies employed to control microstructures to enhance permeation and selectivity for liquid separation. In addition, critical views on the separation mechanism within two-dimensional material-based membranes will be provided based on a discussion of the effects of intrinsic defects during growth, predefined nanopores and nanochannels during subsequent fabrication processes, the interlayer spacing of stacking 2D material flakes and the surface charge or functional groups. Furthermore, we will summarize the significant progress of these 2D material-based membranes for liquid separation in nanofiltration/ultrafiltration and pervaporation. Lastly, we will recall issues requiring attention, and discuss existing questionable conclusions in some articles and emerging challenges. This review will serve as a valuable platform to provide a compact source of relevant and timely information about the development of 2D material-based membranes as well as fully explain up-to-date mechanisms and models of water transport and molecular separation behavior, which will arouse great interest among researchers entering or already working in the field of 2D material-based membranes.

Two-dimensional materials for novel liquid separation membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ying, Yulong; Yang, Yefeng; Ying, Wen; Peng, Xinsheng

2016-08-01

Demand for a perfect molecular-level separation membrane with ultrafast permeation and a robust mechanical property for any kind of species to be blocked in water purification and desalination is urgent. In recent years, due to their intrinsic characteristics, such as a unique mono-atom thick structure, outstanding mechanical strength and excellent flexibility, as well as facile and large-scale production, graphene and its large family of two-dimensional (2D) materials are regarded as ideal membrane materials for ultrafast molecular separation. A perfect separation membrane should be as thin as possible to maximize its flux, mechanically robust and without failure even if under high loading pressure, and have a narrow nanochannel size distribution to guarantee its selectivity. The latest breakthrough in 2D material-based membranes will be reviewed both in theories and experiments, including their current state-of-the-art fabrication, structure design, simulation and applications. Special attention will be focused on the designs and strategies employed to control microstructures to enhance permeation and selectivity for liquid separation. In addition, critical views on the separation mechanism within two-dimensional material-based membranes will be provided based on a discussion of the effects of intrinsic defects during growth, predefined nanopores and nanochannels during subsequent fabrication processes, the interlayer spacing of stacking 2D material flakes and the surface charge or functional groups. Furthermore, we will summarize the significant progress of these 2D material-based membranes for liquid separation in nanofiltration/ultrafiltration and pervaporation. Lastly, we will recall issues requiring attention, and discuss existing questionable conclusions in some articles and emerging challenges. This review will serve as a valuable platform to provide a compact source of relevant and timely information about the development of 2D material-based membranes as well as fully explain up-to-date mechanisms and models of water transport and molecular separation behavior, which will arouse great interest among researchers entering or already working in the field of 2D material-based membranes.

The effect of S-layer protein adsorption and crystallization on the collective motion of a planar lipid bilayer studied by dynamic light scattering.

PubMed Central

Hirn, R; Schuster, B; Sleytr, U B; Bayerl, T M

1999-01-01

A dedicated dynamic light scattering (DLS) setup was employed to study the undulations of freely suspended planar lipid bilayers, the so-called black lipid membranes (BLM), over a previously inaccessible spread of frequencies (relaxation times ranging from 10(-2) to 10(-6) s) and wavevectors (250 cm(-1) < q < 38,000 cm(-1)). For a BLM consisting of 1,2-dielaidoyl-sn-3-glycero-phosphocholine (DEPC) doped with two different proportions of the cationic lipid analog dioctadecyl-dimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) we observed an increase of the lateral tension of the membrane with the DODAB concentration. The experimentally determined dispersion behavior of the transverse shear mode was in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions of a first-order hydrodynamic theory. The symmetric adsorption of the crystalline bacterial cell surface layer (S-layer) proteins from Bacillus coagulans E38-66 to a weakly cationic BLM (1.5 mol % DODAB) causes a drastic reduction of the membrane tension well beyond the previous DODAB-induced tension increase. The likely reason for this behavior is an increase of molecular order along the lipid chains by the protein and/or partial protein penetration into the lipid headgroup region. S-layer protein adsorption to a highly cationic BLM (14 mol % DODAB) shows after 7 h incubation time an even stronger decrease of the membrane tension by a factor of five, but additionally a significant increase of the (previously negligible) surface viscosity, again in excellent agreement with the hydrodynamic theory. Further incubation (24 h) shows a drastic increase of the membrane bending energy by three orders of magnitude as a result of a large-scale, two-dimensional recrystallization of the S-layer proteins at both sides of the BLM. The results demonstrate the potential of the method for the assessment of the different stages of protein adsorption and recrystallization at a membrane surface by measurements of the collective membrane modes and their analysis in terms of a hydrodynamic theory. PMID:10512827

Diffusive transfer to membranes as an effective interface between gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogorzalek Loo, Rachel R.; Mitchell, Charles; Stevenson, Tracy I.; Loo, Joseph A.; Andrews, Philip C.

1997-12-01

Diffusive transfer was examined as a blotting method to transfer proteins from polyacrylamide gels to membranes for ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The method is well-suited for transfers from isoelectric focusing (IEF) gels. Spectra have been obtained for 11 pmol of 66 kDa albumin loaded onto an IEF gel and subsequently blotted to polyethylene. Similarly, masses of intact carbonic anhydrase and hemoglobin were obtained from 14 and 20 pmol loadings. This methodology is also compatible with blotting high molecular weight proteins, as seen for 6 pmol of the 150 kDa monoclonal antibody anti-[beta]-galactosidase transferred to Goretex. Polypropylene, Teflon, Nafion and polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) also produced good spectra following diffusive transfer. Only analysis from PVDF required that the membrane be kept wet prior to application of matrix. Considerations in mass accuracy for analysis from large-area membranes with continuous extraction and delayed extraction were explored, as were remedies for surface charging. Vapor phase CNBr cleavage was applied to membrane-bound samples for peptide mapping.

Amyloid and membrane complexity: The toxic interplay revealed by AFM.

PubMed

Canale, Claudio; Oropesa-Nuñez, Reinier; Diaspro, Alberto; Dante, Silvia

2018-01-01

Lipid membranes play a fundamental role in the pathological development of protein misfolding diseases. Several pieces of evidence suggest that the lipid membrane could act as a catalytic surface for protein aggregation. Furthermore, a leading theory indicates the interaction between the cell membrane and misfolded oligomer species as the responsible for cytotoxicity, hence, for neurodegeneration in disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The definition of the mechanisms that drive the interaction between pathological protein aggregates and plasma membrane is fundamental for the development of effective therapies for a large class of diseases. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been employed to study how amyloid aggregates affect the cell physiological properties. Considerable efforts were spent to characterize the interaction with model systems, i.e., planar supported lipid bilayers, but some works also addressed the problem directly on living cells. Here, an overview of the main works involving the use of the AFM on both model system and living cells will be provided. Different kind of approaches will be presented, as well as the main results derived from the AFM analysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Toward the Fabrication of Advanced Nanofiltration Membranes by Controlling Morphologies and Mesochannel Orientations of Hexagonal Lyotropic Liquid Crystals.

PubMed

Wang, Guang; Garvey, Christopher J; Zhao, Han; Huang, Kang; Kong, Lingxue

2017-07-21

Water scarcity has been recognized as one of the major threats to human activity, and, therefore, water purification technologies are increasingly drawing attention worldwide. Nanofiltration (NF) membrane technology has been proven to be an efficient and cost-effective way in terms of the size and continuity of the nanostructure. Using a template based on hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) and partitioning monomer units within this structure for subsequent photo-polymerisation presents a unique path for the fabrication of NF membranes, potentially producing pores of uniform size, ranging from 1 to 5 nm, and large surface areas. The subsequent orientation of this pore network in a direction normal to a flat polymer film that provides ideal transport properties associated with continuous pores running through the membrane has been achieved by the orientation of hexagonal LLCs through various strategies. This review presents the current progresses on the strategies for structure retention from a hexagonal LLCs template and the up-to-date techniques used for the reorientation of mesochanels for continuity through the whole membrane.

Ultrasonic control of ceramic membrane fouling: Effect of particle characteristics.

PubMed

Chen, Dong; Weavers, Linda K; Walker, Harold W

2006-02-01

In this study, the effect of particle characteristics on the ultrasonic control of membrane fouling was investigated. Ultrasound at 20 kHz was applied to a cross-flow filtration system with gamma-alumina membranes in the presence of colloidal silica particles. Experimental results indicated that particle concentration affected the ability of ultrasound to control membrane fouling, with less effective control of fouling at higher particle concentrations. Measurements of sound wave intensity and images of the cavitation region indicated that particles induced additional cavitation bubbles near the ultrasonic source, which resulted in less turbulence reaching the membrane surface and subsequently less effective control of fouling. When silica particles were modified to be hydrophobic, greater inducement of cavitation bubbles near the ultrasonic source occurred for a fixed concentration, also resulting in less effective control of fouling. Particle size influenced the cleaning ability of ultrasound, with better permeate recovery observed with larger particles. Particle size did not affect sound wave intensity, suggesting that the more effective control of fouling by large particles was due to greater lift and cross-flow drag forces on larger particles compared to smaller particles.

CuSO4/H2O2-Triggered Polydopamine/Poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) Coatings for Antifouling Membrane Surfaces.

PubMed

Zhang, Chao; Li, Hao-Nan; Du, Yong; Ma, Meng-Qi; Xu, Zhi-Kang

2017-02-07

Mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) coatings have been broadly exploited for constructing functional membrane surfaces. One-step codeposition of PDA with antifouling polymers, especially zwitterionic polymers, has been regarded as a promising strategy for fabricating antifouling membrane surfaces. However, one challenge is that the codeposition is usually a slow process over 10 h or even several days. Herein, we report that CuSO 4 /H 2 O 2 is able to notably accelerate the codeposition process of PDA with poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA). In our case, PSBMA is facilely anchored to the polypropylene microporous membrane (PPMM) surfaces within 1 h with the assistance of PDA because of its strong interfacial adhesion. The PDA/PSBMA-coated PPMMs show excellent surface hydrophilicity, high water permeation flux (7506 ± 528 L/m 2 ·h at 0.1 MPa), and an outstanding antifouling property. Moreover, the antifouling property is maintained after the membranes are treated with acid and alkali solutions as well as organic solvents. To recap, it provides a facile, universal, and time-saving strategy for exploiting high-efficiency and durable antifouling membrane surfaces.

Type IX secretion: the generation of bacterial cell surface coatings involved in virulence, gliding motility and the degradation of complex biopolymers.

PubMed

Veith, Paul D; Glew, Michelle D; Gorasia, Dhana G; Reynolds, Eric C

2017-10-01

The Type IX secretion system (T9SS) is present in over 1000 sequenced species/strains of the Fibrobacteres-Chlorobi-Bacteroidetes superphylum. Proteins secreted by the T9SS have an N-terminal signal peptide for translocation across the inner membrane via the SEC translocon and a C-terminal signal for secretion across the outer membrane via the T9SS. Nineteen protein components of the T9SS have been identified including three, SigP, PorX and PorY that are involved in regulation. The inner membrane proteins PorL and PorM and the outer membrane proteins PorK and PorN interact and a complex comprising PorK and PorN forms a large ring structure of 50 nm in diameter. PorU, PorV, PorQ and PorZ form an attachment complex on the cell surface of the oral pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis. P. gingivalis T9SS substrates bind to PorV suggesting that after translocation PorV functions as a shuttle protein to deliver T9SS substrates to the attachment complex. The PorU component of the attachment complex is a novel Gram negative sortase which catalyses the cleavage of the C-terminal signal and conjugation of the protein substrates to lipopolysaccharide, anchoring them to the cell surface. This review presents an overview of the T9SS focusing on the function of T9SS substrates and machinery components. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Influence of Chromium-Cobalt-Molybdenum Alloy (ASTM F75) on Bone Ingrowth in an Experimental Animal Model.

PubMed

Zuchuat, Jésica; Berli, Marcelo; Maldonado, Ysaí; Decco, Oscar

2017-12-26

Cr-Co-Mo (ASTM F75) alloy has been used in the medical environment, but its use as a rigid barrier membrane for supporting bone augmentation therapies has not been extensively investigated. In the present study, Cr-Co-Mo membranes of different heights were placed in New Zealand white, male rabbit tibiae to assess the quality and volume of new bone formation, without the use of additional factors. Animals were euthanized at 20, 30, 40, and 60 days. Bone formation was observed in all of the cases, although the tibiae implanted with the standard membranes reached an augmentation of bone volume that agreed with the density values over the timecourse. In all cases, plasmatic exudate was found under the membrane and in contact with the new bone. Histological analysis indicated the presence of a large number of chondroblasts adjacent to the inner membrane surface in the first stages, and osteoblasts and osteocytes were observed under them. The bone formation was appositional. The Cr-Co-Mo alloy provides a scaffold with an adequate microenvironment for vertical bone volume augmentation, and the physical dimensions and disposition of the membrane itself influence the new bone formation.

Influence of Chromium-Cobalt-Molybdenum Alloy (ASTM F75) on Bone Ingrowth in an Experimental Animal Model

PubMed Central

Zuchuat, Jésica; Berli, Marcelo; Maldonado, Ysaí; Decco, Oscar

2017-01-01

Cr-Co-Mo (ASTM F75) alloy has been used in the medical environment, but its use as a rigid barrier membrane for supporting bone augmentation therapies has not been extensively investigated. In the present study, Cr-Co-Mo membranes of different heights were placed in New Zealand white, male rabbit tibiae to assess the quality and volume of new bone formation, without the use of additional factors. Animals were euthanized at 20, 30, 40, and 60 days. Bone formation was observed in all of the cases, although the tibiae implanted with the standard membranes reached an augmentation of bone volume that agreed with the density values over the timecourse. In all cases, plasmatic exudate was found under the membrane and in contact with the new bone. Histological analysis indicated the presence of a large number of chondroblasts adjacent to the inner membrane surface in the first stages, and osteoblasts and osteocytes were observed under them. The bone formation was appositional. The Cr-Co-Mo alloy provides a scaffold with an adequate microenvironment for vertical bone volume augmentation, and the physical dimensions and disposition of the membrane itself influence the new bone formation. PMID:29278372

Membrane interaction of chrysophsin-1, a histidine-rich antimicrobial peptide from red sea bream.

PubMed

Mason, A James; Bertani, Philippe; Moulay, Gilles; Marquette, Arnaud; Perrone, Barbara; Drake, Alex F; Kichler, Antoine; Bechinger, Burkhard

2007-12-25

Chrysophsin-1 is an amphipathic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptide produced in the gill cells of red sea bream. The peptide has broad range activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but is more hemolytic than other antimicrobial peptides such as magainin. Here we explore the membrane interaction of chrysophsin-1 and determine its toxicity, in vitro, for human lung fibroblasts to obtain a mechanism for its antimicrobial activity and to understand the role of the unusual C-terminal RRRH sequence. At intermediate peptide concentrations, solid-state NMR methods reveal that chrysophsin-1 is aligned parallel to the membrane surface and the lipid acyl chains in mixed model membranes are destabilized, thereby being in agreement with models where permeabilization is an effect of transient membrane disruption. The C-terminal RRRH sequence was shown to have a large effect on the insertion of the peptide into membranes with differing lipid compositions and was found to be crucial for pore formation and toxicity of the peptide to fibroblasts. The combination of biophysical data and cell-based assays suggests likely mechanisms involved in both the antibiotic and toxic activity of chrysophsins.

Natural clinoptilolite composite membranes on tubular stainless steel supports for water softening.

PubMed

Adamaref, Solmaz; An, Weizhu; Jarligo, Maria Ophelia; Kuznicki, Tetyana; Kuznicki, Steven M

2014-01-01

Disk membranes generated from high-purity natural clinoptilolite mineral rock have shown promising water desalination and de-oiling performance. In order to scale up production of these types of membranes for industrial wastewater treatment applications, a coating strategy was devised. A composite mixture of natural clinoptilolite from St. Cloud (Winston, NM, USA) and aluminum phosphate was deposited on the inner surface of porous stainless steel tubes by the slip casting technique. The commercial porous stainless steel tubes were pre-coated with a TiO2 layer of about 10 μm. Phase composition and morphology of the coating materials were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Water softening performance of the fabricated membranes was evaluated using Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) municipal tap water as feed source. Preliminary experimental results show a high water flux of 7.7 kg/(m(2) h) and 75% reduction of hardness and conductivity in a once-through membrane process at 95 °C and feed pressure of 780 kPa. These results show that natural zeolite coated, stainless steel tubular membranes have high potential for large-scale purification of oil sands steam-assisted gravity drainage water at high temperature and pressure requirements.

Electrospun Nanofiber-Coated Membrane Separators for Lithium-Ion Batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hun

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used as a power source for portable electronic devices and hybrid electric vehicles due to their excellent energy and power densities, long cycle life, and enhanced safety. A separator is considered to be the critical component in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. The separator is placed between the positive and negative electrodes in order to prevent the physical contact of electrodes while allowing the transportation of ions. In most commercial lithium-ion batteries, polyolefin microporous membranes are commonly used as the separator due to their good chemical stability and high mechanical strength. However, some of their intrinsic natures, such as low electrolyte uptake, poor adhesion property to the electrodes, and low ionic conductivity, can still be improved to achieve higher performance of lithium-ion batteries. In order to improve these intrinsic properties, polyolefin microporous membranes can be coated with nanofibers by using electrospinning technique. Electrospinning is a simple and efficient method to prepare nanofibers which can absorb a significant amount of liquid electrolyte to achieve low internal resistance and battery performance. This research presents the preparation and investigation of composite membrane separators prepared by coating nanofibers onto polyolefin microporous membranes via electrospinning technique. Polyvinylidene fluoride polymers and copolymers were used for the preparation of electrospun nanofiber coatings because they have excellent electrochemical stability, good adhesion property, and high temperature resistance. The nanofiber coatings prepared by electrospinning form an interconnected and randomly orientated structure on the surface of the polyolefin microporous membranes. The size of the nanofibers is on a scale that does not interfere with the micropores in the membrane substrates. The resultant nanofiber-coated membranes have the potential to combine advantages of both the polyolefin separator membranes and the nanoscale fibrous polymer coatings. The polyolefin microporous membranes serve as the supporting substrate which provides the required mechanical strength for the assembling process of lithium-ion batteries. The electrospun nanofiber coatings improve the wettability of the composite membrane separators to the liquid electrolyte, which is desirable for the lithium-ion batteries with high kinetics and good cycling performance. The results show that the nanofiber-coated membranes have enhanced adhesion properties to the battery electrode which can help prevent the formation of undesirable gaps between the separators and electrodes during prolonged charge-discharge cycles, especially in large-format batteries. The improvement on adhesive properties of nanofiber-coated membranes was evaluated by peel test. Nanofiber coatings applied to polyolefin membrane substrates improve the adhesion of separator membranes to battery electrodes. Electrolyte uptakes, ionic conductivities and interfacial resistances of the nanofiber-coated membrane separators were studied by soaking the membrane separators with a liquid electrolyte solution of 1 M lithium hexafluorophosphate dissolved in ethylene carbonate/dimethylcarbonate/ethylmethyl carbonate (1:1:1 vol). The nanofiber coatings on the surface of the membrane substrates increase the electrolyte uptake capacity due to the high surface area and capillary effect of nanofibers. The nanofiber-coated membranes soaked in the liquid electrolyte solution exhibit high ionic conductivities and low interfacial resistances to the lithium electrode. The cells containing LiFePO 4 cathode and the nanofiber-coated membranes as the separator show high discharge specific capacities and good cycling stability at room temperature. The nanofiber coatings on the membrane substrates contribute to high ionic conductivity and good electrochemical performance in lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, these nanofiber-coated composite membranes can be directly used as novel battery separators for high performance of lithium-ion batteries. Coating polyolefin microporous membranes with electrospun nanofibers is a promising approach to obtain highperformance separators for advanced lithium-ion batteries.

Fouling potential evaluation of soluble microbial products (SMP) with different membrane surfaces in a hybrid membrane bioreactor using worm reactor for sludge reduction.

PubMed

Li, Zhipeng; Tian, Yu; Ding, Yi; Chen, Lin; Wang, Haoyu

2013-07-01

The fouling characteristics of soluble microbial products (SMP) in the membrane bioreactor coupled with Static Sequencing Batch Worm Reactor (SSBWR-MBR) were tested with different types of membranes. It was noted that the flux decrements of S-SMP (SMP in SSBWR-MBR) with cellulose acetate (CA), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyether sulfones (PES) membranes were respectively 6.7%, 8.5% and 9.5% lower compared to those of C-SMP (SMP in Control-MBR) with corresponding membranes. However, for both the filtration of the C-SMP and S-SMP, the CA membrane exhibited the fastest diminishing rate of flux among the three types of membranes. The surface morphology analysis showed that the CA membrane exhibited more but smaller protuberances compared to the PVDF and PES. The second minimums surrounding each protruding asperity on CA membrane were more than those on the PVDF and PES membranes, enhancing the attachment of SMP onto the membrane surface. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High performance membrane-electrode assembly based on a surface-modified membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Sangil; Lee, Jang Woo; Kwak, Chan; Chai, Geun Seok; Son, In Hyuk; Jang, Moon Yup; An, Sung Guk; Cho, Sung Yong; Kim, Jun Young; Kim, Hyung Wook; Serov, Alexey Alexandrovych; Yoo, Youngtai; Nam, Kie Hyun

A surface-modified membrane is prepared using a sputtering technique that deposits gold directly on a Nafion ® 115 membrane surface that is roughened with silicon carbide paper. The surface-modified membranes are characterized by means of a scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and water contact-angle analysis. A single direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with a surface-modified membrane exhibits enhanced performance (160 mW cm -2), while a bare Nafion ® 115 cell yields 113 mW cm -2 at 0.4 V and an operating temperature of 70 °C. From FE-SEM images and CO ad stripping voltammograms, it is also found that the gold layer is composed of clusters of porous nodule-like particles, which indicates that an anode with nodule-like gold leads to the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide. These results suggest that the topology of gold in the interfacial area and its electrocatalytic nature may be the critical factors that affect DMFC performance.

Antioxidation performance of poly(vinyl alcohol) modified poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Daohui; Li, Xianfeng; Li, Qing; Liu, Zhen; Li, Nana; Huang, Qinglin; Zhang, Yufeng; Xiao, Changfa

2018-03-01

Commercial poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were modified by dip-coating and crosslinking hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) on the membrane surface. The antioxidation performance of the modified PVDF membranes was evaluated via exposing the modified membranes to sodium hypochlorite and potassium permanganate solutions for 5-30 days, respectively. The evaluation was based on the influences of the two oxidants on the permeability, rejection, and hydrophility of the modified membranes, which were characterized by water flux, ink rejection, water contact angle, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The XPS and water contact angle results show that the hydrophilicity of PVDF membranes was significantly improved when PVA was crosslinked on the surface of PVDF membranes. When the modified membranes had been treated with sodium hypochlorite or potassium permanganate for 30 days, the permeability and hydrophilicity were basically maintained and the rejection was slightly decreased. XPS and XRD indicated that some of PVAs coated on the membrane surface could be oxidized and peeled.

Novel Fouling-Reducing Coatings for Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis Membranes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Benny Freeman

2008-08-31

Polymeric membranes could potentially be the most flexible and viable long-term strategy for treatment of produced water from oil and gas production. However, widespread use of membranes, including reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, for produced water purification is hindered due to fouling caused by the impurities present in the water. Fouling of RO membranes is likely caused by surface properties including roughness, hydrophilicity, and charge, so surface modification is the most widely considered approach to improve the fouling properties of current RO membranes. This project focuses on two main approaches to surface modification: coating and grafting. Hydrophilic coating and grafting materialsmore » based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are applied to commercial RO membranes manufactured by Dow FilmTec and GE. Crossflow filtration experiments are used to determine the fouling resistance of modified membranes, and compare their performance to that of unmodified commercial RO membranes. Grafting and coating are shown to be two alternative methods of producing modified membranes with improved fouling resistance.« less

Surface modification of cellulose acetate membrane using thermal annealing to enhance produced water treatment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kusworo, T. D., E-mail: tdkusworo@che.undip.ac.id; Aryanti, N., E-mail: nita.aryanti@gmail.com; Firdaus, M. M. H.

2015-12-29

This study is performed primarily to investigate the effect of surface modification of cellulose acetate using thermal annealing on the enhancement of membrane performance for produced water treatment. In this study, Cellulose Acetate membranes were casted using dry/wet phase inversion technique. The effect of additive and post-treatment using thermal annealing on the membrane surface were examined for produced water treatment. Therma annealing was subjected to membrane surface at 60 and 70 °C for 5, 10 and 15 second, respectively. Membrane characterizations were done using membrane flux and rejection with produced water as a feed, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fouriermore » Transform Infra Red (FTIR) analysis. Experimental results showed that asymmetric cellulose acetate membrane can be made by dry/wet phase inversion technique. The results from the Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analysis was also confirmed that polyethylene glycol as additivie in dope solution and thermal annealing was affected the morphology and membrane performance for produced water treatment, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the selective layer and the substructure of membrane became denser and more compact after the thermal annealing processes. Therefore, membrane rejection was significantly increased while the flux was slighty decreased, respectively. The best membrane performance is obtained on the composition of 18 wt % cellulose acetate, poly ethylene glycol 5 wt% with thermal annealing at 70° C for 15 second.« less

Atox1 Contains Positive Residues That Mediate Membrane Association and Aid Subsequent Copper Loading

PubMed Central

Flores, Adrian G.; Unger, Vinzenz M.

2013-01-01

Copper chaperones bind intracellular copper and ensure proper trafficking to downstream targets via protein-protein interactions. In contrast to the mechanisms of copper binding and transfer to downstream targets, the mechanisms of initial copper loading of the chaperones are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that antioxidant protein 1 (Atox1 in human cells), the principal cellular copper chaperone responsible for delivery of copper to the secretory pathway, possesses the ability to interact with negatively charged lipid headgroups via distinct surface lysine residues. Moreover, loss of these residues lowers the efficiency of copper loading of Atox1 in vivo, suggesting that the membrane may play a scaffolding role in copper distribution to Atox1. These findings complement the recent discovery that the membrane also facilitates copper loading of the copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase 1 and provide further support for the emerging paradigm that the membrane bilayer plays a central role in cellular copper acquisition and distribution. PMID:24036897

Atox1 contains positive residues that mediate membrane association and aid subsequent copper loading.

PubMed

Flores, Adrian G; Unger, Vinzenz M

2013-12-01

Copper chaperones bind intracellular copper and ensure proper trafficking to downstream targets via protein-protein interactions. In contrast to the mechanisms of copper binding and transfer to downstream targets, the mechanisms of initial copper loading of the chaperones are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that antioxidant protein 1 (Atox1 in human cells), the principal cellular copper chaperone responsible for delivery of copper to the secretory pathway, possesses the ability to interact with negatively charged lipid headgroups via distinct surface lysine residues. Moreover, loss of these residues lowers the efficiency of copper loading of Atox1 in vivo, suggesting that the membrane may play a scaffolding role in copper distribution to Atox1. These findings complement the recent discovery that the membrane also facilitates copper loading of the copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase 1 and provide further support for the emerging paradigm that the membrane bilayer plays a central role in cellular copper acquisition and distribution.

Immobilized biocatalytic process development and potential application in membrane separation: a review.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Sudip; Rusli, Handajaya; Nath, Arijit; Sikder, Jaya; Bhattacharjee, Chiranjib; Curcio, Stefano; Drioli, Enrico

2016-01-01

Biocatalytic membrane reactors have been widely used in different industries including food, fine chemicals, biological, biomedical, pharmaceuticals, environmental treatment and so on. This article gives an overview of the different immobilized enzymatic processes and their advantages over the conventional chemical catalysts. The application of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) reduces the energy consumption, and system size, in line with process intensification. The performances of MBR are considerably influenced by substrate concentration, immobilized matrix material, types of immobilization and the type of reactor. Advantages of a membrane associated bioreactor over a free-enzyme biochemical reaction, and a packed bed reactor are, large surface area of immobilization matrix, reuse of enzymes, better product recovery along with heterogeneous reactions, and continuous operation of the reactor. The present research work highlights immobilization techniques, reactor setup, enzyme stability under immobilized conditions, the hydrodynamics of MBR, and its application, particularly, in the field of sugar, starch, drinks, milk, pharmaceutical industries and energy generation.

Novel polymer-free iridescent lamellar hydrogel for two-dimensional confined growth of ultrathin gold membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Jian; Wang, Dong; Qin, Haili; Xiong, Xiong; Tan, Pengli; Li, Youyong; Liu, Rui; Lu, Xuxing; Wu, Jian; Zhang, Ting; Ni, Weihai; Jin, Jian

2014-02-01

Hydrogels are generally thought to be formed by nano- to micrometre-scale fibres or polymer chains, either physically branched or entangled with each other to trap water. Although there are also anisotropic hydrogels with apparently ordered structures, they are essentially polymer fibre/discrete polymer chains-based network without exception. Here we present a type of polymer-free anisotropic lamellar hydrogels composed of 100-nm-thick water layers sandwiched by two bilayer membranes of a self-assembled nonionic surfactant, hexadecylglyceryl maleate. The hydrogels appear iridescent as a result of Bragg’s reflection of visible light from the periodic lamellar plane. The particular lamellar hydrogel with extremely wide water spacing was used as a soft two-dimensional template to synthesize single-crystalline nanosheets in the confined two-dimensional space. As a consequence, flexible, ultrathin and large area single-crystalline gold membranes with atomically flat surface were produced in the hydrogel. The optical and electrical properties were detected on a single gold membrane.

Surface topography and ultrastructural architecture of the tegument of adult Carmyerius spatiosus Brandes, 1898.

PubMed

Anuracpreeda, Panat; Phutong, Sumittra; Ngamniyom, Arin; Panyarachun, Busaba; Sobhon, Prasert

2015-03-01

Adult Carmyerius spatiosus or stomach fluke has an elongate, cylindrical-shaped, straight to slightly curved body, with conical anterior end and truncated posterior end. The worm measures about 8.7-11.2mm in body length and 2.3-3.0mm in body width across the mid-section. When observed by SEM, the tegumental surface in all part of the body appears highly corrugated with ridges and furrows, and having no spines. The ventral surface has more complex corrugation than those of the dorsal surface. Both anterior and posterior suckers have thick edges covered with transverse folds and appear spineless. The genital pore is located at the anterior part of the body. There are two types of sensory papillae on the surface: type 1 is bulbous in shape with nipple-like tips; type 2 has a similar shape with short cilia on the tip. The dorsal surface exhibits similar surface features, but papillae appear less numerous and are smaller. When observed by TEM, the tegument is divided into four layers. The first layer includes the ridges and furrows which are covered by a trilaminate membrane underlined by a dense lamina and coated externally with the glycocalyx. The second layer of the tegument is a narrow region of cytoplasm that contains high concentrations of ovoid electron lucent tegumental granules (TG1), and disc-shaped electron dense tegumental granules (TG2) as well as lysosomes. TG1 close to the surface invariably exocytose their content into bottoms of the ridges, while some TG2 are fused and have their membrane joined up with the surface membrane. The third layer is the widest middle area of the tegument which contains numerous and evenly distributed mitochondria. Both TG1 and TG2 granules are present but in much fewer number than in the first and second layers. The fourth layer is the innermost zone that rests on and couples with a thick basal lamina. The cytoplasm in this layer is loosely packed and contains numerous infoldings of the basal plasma membrane with closely associated mitochondria. It also contains fairly large numbers of TG1 and TG2 granules which are produced and transported to the tegument by one type of tegumental cells lying in rows underneath the muscular layers. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fast and facile fabrication of antifouling and hemocompatible PVDF membrane tethered with amino-acid modified PEG film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shuyou; Cao, Jingjing; Ma, Na; You, Meng; Wang, Xushan; Meng, Jianqiang

2018-01-01

A fast and facile protocol is reported aiming at improving the antifouling property and hemocompatibility of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes by tethering PEG hydrogel and zwitterion immobilization. The coated PEG hydrogel was first prepared by interfacial polymerization and tethered on an alkali treated PVDF membrane (PVDFA) surface via a simultaneous thio-ene and thiol-epoxy reaction. Then, the thiol groups of cysteine reacted with the epoxy groups in PEG hydrogel to fabricate the PVDFA-g-Cys membrane. The membrane fabrication was complete within less than 20 min and was conducted in mild conditions. The successful preparation of PVDFA-g-Cys membrane was confirmed by ATR-FTIR and XPS. Raman spectroscopy showed that the hydrogels covalently bonded to the PVDF membrane surface. The membrane retained its mechanical strength after modification. The SEM measurements suggested that the membrane became denser after hydrogel coating, meanwhile, the EDX test verified that the functional species uniformly distributed in the membrane matrix. Water contact angle (WCA), protein adsorption and protein filtration tests showed significant improvements in hydrophilicity and antifouling properties for the modified membrane. The negativity of the membrane surface measured by the streaming potential method provides a basis for protein resistance and hemocompatibility. Moreover, the suppressed platelet adhesion and prolonged plasma coagulant time show that the PVDFA-g-Cys membrane has ultralow thrombotic potential and better hemocompatibility. The reported surface modification method combing thio-ene and thio-epoxy chemistry not only facilitates fabrication of hemocompatible PVDF membrane but also provide an universal chemical platform for multifunctionalization of porous membranes.

Shaping off-axis metallic membrane reflectors using optimal boundary shapes and inelastic strains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, C. V.; Dragovan, M.

2004-01-01

This paper will describe a novel concept for constructing off-axis membrane reflector surfaces. Membrane reflectors have been extensively studied, including investigations into inflated lenticular architectures, shaping by spin casting, shaping using electrostatic forces, and shaping by evacuating behind a membrane surface stretched between circular or annular-shaped supports.

Triclosan-immobilized polyamide thin film composite membranes with enhanced biofouling resistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Sang-Hee; Hwang, Seon Oh; Kim, Taek-Seung; Cho, Arah; Kwon, Soon Jin; Kim, Kyoung Taek; Park, Hee-Deung; Lee, Jung-Hyun

2018-06-01

We report on a strategy to improve biofouling resistance of a polyamide (PA) thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane via chemically immobilizing triclosan (TC), known as a common organic biocide, on its surface. To facilitate covalent attachment of TC on the membrane surface, TC was functionalized with amine moiety to prepare aminopropyl TC. Then, the TC-immobilized TFC (TFC-TC) membranes were fabricated through a one-step amide formation reaction between amine groups of aminopropyl TC and acyl chloride groups present on the PA membrane surface, which was confirmed by high-resolution XPS. Strong stability of the immobilized TC was also confirmed by a hydraulic washing test. Although the TFC-TC membrane showed slightly reduced separation performance compared to the pristine control, it still maintained a satisfactory RO performance level. Importantly, the TFC-TC membrane exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against both gram negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) and gram positive (S. aureus) bacteria along with greatly enhanced resistance to biofilm formation. Our immobilization approach offers a robust and relatively benign strategy to control biofouling of functional surfaces, films and membranes.

Polyester polymer alloy as a high-performance membrane.

PubMed

Igoshi, Tadaaki; Tomisawa, Narumi; Hori, Yoshinori; Jinbo, Yoichi

2011-01-01

Polyester polymer alloy (PEPA) membrane is developed as a synthetic polymermembrane. It consists of two polymers - polyethersulfone (PES) and polyarylate (PAR).The pore size in membrane can be controlled by a blend ratio of PES and PAR. One unique characteristic is that PEPA membrane has three layers of a skin layer on the inner surface, a porous layer in the membrane, and a skin layer on the outer surface, respectively. The permeability of water and substances is controlled by the skin layer on the inner surface. PEPA membrane dialyzer can be adequately considered as a high-performance dialyzer. Furthermore, the skin layer on the outer surface can block endotoxin from the dialysis fluid side. PEPA membrane can therefore be used as an endotoxin-retentive filter. The other unique characteristic is that each amount of albumin loss or β2-microglobulin removal can be controlled by an additive amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone. This means that the PEPA dialyzer can be clinically used to meet the conditions of the patient. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The effects of surface-charged submicron polystyrene particles on the structure and performance of PSF forward osmosis membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuo, Hao-Ran; Fu, Jia-Bei; Cao, Gui-Ping; Hu, Nian; Lu, Hui; Liu, Hui-Qing; Chen, Peng-Peng; Yu, Jie

2018-04-01

Monodisperse surface-charged submicron polystyrene particles were designed, synthesized, and blended into polysulfone (PSF) support layer to prepare forward osmosis (FO) membrane with high performance. The membrane incorporated with particles were characterized with respect to morphology, porosity, and internal osmotic pressure (IOP). Results showed that the polymer particles not only increased the hydrophilicity and porosity of support layer, but also generated considerable IOP, which helped markedly decreasing the structure parameter from 1550 to 670 μm. The measured mass transfer parameters further confirmed the beneficial effects of the surface-charged submicron polymer particles on the performance of FO membrane. For instance, the water permeability coefficient (5.37 L m-2 h-1 bar-1) and water flux (49.7 L m-2 h-1) of the FO membrane incorporated with 5 wt% particles were almost twice as much as that of FO membrane without incorporation. This study suggests that monodisperse surface-charged submicron polymer particles are potential modifiers for improving the performance of FO membranes.

Dual membrane hollow fiber fuel cell and method of operating same

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ingham, J. D.; Lawson, D. D. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

A gaseous fuel cell is described which includes a pair of electrodes formed by open-ended, ion-exchange hollow fibers, each having a layer of metal catalyst deposited on the inner surface and large surface area current collectors such as braided metal mesh in contact with the metal catalyst layer. A fuel cell results when the electrodes are immersed in electrolytes and electrically connected. As hydrogen and oxygen flow through the bore of the fibers, oxidation and reduction reactions develop an electrical potential. Since the hollow fiber configuration provides large electrode area per unit volume and intimate contact between fuel and oxidizer at the interface, and due to the low internal resistance of the electrolyte, high power densities can be obtained.

A BAR domain in the N terminus of the Arf GAP ASAP1 affects membrane structure and trafficking of epidermal growth factor receptor.

PubMed

Nie, Zhongzhen; Hirsch, Dianne S; Luo, Ruibai; Jian, Xiaoying; Stauffer, Stacey; Cremesti, Aida; Andrade, Josefa; Lebowitz, Jacob; Marino, Michael; Ahvazi, Bijan; Hinshaw, Jenny E; Randazzo, Paul A

2006-01-24

Arf GAPs are multidomain proteins that function in membrane traffic by inactivating the GTP binding protein Arf1. Numerous Arf GAPs contain a BAR domain, a protein structural element that contributes to membrane traffic by either inducing or sensing membrane curvature. We have examined the role of a putative BAR domain in the function of the Arf GAP ASAP1. ASAP1's N terminus, containing the putative BAR domain together with a PH domain, dimerized to form an extended structure that bound to large unilamellar vesicles containing acidic phospholipids, properties that define a BAR domain. A recombinant protein containing the BAR domain of ASAP1, together with the PH and Arf GAP domains, efficiently bent the surface of large unilamellar vesicles, resulting in the formation of tubular structures. This activity was regulated by Arf1*GTP binding to the Arf GAP domain. In vivo, the tubular structures induced by ASAP1 mutants contained epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Rab11, and ASAP1 colocalized in tubular structures with EGFR during recycling of receptor. Expression of ASAP1 accelerated EGFR trafficking and slowed cell spreading. An ASAP1 mutant lacking the BAR domain had no effect. The N-terminal BAR domain of ASAP1 mediates membrane bending and is necessary for ASAP1 function. The Arf dependence of the bending activity is consistent with ASAP1 functioning as an Arf effector.

Temporal changes in extracellular polymeric substances on hydrophobic and hydrophilic membrane surfaces in a submerged membrane bioreactor.

PubMed

Matar, Gerald; Gonzalez-Gil, Graciela; Maab, Husnul; Nunes, Suzana; Le-Clech, Pierre; Vrouwenvelder, Johannes; Saikaly, Pascal E

2016-05-15

Membrane surface hydrophilic modification has always been considered to mitigating biofouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Four hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membranes (pore sizes ∼0.1 μm) differing only in hydrophobic or hydrophilic surface characteristics were operated at a permeate flux of 10 L/m(2) h in the same lab-scale MBR fed with synthetic wastewater. In addition, identical membrane modules without permeate production (0 L/m(2) h) were operated in the same lab-scale MBR. Membrane modules were autopsied after 1, 10, 20 and 30 days of MBR operation, and total extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) accumulated on the membranes were extracted and characterized in detail using several analytical tools, including conventional colorimetric tests (Lowry and Dubois), liquid chromatography with organic carbon detection (LC-OCD), fluorescence excitation - emission matrices (FEEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The transmembrane pressure (TMP) quickly stabilized with higher values for the hydrophobic membranes than hydrophilic ones. The sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU) membrane had the highest negatively charged membrane surface, accumulated the least amount of foulants and displayed the lowest TMP. The same type of organic foulants developed with time on the four membranes and the composition of biopolymers shifted from protein dominance at early stages of filtration (day 1) towards polysaccharides dominance during later stages of MBR filtration. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling of LC-OCD data showed that biofilm samples clustered according to the sampling event (time) regardless of the membrane surface chemistry (hydrophobic or hydrophilic) or operating mode (with or without permeate flux). These results suggest that EPS composition may not be the dominant parameter for evaluating membrane performance and possibly other parameters such as biofilm thickness, porosity, compactness and structure should be considered in future studies for evaluating the development and impact of biofouling on membrane performance. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of Surface Properties of Filtration-Layer Metal Oxide on Ceramic Membrane Fouling during Ultrafiltration of Oil/Water Emulsion.

PubMed

Lu, Dongwei; Zhang, Tao; Gutierrez, Leo; Ma, Jun; Croué, Jean-Philippe

2016-05-03

In this work, ceramic ultrafiltration membranes deposited with different metal oxides (i.e., TiO2, Fe2O3, MnO2, CuO, and CeO2) of around 10 nm in thickness and similar roughness were tested for O/W emulsion treatment. A distinct membrane fouling tendency was observed, which closely correlated to the properties of the filtration-layer metal oxides (i.e., surface hydroxyl groups, hydrophilicity, surface charge, and adhesion energy for oil droplets). Consistent with the distinct bond strength of the surface hydroxyl groups, hydrophilicity of these common metal oxides is quite different. The differences in hydrophilicity consequently lead to different adhesion of these metal oxides toward oil droplets, consistent with the irreversible membrane fouling tendency. In addition, the surface charge of the metal oxide opposite to that of emulsion can help to alleviate irreversible membrane fouling in ultrafiltration. Highly hydrophilic Fe2O3 with the lowest fouling tendency could be a potential filtration-layer material for the fabrication/modification of ceramic membranes for O/W emulsion treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study clearly showing the correlations between surface properties of filtration-layer metal oxides and ceramic membrane fouling tendency by O/W emulsion.

Ordered macroporous platinum electrode and enhanced mass transfer in fuel cells using inverse opal structure.

PubMed

Kim, Ok-Hee; Cho, Yong-Hun; Kang, Soon Hyung; Park, Hee-Young; Kim, Minhyoung; Lim, Ju Wan; Chung, Dong Young; Lee, Myeong Jae; Choe, Heeman; Sung, Yung-Eun

2013-01-01

Three-dimensional, ordered macroporous materials such as inverse opal structures are attractive materials for various applications in electrochemical devices because of the benefits derived from their periodic structures: relatively large surface areas, large voidage, low tortuosity and interconnected macropores. However, a direct application of an inverse opal structure in membrane electrode assemblies has been considered impractical because of the limitations in fabrication routes including an unsuitable substrate. Here we report the demonstration of a single cell that maintains an inverse opal structure entirely within a membrane electrode assembly. Compared with the conventional catalyst slurry, an ink-based assembly, this modified assembly has a robust and integrated configuration of catalyst layers; therefore, the loss of catalyst particles can be minimized. Furthermore, the inverse-opal-structure electrode maintains an effective porosity, an enhanced performance, as well as an improved mass transfer and more effective water management, owing to its morphological advantages.

Dot-Projection Photogrammetry and Videogrammetry of Gossamer Space Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pappa, Richard S.; Black, Jonathan T.; Blandino, Joseph R.; Jones, Thomas W.; Danehy, Paul M.; Dorrington, Adrian A.

2003-01-01

This paper documents the technique of using hundreds or thousands of projected dots of light as targets for photogrammetry and videogrammetry of gossamer space structures. Photogrammetry calculates the three-dimensional coordinates of each target on the structure, and videogrammetry tracks the coordinates versus time. Gossamer structures characteristically contain large areas of delicate, thin-film membranes. Examples include solar sails, large antennas, inflatable solar arrays, solar power concentrators and transmitters, sun shields, and planetary balloons and habitats. Using projected-dot targets avoids the unwanted mass, stiffness, and installation costs of traditional retroreflective adhesive targets. Four laboratory applications are covered that demonstrate the practical effectiveness of white-light dot projection for both static-shape and dynamic measurement of reflective and diffuse surfaces, respectively. Comparisons are made between dot-projection videogrammetry and traditional laser vibrometry for membrane vibration measurements. The paper closes by introducing a promising extension of existing techniques using a novel laser-induced fluorescence approach.

Functional dynamics of cell surface membrane proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishida, Noritaka; Osawa, Masanori; Takeuchi, Koh; Imai, Shunsuke; Stampoulis, Pavlos; Kofuku, Yutaka; Ueda, Takumi; Shimada, Ichio

2014-04-01

Cell surface receptors are integral membrane proteins that receive external stimuli, and transmit signals across plasma membranes. In the conventional view of receptor activation, ligand binding to the extracellular side of the receptor induces conformational changes, which convert the structure of the receptor into an active conformation. However, recent NMR studies of cell surface membrane proteins have revealed that their structures are more dynamic than previously envisioned, and they fluctuate between multiple conformations in an equilibrium on various timescales. In addition, NMR analyses, along with biochemical and cell biological experiments indicated that such dynamical properties are critical for the proper functions of the receptors. In this review, we will describe several NMR studies that revealed direct linkage between the structural dynamics and the functions of the cell surface membrane proteins, such as G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels, membrane transporters, and cell adhesion molecules.

Functional dynamics of cell surface membrane proteins.

PubMed

Nishida, Noritaka; Osawa, Masanori; Takeuchi, Koh; Imai, Shunsuke; Stampoulis, Pavlos; Kofuku, Yutaka; Ueda, Takumi; Shimada, Ichio

2014-04-01

Cell surface receptors are integral membrane proteins that receive external stimuli, and transmit signals across plasma membranes. In the conventional view of receptor activation, ligand binding to the extracellular side of the receptor induces conformational changes, which convert the structure of the receptor into an active conformation. However, recent NMR studies of cell surface membrane proteins have revealed that their structures are more dynamic than previously envisioned, and they fluctuate between multiple conformations in an equilibrium on various timescales. In addition, NMR analyses, along with biochemical and cell biological experiments indicated that such dynamical properties are critical for the proper functions of the receptors. In this review, we will describe several NMR studies that revealed direct linkage between the structural dynamics and the functions of the cell surface membrane proteins, such as G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels, membrane transporters, and cell adhesion molecules. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of mass transfer characteristics in a tubular membrane using CFD modeling.

PubMed

Yang, Jixiang; Vedantam, Sreepriya; Spanjers, Henri; Nopens, Ingmar; van Lier, Jules B

2012-10-01

In contrast to the large amount of research into aerobic membrane bioreactors, little work has been reported on anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AMBRs). As to the application of membrane bioreactors, membrane fouling is a key issue. Membrane fouling generally occurs more seriously in AMBRs than in aerobic membrane bioreactors. However, membrane fouling could be managed through the application of suitable shear stress that can be introduced by the application of a two-phase flow. When the two-phase flow is applied in AMBRs, little is known about the mass transfer characteristics, which is of particular importance, in tubular membranes of AMBRs. In our present work, we have employed fluid dynamic modeling to analyze the mass transfer characteristics in the tubular membrane of a side stream AMBR in which, gas-lift two-phase flow was applied. The modeling indicated that the mass transfer capacity at the membrane surface at the noses of gas bubbles was higher than the mass transfer capacity at the tails of the bubbles, which is in contrast to the results when water instead of sludge is applied. At the given mass transfer rate, the filterability of the sludge was found to have a strong influence on the transmembrane pressure at a steady flux. In addition, the model also showed that the shear stress in the internal space of the tubular membrane was mainly around 20 Pa but could be as high as about 40 Pa due to gas bubble movements. Nonetheless, at these shear stresses a stable particle size distribution was found for sludge particles. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhancing performance and surface antifouling properties of polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes with salicylate-alumoxane nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mokhtari, Samaneh; Rahimpour, Ahmad; Shamsabadi, Ahmad Arabi; Habibzadeh, Setareh; Soroush, Masoud

2017-01-01

To improve the hydrophilicity and antifouling properties of polysulfone (PS) ultrafiltration membranes, we studied the use of salicylate-alumoxane (SA) nanoparticles as a novel hydrophilic additive. The effects of SA nanoparticles on the membrane characteristics and performance were investigated in terms of membrane structure, permeation flux, solute rejection, hydrophilicity, and antifouling ability. The new mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) possess asymmetric structures. They have smaller finger-like pores and smoother surfaces than the neat PS membranes. The embedment of SA nanoparticles in the polymer matrix and the improvement of surface hydrophilicity were investigated. Ultrafiltration experiments indicated that the pure-water flux of the new MMMs initially increases with SA nanoparticles loading followed by a decrease at high loadings. Higher BSA solution flux was achieved for the MMMs compared to the neat PS membranes. Membranes with 1 wt.% SA nanoparticles exhibit the highest flux recovery ratio of 87% and the lowest irreversible fouling of 13%.

Folded membrane dialyzer with mechanically sealed edges

DOEpatents

Markley, Finley W.

1976-01-01

A semipermeable membrane is folded in accordion fashion to form a stack of pleats and the edges are sealed so as to isolate the opposite surfaces of the membrane. The stack is contained within a case that provides ports for flow of blood in contact with one surface of the membrane through channels formed by the pleats and also provides ports for flow of a dialysate through channels formed by the pleats in contact with the other surface of the membrane. The serpentine side edges of the membrane are sealed by a solidified plastic material, whereas effective mechanical means are provided to seal the end edges of the folded membrane. The mechanical means include a clamping strip which biases case sealing flanges into a sealed relationship with end portions of the membrane near the end edges, which portions extend from the stack and between the sealing flanges.

Foulant Analysis of Three RO Membranes Used in Treating Simulated Brackish Water of the Iraqi Marshes

PubMed Central

Sachit, Dawood Eisa; Veenstra, John N.

2017-01-01

In this work, three different types of Reverse Osmosis (RO) (Thin-Film Composite (SE), Cellulose Acetate (CE), and Polyamide (AD)) were used to perform foulant analysis (autopsy) study on the deposited materials from three different simulated brackish surface feed waters. The brackish surface water qualities represented the water quality in Iraqi marshes. The main foulants from the simulated feed waters were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDXS) spectra. The effect of feed water temperatures (37 °C and 11 °C) on the formation of the fouled material deposited on the membrane surface was examined in this study. Also, pretreatment by a 0.1 micron microfiltration (MF) membrane of the simulated feed water in advance of the RO membrane on the precipitated material on the membrane surface was investigated. Finally, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was used to identify the functional groups of the organic matter deposited on the RO membrane surfaces. The SEM images and EDSX spectra suggested that the fouled material was mainly organic matter, and the major crystal deposited on the RO membrane was calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The FTIR spectra of the fouled RO membranes suggested that the constituents of the fouled material included aliphatic and aromatic compounds. PMID:28406468

Iron porphyrin-modified PVDF membrane as a biomimetic material and its effectiveness on nitric oxide binding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Can, Faruk; Demirci, Osman Cahit; Dumoulin, Fabienne; Erhan, Elif; Arslan, Leyla Colakerol; Ergenekon, Pınar

2017-10-01

Nitric oxide (NO) is a reactive gas well-known as an air pollutant causing severe environmental problems. NO is also an important signaling molecule having a strong affinity towards heme proteins in the body. Taking this specialty as a model, a biomimetic membrane was developed by modification of the membrane surface with iron-porphyrin which depicts very similar structure to heme proteins. In this study, PVDF membrane was coated with synthesized (4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl-porphyrin iron(III) chloride (FeCTPP) to promote NO fixation on the surface. The coated membrane was characterized in terms of ATR-IR spectra, contact angle measurement, chemical composition, and morphological structure. Contact angle of original PVDF first decreased sharply after plasma treatment and surface polymerization steps but after incorporation of FeCTPP, the surface acquired its hydrophobicity again. NO binding capability of modified membrane surface was evaluated on the basis of X-ray Photoelectron. Upon exposure to NO gas, a chemical shift of Fe+3 and appearance of new N peak was observed due to the electron transfer from NO ligand to Fe ion with the attachment of nitrosyl group to FeCTPP. This modification brings the functionality to the membrane for being used in biological systems such as membrane bioreactor material in biological NO removal technology.

New Insights from Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy into the Interactions of Islet Amyloid Polypeptides with Lipid Membranes

PubMed Central

Wang, Zhuguang; Batista, Victor S.; Yan, Elsa C. Y.

2016-01-01

Studies of amyloid polypeptides on membrane surfaces have gained increasing attention in recent years. Several studies have revealed that membranes can catalyze protein aggregation and that the early products of amyloid aggregation can disrupt membrane integrity, increasing water permeability and inducing ion cytotoxicity. Nonetheless, probing aggregation of amyloid proteins on membrane surfaces is challenging. Surface-specific methods are required to discriminate contributions of aggregates at the membrane interface from those in the bulk phase and to characterize protein secondary structures in situ and in real time without the use of perturbing spectroscopic labels. Here, we review the most recent applications of sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy applied in conjunction with computational modeling techniques, a joint experimental and computational methodology that has provided valuable insights into the aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) on membrane surfaces. These applications show that SFG can provide detailed information about structures, kinetics, and orientation of IAPP during interfacial aggregation, relevant to the molecular mechanisms of type II diabetes. These recent advances demonstrate the promise of SFG as a new approach for studying amyloid diseases at the molecular level and for the rational drug design targeting early aggregation products on membrane surfaces. PMID:26697504

Protein adsorption capability on polyurethane and modified-polyurethane membrane for periodontal guided tissue regeneration applications.

PubMed

Sheikh, Zeeshan; Khan, Abdul Samad; Roohpour, Nima; Glogauer, Michael; Rehman, Ihtesham U

2016-11-01

Periodontal disease if left untreated can result in creation of defects within the alveolar ridge. Barrier membranes are frequently used with or without bone replacement graft materials for achieving periodontal guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Surface properties of barrier membranes play a vital role in their functionality and clinical success. In this study polyetherurethane (PEU) membranes were synthesized by using 4,4'-methylene-diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO) and 1,4-butane diol (BDO) as a chain extender via solution polymerization. Hydroxyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) due to having inherent surface orientation towards air was used for surface modification of PEU on one side of the membranes. This resulting membranes had one surface being PEU and the other being PDMS coated PEU. The prepared membranes were treated with solutions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in de-ionized water at 37°C at a pH of 7.2. The surface protein adsorptive potential of PEU membranes was observed using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and Confocal Raman spectroscopy. The contact angle measurement, tensile strength and modulus of prepared membranes were also evaluated. PEU membrane (89.86±1.62°) exhibited less hydrophobic behavior than PEU-PDMS (105.87±3.16°). The ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus of PEU (27±1MPa and 14±2MPa) and PEU-PDMS (8±1MPa and 26±1MPa) membranes was in required range. The spectral analysis revealed adsorption of BSA proteins on the surface of non PDMS coated PEU surface. The PDMS modified PEU membranes demonstrated a lack of BSA adsorption. The non PDMS coated side of the membrane which adsorbs proteins could potentially be used facing towards the defect attracting growth factors for periodontal tissue regeneration. Whereas, the PDMS coated side could serve as an occlusive barrier for preventing gingival epithelial cells from proliferating and migrating into the defect space by facing the soft tissue flaps. This study demonstrates the potential of a dual natured PEU barrier membrane for use in periodontal tissue engineering applications and further investigations are required. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Amphiphobic Polytetrafluoroethylene Membranes for Efficient Organic Aerosol Removal.

PubMed

Feng, Shasha; Zhong, Zhaoxiang; Zhang, Feng; Wang, Yong; Xing, Weihong

2016-04-06

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane is an extensively used air filter, but its oleophilicity leads to severe fouling of the membrane surface due to organic aerosol deposition. Herein, we report the fabrication of a new amphiphobic 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate (PFDAE)-grafted ZnO@PTFE membrane with enhanced antifouling functionality and high removal efficiency. We use atomic-layer deposition (ALD) to uniformly coat a layer of nanosized ZnO particles onto porous PTFE matrix to increase surface area and then subsequently graft PFDAE with plasma. Consequently, the membrane surface showed both superhydrophobicity and oleophobicity with a water contact angle (WCA) and an oil contact angle (OCA) of 150° and 125°, respectively. The membrane air permeation rate of 513 (m(3) m(-2) h(-1) kPa(-1)) was lower than the pristine membrane rate of 550 (m(3) m(-2) h(-1) kPa(-1)), which indicates the surface modification slightly decreased the membrane air permeation. Significantly, the filtration resistance of this amphiphobic membrane to the oil aerosol system was much lower than the initial one. Moreover, the filter exhibited exceptional organic aerosol removal efficiencies that were greater than 99.5%. These results make the amphiphobic PTFE membranes very promising for organic aerosol-laden air-filtration applications.

Design of polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes for ion rejection and wastewater effluent treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanyal, Oishi

Polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) membranes present a special class of nanostructured membranes which have potential applications in a variety of water treatment operations. These membranes are fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of alternately charged polyelectrolytes on commercial membrane surfaces. A large variety of polyelectrolytes and their varied deposition conditions (pH, number of bilayers etc.) allow very fine tuning of the membrane performance in terms of permeability and rejection. The first part of this thesis is about the application of PEM membranes to the removal of perchlorate ion from water. Being a monovalent ion, it is most effectively removed by a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. However, these membranes inherently have very low fluxes which lead to high pressure requirements. In our work, we modified the surface of a nanofiltration (NF) membrane by the LbL assembly of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. The appropriate tuning of the LbL conditions led to the development of a membrane with significantly higher flux than RO membranes but with equivalent perchlorate rejection. This was one of the best trade-offs offered by PEM membranes for monovalent ion rejection as has been reported in literature so far. While PEM membranes have mostly shown great potential in ion-rejection studies, they have seldom been tested for real wastewater effluents. The second part of this thesis, therefore, deals with evaluating the applicability of PEM membranes to treating an electrocoagulation (EC)-treated high strength wastewater. Two types of very commonly used polyelectrolyte combinations were tried out -- one of which was an ionically crosslinked system and the other one was covalently crosslinked. Both the types of PEM membranes showed a high level of COD reduction from the feed stream with higher fluxes than commercial RO membranes. One major challenge in using membranes for wastewater treatment is their fouling propensity. Like many other wastewater samples, the EC treated solution also contained a fair amount of organic foulants. These PEM membranes, however, indicated better anti-fouling properties than commercial NF/RO membranes under normal flow conditions. The last part of our work was focused on improving the anti-fouling properties of these membranes by the incorporation of clay nanoplatelets within polyelectrolyte multilayers. In this project, a commercial polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was modified by clay-polyelectrolyte composite thin films and tested against the EC effluent under tangential flow conditions. In comparison to the PEM membranes, these clay-PEM (c-PEM) hybrid membranes offered superior anti-fouling properties with higher fluxes and also required lesser number of layers. On crosslinking the polyelectrolytes, the c-PEM membranes yielded improved anti-fouling properties and high COD removal. Introduction of these inorganic nanoplatelets, however, led to a significant decline in the initial flux of the modified membranes as compared to bare PES membranes, which therefore necessitates further optimization. Some strategies which can potentially help in optimizing the performance of these c-PEM membranes have been discussed in this thesis.

Antifouling membranes for sustainable water purification: strategies and mechanisms.

PubMed

Zhang, Runnan; Liu, Yanan; He, Mingrui; Su, Yanlei; Zhao, Xueting; Elimelech, Menachem; Jiang, Zhongyi

2016-10-24

One of the greatest challenges to the sustainability of modern society is an inadequate supply of clean water. Due to its energy-saving and cost-effective features, membrane technology has become an indispensable platform technology for water purification, including seawater and brackish water desalination as well as municipal or industrial wastewater treatment. However, membrane fouling, which arises from the nonspecific interaction between membrane surface and foulants, significantly impedes the efficient application of membrane technology. Preparing antifouling membranes is a fundamental strategy to deal with pervasive fouling problems from a variety of foulants. In recent years, major advancements have been made in membrane preparation techniques and in elucidating the antifouling mechanisms of membrane processes, including ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and forward osmosis. This review will first introduce the major foulants and the principal mechanisms of membrane fouling, and then highlight the development, current status and future prospects of antifouling membranes, including antifouling strategies, preparation techniques and practical applications. In particular, the strategies and mechanisms for antifouling membranes, including passive fouling resistance and fouling release, active off-surface and on-surface strategies, will be proposed and discussed extensively.

Can antimicrobial peptides scavenge around a cell in less than a second?

PubMed

Chekmenev, Eduard Y; Vollmar, Breanna S; Cotten, Myriam

2010-02-01

Antimicrobial peptides, which play multiple host-defense roles, have garnered increased experimental focus because of their potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food production industries. While their mechanisms of action are richly debated, models that have been advanced share modes of peptide-lipid interactions that require peptide dynamics. Before the highly cooperative and specific events suggested in these models take place, peptides must undergo an important process of migration along the membrane surface and delivery from their site of binding on the membrane to the actual site of functional performance. This phenomenon, which contributes significantly to antimicrobial function, is poorly understood, largely due to a lack of experimental and computational tools needed to assess it. Here, we use (15)N solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance to obtain molecular level data on the motions of piscidin's amphipathic helices on the surface of phospholipid bilayers. The studies presented here may help contribute to a better understanding of the speed at which the events that lead to antimicrobial response take place. Specifically, from the perspective of the kinetics of cellular processes, we discuss the possibility that piscidins and perhaps many other amphipathic antimicrobial peptides active on the membrane surface may represent a class of fast scavengers rather than static polypeptides attached to the water-lipid interface. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Operation of mixed conducting metal oxide membrane systems under transient conditions

DOEpatents

Carolan, Michael Francis [Allentown, PA

2008-12-23

Method of operating an oxygen-permeable mixed conducting membrane having an oxidant feed side, an oxidant feed surface, a permeate side, and a permeate surface, which method comprises controlling the differential strain between the permeate surface and the oxidant feed surface at a value below a selected maximum value by varying the oxygen partial pressure on either or both of the oxidant feed side and the permeate side of the membrane.

Reversible Lifting of Surface Supported Lipid Bilayers with a Membrane-Spanning Nonionic Triblock Copolymer

DOE PAGES

Hayden, Steven C.; Junghans, Ann; Majewski, Jaroslaw; ...

2017-02-22

Neutron reflectometry was used to monitor structural variations in surface supported DMPC bilayers induced by the addition of Triton X-100, a surfactant commonly used to aid solubilization of membrane proteins, and the co-addition of a membrane spanning non-ionic amphiphilic triblock copolymer, (PEO 117-PPO 47-PE O117, Pluronic F98). Surfactant addition causes slight compression of the bilayer thickness and the creation of a distinct EO layer that increases the hydrophilic layer proximal to the supporting substrate (i.e., a water and EO gap between the lipid bilayer and quartz) to 6.8 ± 0.4 Å. Addition of the triblock copolymer into the DMPC: Tritonmore » X-100 bilayer increases the complexity (broadens) the lipid phase transition, further compresses the bilayer, and continues to expand the proximal hydrophilic layer thickness. The observed structural changes are temperature dependent with transmembrane polymer insertion achieved at 37 °C leading to a compressed membrane thickness of 39.2 ± 0.2 Å and proximal gap of 45.2 ± 0.2 Å. Temperature driven exclusion of the polymer at 15 °C causes partitioning of the polymer into the proximal space generating a large hydrogel cushion 162 ± 16 Å thick. An intermediate gap width (10 – 27 Å) is achieved at room temperature (22 – 25 °C). The temperature-driven changes in the proximal hydrophilic gap dimensions are shown to be reversible but thermal history causes variation in magnitude. Temperature-driven changes in polymer association with a supported lipid bilayer offer a facile means to reversibly control both the membrane characteristics as well as the separation between membrane and solid substrate.« less

Reversible Lifting of Surface Supported Lipid Bilayers with a Membrane-Spanning Nonionic Triblock Copolymer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hayden, Steven C.; Junghans, Ann; Majewski, Jaroslaw

Neutron reflectometry was used to monitor structural variations in surface supported DMPC bilayers induced by the addition of Triton X-100, a surfactant commonly used to aid solubilization of membrane proteins, and the co-addition of a membrane spanning non-ionic amphiphilic triblock copolymer, (PEO 117-PPO 47-PE O117, Pluronic F98). Surfactant addition causes slight compression of the bilayer thickness and the creation of a distinct EO layer that increases the hydrophilic layer proximal to the supporting substrate (i.e., a water and EO gap between the lipid bilayer and quartz) to 6.8 ± 0.4 Å. Addition of the triblock copolymer into the DMPC: Tritonmore » X-100 bilayer increases the complexity (broadens) the lipid phase transition, further compresses the bilayer, and continues to expand the proximal hydrophilic layer thickness. The observed structural changes are temperature dependent with transmembrane polymer insertion achieved at 37 °C leading to a compressed membrane thickness of 39.2 ± 0.2 Å and proximal gap of 45.2 ± 0.2 Å. Temperature driven exclusion of the polymer at 15 °C causes partitioning of the polymer into the proximal space generating a large hydrogel cushion 162 ± 16 Å thick. An intermediate gap width (10 – 27 Å) is achieved at room temperature (22 – 25 °C). The temperature-driven changes in the proximal hydrophilic gap dimensions are shown to be reversible but thermal history causes variation in magnitude. Temperature-driven changes in polymer association with a supported lipid bilayer offer a facile means to reversibly control both the membrane characteristics as well as the separation between membrane and solid substrate.« less

Fuel cell with interdigitated porous flow-field

DOEpatents

Wilson, Mahlon S.

1997-01-01

A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is formed with an improved system for distributing gaseous reactants to the membrane surface. A PEM fuel cell has an ionic transport membrane with opposed catalytic surfaces formed thereon and separates gaseous reactants that undergo reactions at the catalytic surfaces of the membrane. The fuel cell may also include a thin gas diffusion layer having first and second sides with a first side contacting at least one of the catalytic surfaces. A macroporous flow-field with interdigitated inlet and outlet reactant channels contacts the second side of the thin gas diffusion layer for distributing one of the gaseous reactants over the thin gas diffusion layer for transport to an adjacent one of the catalytic surfaces of the membrane. The porous flow field may be formed from a hydrophilic material and provides uniform support across the backside of the electrode assembly to facilitate the use of thin backing layers.

Fuel cell with interdigitated porous flow-field

DOEpatents

Wilson, M.S.

1997-06-24

A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is formed with an improved system for distributing gaseous reactants to the membrane surface. A PEM fuel cell has an ionic transport membrane with opposed catalytic surfaces formed thereon and separates gaseous reactants that undergo reactions at the catalytic surfaces of the membrane. The fuel cell may also include a thin gas diffusion layer having first and second sides with a first side contacting at least one of the catalytic surfaces. A macroporous flow-field with interdigitated inlet and outlet reactant channels contacts the second side of the thin gas diffusion layer for distributing one of the gaseous reactants over the thin gas diffusion layer for transport to an adjacent one of the catalytic surfaces of the membrane. The porous flow field may be formed from a hydrophilic material and provides uniform support across the backside of the electrode assembly to facilitate the use of thin backing layers. 9 figs.

Atomic force microscopy studies of native photosynthetic membranes.

PubMed

Sturgis, James N; Tucker, Jaimey D; Olsen, John D; Hunter, C Neil; Niederman, Robert A

2009-05-05

In addition to providing the earliest surface images of a native photosynthetic membrane at submolecular resolution, examination of the intracytoplasmic membrane (ICM) of purple bacteria by atomic force microscopy (AFM) has revealed a wide diversity of species-dependent arrangements of closely packed light-harvesting (LH) antennae, capable of fulfilling the basic requirements for efficient collection, transmission, and trapping of radiant energy. A highly organized architecture was observed with fused preparations of the pseudocrystalline ICM of Blastochloris viridis, consiting of hexagonally packed monomeric reaction center light-harvesting 1 (RC-LH1) core complexes. Among strains which also form a peripheral LH2 antenna, images of ICM patches from Rhodobacter sphaeroides exhibited well-ordered, interconnected networks of dimeric RC-LH1 core complexes intercalated by rows of LH2, coexisting with LH2-only domains. Other peripheral antenna-containing species, notably Rhodospirillum photometricum and Rhodopseudomonas palustris, showed a less regular organization, with mixed regions of LH2 and RC-LH1 cores, intermingled with large, paracrystalline domains. The ATP synthase and cytochrome bc(1) complex were not observed in any of these topographs and are thought to be localized in the adjacent cytoplasmic membrane or in inaccessible ICM regions separated from the flat regions imaged by AFM. The AFM images have served as a basis for atomic-resolution modeling of the ICM vesicle surface, as well as forces driving segregation of photosynthetic complexes into distinct domains. Docking of atomic-resolution molecular structures into AFM topographs of Rsp. photometricum membranes generated precise in situ structural models of the core complex surrounded by LH2 rings and a region of tightly packed LH2 complexes. A similar approach has generated a model of the highly curved LH2-only membranes of Rba. sphaeroides which predicts that sufficient space exists between LH2 complexes for quinones to diffuse freely. Measurement of the intercomplex distances between adjacent LH2 rings of Phaeospirillum molischianum has permitted the first calculation of the separation of bacteriochlorophyll a molecules in the native ICM. A recent AFM analysis of the organization of green plant photosystem II (PSII) in grana thylakoids revealed the protruding oxygen-evolving complex, crowded together in parallel alignment at three distinct levels of stacked membranes over the lumenal surface. The results also confirmed that PSII-LHCII supercomplexes are displaced relative to one another in opposing grana membranes.

Tethering of hyperbranched polyols using PEI as a building block to synthesize antifouling PVDF membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xushan; Wang, Zihong; Wang, Zhe; Cao, Yu; Meng, Jianqiang

2017-10-01

Antifouling PVDF membranes were prepared by grafting hyperbranched polyols on the membrane surface via a three-step modification method. The membrane was first prepared by alkaline treatment to introduce alkenyl groups, then chemically immobilizing hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine) (HPEI) on membrane surface through Michael reaction followed by ring opening reaction of the glycidol with amine groups. Chemical compositions, surface morphology and physicochemical properties of the original and modified membranes were characterized via attenuated total refection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle (WCA) and zeta potential measurements. The antifouling property of the modified membrane was assessed by the static bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LZM) adsorption as well as cross-flow filtration of BSA aqueous solution. The results explicate that surface modification using hyperbranched polymers can alter membrane chemistry and morphology significantly. In contrast to the original PVDF membrane, the modified membrane shows superhydrophilic property and relatively high capability to resist nonspecific protein adsorption. Three HPEIs were used for modification and the obtained PVDFA-g-PG60,000 membrane has a static BSA protein adsorption of 45 μg/cm2 and shows the highest protein resistance. However, the PVDF-g-PG membrane is positively charged due to the unreacted amine groups. As a result, the PVDF-g-PG membranes also show high flux decline during the filtration of BSA aqueous solution due to the electrostatic interaction. In spite of that, the PVDF-g-PG membranes still maintain high flux recovery ratio and good washing properties.

Constitutive apical membrane recycling in Aplysia enterocytes.

PubMed

Keeton, Robert Aaron; Runge, Steven William; Moran, William Michael

2004-11-01

In Aplysia californica enterocytes, alanine-stimulated Na+ absorption increases both apical membrane exocytosis and fractional capacitance (fCa; a measure of relative apical membrane surface area). These increases are thought to reduce membrane tension during periods of nutrient absorption that cause the enterocytes to swell osmotically. In the absence of alanine, exocytosis and fCa are constant. These findings imply equal rates of constitutive endocytosis and exocytosis and constitutive recycling of the apical plasma membrane. Thus, the purpose of this study was to confirm and determine the relative extent of constitutive apical membrane recycling in Aplysia enterocytes. Biotinylated lectins are commonly used to label plasma membranes and to investigate plasma membrane recycling. Of fourteen biotinylated lectins tested, biotinylated wheat germ agglutinin (bWGA) bound preferentially to the enterocytes apical surface. Therefore, we used bWGA, avidin D (which binds tightly to biotin), and the UV fluorophore 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin-3-acetic acid (AMCA)-conjugated avidin D to assess the extent of constitutive apical membrane recycling. A temperature-dependent (20 vs. 4 degrees C) experimental protocol employed the use of two tissues from each of five snails and resulted in a approximately 60% difference in apical surface fluorescence intensity. Because the extent of membrane recycling is proportional to the difference in surface fluorescence intensity, this difference reveals a relatively high rate of constitutive apical membrane recycling in Aplysia enterocytes.

The complex that inserts lipopolysaccharide into the bacterial outer membrane forms a two-protein plug-and-barrel.

PubMed

Freinkman, Elizaveta; Chng, Shu-Sin; Kahne, Daniel

2011-02-08

The cell surfaces of Gram-negative bacteria are composed of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This glycolipid is found exclusively in the outer leaflet of the asymmetric outer membrane (OM), where it forms a barrier to the entry of toxic hydrophobic molecules into the cell. LPS typically contains six fatty acyl chains and up to several hundred sugar residues. It is biosynthesized in the cytosol and must then be transported across two membranes and an aqueous intermembrane space to the cell surface. These processes are required for the viability of most Gram-negative organisms. The integral membrane β-barrel LptD and the lipoprotein LptE form an essential complex in the OM, which is necessary for LPS assembly. It is not known how this complex translocates large, amphipathic LPS molecules across the OM to the outer leaflet. Here, we show that LptE resides within the LptD β-barrel both in vitro and in vivo. LptD/E associate via an extensive interface; in one specific interaction, LptE contacts a predicted extracellular loop of LptD through the lumen of the β-barrel. Disrupting this interaction site compromises the biogenesis of LptD. This unprecedented two-protein plug-and-barrel architecture suggests how LptD/E can insert LPS from the periplasm directly into the outer leaflet of the OM to establish the asymmetry of the bilayer.

Lateral diffusion in model membranes is independent of the size of the hydrophobic region of molecules.

PubMed Central

Balcom, B J; Petersen, N O

1993-01-01

We have systematically investigated the probe size and shape dependence of lateral diffusion in model dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes. Linear hydrophobic polymers, which differ in length by an order of magnitude, were used to explore the effect on the lateral diffusion coefficient of hydrodynamic restrictions in the bilayer interior. The polymers employed are isoprenoid alcohols--citronellol, solanesol, and dolichol. Tracer lateral diffusion coefficients were measured by fluorescence photobleaching recovery. Despite the large difference in lengths, the nitrobenzoxadiazole labelled alcohols all diffuse at the rate of lipid self-diffusion (5.0 x 10(-12) m2 s-1, 29 degrees C) in the liquid crystal phase. Companion measurements in isotropic polymer solution, in gel phase lipid membranes and with nonpolar fluorescent polyaromatic hydrocarbons, show a marked dependence of the lateral diffusion coefficient on the probe molecule size. Our results in the liquid crystal phase are in accord with free area theory which asserts that lateral diffusion in the membrane is restricted by the surface-free area. Probe molecules which are significantly longer than the host phospholipid, seven times longer in the case of dolichol, are still restricted in their lateral motion by the surface properties of the bilayer in the liquid crystal phase. Fluorescence quenching experiments indicate that the nitrobenzoxadiazole label does not reside at the aqueous interface, although it must reside in close proximity according to the diffusion measurements. PMID:8218892

New Developments for Radiation Enhancements from Metal Surfaces by Using Nanoscale Materials in the Membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, Koji; Matsuda, Masami

2017-12-01

The enhancements of thermal radiations from the surfaces of devices are very important for electric machines to prevent from heating up and/or efficiency degradations. In this investigation, new applications of micro-scale membrane of Si, SiO2 etc. on the metal surfaces have been studied to cool down the temperature without breaking insulations of the devices by selecting materials. The modified black-body radiations were sensitively detected by thermisters with sub-second responses. The optimum membrane thicknesses were successfully determined by subtractions a of radiation intensities between those at membranes with and without membrane, respectively. We obtained the best cooling condition in SiO2 membrane with 20μmt for an Al-plate of 10cmx10cmx1mmt. Further, we observed the detaching/attaching processes of massive molecule clusters from the metal surface as a sudden change in temperature changes just like the noises in the detectors. A characteristic pattern of temperature change was observed in diatomite membranes during the cooling process in a temperature range between 200-50°C. These radiation phenomena as a function of temperature might be available as a molecular analysis on the metal surface.

Membrane Diffusion Occurs by Continuous-Time Random Walk Sustained by Vesicular Trafficking.

PubMed

Goiko, Maria; de Bruyn, John R; Heit, Bryan

2018-06-19

Diffusion in cellular membranes is regulated by processes that occur over a range of spatial and temporal scales. These processes include membrane fluidity, interprotein and interlipid interactions, interactions with membrane microdomains, interactions with the underlying cytoskeleton, and cellular processes that result in net membrane movement. The complex, non-Brownian diffusion that results from these processes has been difficult to characterize, and moreover, the impact of factors such as membrane recycling on membrane diffusion remains largely unexplored. We have used a careful statistical analysis of single-particle tracking data of the single-pass plasma membrane protein CD93 to show that the diffusion of this protein is well described by a continuous-time random walk in parallel with an aging process mediated by membrane corrals. The overall result is an evolution in the diffusion of CD93: proteins initially diffuse freely on the cell surface but over time become increasingly trapped within diffusion-limiting membrane corrals. Stable populations of freely diffusing and corralled CD93 are maintained by an endocytic/exocytic process in which corralled CD93 is selectively endocytosed, whereas freely diffusing CD93 is replenished by exocytosis of newly synthesized and recycled CD93. This trafficking not only maintained CD93 diffusivity but also maintained the heterogeneous distribution of CD93 in the plasma membrane. These results provide insight into the nature of the biological and biophysical processes that can lead to significantly non-Brownian diffusion of membrane proteins and demonstrate that ongoing membrane recycling is critical to maintaining steady-state diffusion and distribution of proteins in the plasma membrane. Copyright © 2018 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rapid large area fabrication of multiscale through-hole membranes.

PubMed

Tahk, Dongha; Paik, Sang-Min; Lim, Jungeun; Bang, Seokyoung; Oh, Soojung; Ryu, Hyunryul; Jeon, Noo Li

2017-05-16

There are many proposed mechanisms by which single cells can be trapped; among them is the through-hole membrane for the characterization of individual microorganisms. Due to the small scale of the fabricated pores, the construction of through-hole membranes on a large scale and with relatively large areas faces many difficulties. This paper describes novel fabrication methods for a large-area, freestanding micro/nano through-hole membrane constructed from versatile membrane materials using through-hole membranes on a microfluidic chip (THMMC). This process can rapidly (<20 min) fabricate membranes with high fidelity multiscale hole size without residual layers. The through-hole site was easily customizable from the micro to the nanoscale, with a low or high aspect ratio giving rise to reliable membranes. Also, the rigidity and biocompatibility of the through-hole membrane are easily tunable by simple injection of versatile membrane materials to obtain a large area (up to 3600 mm 2 ). Membranes produced in this manner were then applied as a proof of concept for the isolation, cultivation, and quantification of individual micro-algal cells for selection with respect to the growth rate, while controlling the quorum sensing mediated metabolic and proliferative changes.

Tunable Membrane Binding of the Intrinsically Disordered Dehydrin Lti30, a Cold-Induced Plant Stress Protein[W

PubMed Central

Eriksson, Sylvia K.; Kutzer, Michael; Procek, Jan; Gröbner, Gerhard; Harryson, Pia

2011-01-01

Dehydrins are intrinsically disordered plant proteins whose expression is upregulated under conditions of desiccation and cold stress. Their molecular function in ensuring plant survival is not yet known, but several studies suggest their involvement in membrane stabilization. The dehydrins are characterized by a broad repertoire of conserved and repetitive sequences, out of which the archetypical K-segment has been implicated in membrane binding. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of these K-segments, we examined the interaction between lipid membranes and a dehydrin with a basic functional sequence composition: Lti30, comprising only K-segments. Our results show that Lti30 interacts electrostatically with vesicles of both zwitterionic (phosphatidyl choline) and negatively charged phospholipids (phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl serine, and phosphatidic acid) with a stronger binding to membranes with high negative surface potential. The membrane interaction lowers the temperature of the main lipid phase transition, consistent with Lti30’s proposed role in cold tolerance. Moreover, the membrane binding promotes the assembly of lipid vesicles into large and easily distinguishable aggregates. Using these aggregates as binding markers, we identify three factors that regulate the lipid interaction of Lti30 in vitro: (1) a pH dependent His on/off switch, (2) phosphorylation by protein kinase C, and (3) reversal of membrane binding by proteolytic digest. PMID:21665998

Synthesis of asymmetric polyetherimide membrane for CO2/N2 separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, A. L.; Salaudeen, Y. O.; Jawad, Z. A.

2017-06-01

Large emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the environment requires mitigation to avoid unbearable consequences on global climate change. The CO2 emissions generated by fossil fuel combustion within the power and industrial sectors need to be quickly curbed. The gas emission can be abated using membrane technology; this is one of the most promising approaches for selective separation of CO2/N2. The purpose of the study is to synthesis an asymmetric polyetherimide (PEI) membrane and to establish its morphological characteristics for CO2/N2 separation. The PEI flat-sheet asymmetric membrane was fabricated using phase inversion with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent and water-isopropanol as a coagulant. Particularly, polymer concentration of 20, 25, and 30 wt. % were studied. In addition, the structure and morphology of the produced membrane were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Importantly, results showed that the membrane with high PEI concentration of 30 wt. % yield an optimal selectivity of 10.7 for CO2/Nitrogen (N2) separation at 1 bar and 25 ºC for pure gas, aided by the membrane surface morphology. The dense skin present was as a result of non-solvent (water) while isopropanol generates a porous sponge structure. This appreciable separation performance makes the PEI asymmetric membrane an attractive alternative for CO2/N2 separation.

Neuroglian-mediated cell adhesion induces assembly of the membrane skeleton at cell contact sites

PubMed Central

1996-01-01

The protein ankyrin links integral membrane proteins to the spectrin- based membrane skeleton. Ankyrin is often concentrated within restricted membrane domains of polarized epithelia and neurons, but the mechanisms responsible for membrane targeting and its segregation within a continuous lipid bilayer remain unexplained. We provide evidence that neuroglian, a cell adhesion molecule related to L1 and neurofascin, can transmit positional information directly to ankyrin and thereby polarize its distribution in Drosophila S2 tissue culture cells. Ankyrin was not normally associated with the plasma membrane of these cells. Upon expression of an inducible neuroglian minigene, however, cells aggregated into large clusters and ankyrin became concentrated at sites of cell-cell contact. Spectrin was also recruited to sites of cell contact in response to neuroglian expression. The accumulation of ankyrin at cell contacts required the presence of the cytoplasmic domain of neuroglian since a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol- linked form of neuroglian failed to recruit ankyrin to sites of cell- cell contact. Double-labeling experiments revealed that, whereas ankyrin was strictly associated with sites of cell-cell contact, neuroglian was more broadly distributed over the cell surface. A direct interaction between neuroglian and ankyrin was demonstrated using yeast two-hybrid analysis. Thus, neuroglian appears to be activated by extracellular adhesion so that ankyrin and the membrane skeleton selectively associate with sites of cell contact and not with other regions of the plasma membrane. PMID:8636238

Neuroglian-mediated cell adhesion induces assembly of the membrane skeleton at cell contact sites.

PubMed

Dubreuil, R R; MacVicar, G; Dissanayake, S; Liu, C; Homer, D; Hortsch, M

1996-05-01

The protein ankyrin links integral membrane proteins to the spectrin-based membrane skeleton. Ankyrin is often concentrated within restricted membrane domains of polarized epithelia and neurons, but the mechanisms responsible for membrane targeting and its segregation within a continuous lipid bilayer remain unexplained. We provide evidence that neuroglian, a cell adhesion molecule related to L1 and neurofascin, can transmit positional information directly to ankyrin and thereby polarize its distribution in Drosophila S2 tissue culture cells. Ankyrin was not normally associated with the plasma membrane of these cells. Upon expression of an inducible neuroglian minigene, however, cells aggregated into large clusters and ankyrin became concentrated at sites of cell-cell contact. Spectrin was also recruited to sites of cell contact in response to neuroglian expression. The accumulation of ankyrin at cell contacts required the presence of the cytoplasmic domain of neuroglian since a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-linked form of neuroglian failed to recruit ankyrin to sites of cell-cell contact. Double-labeling experiments revealed that, whereas ankyrin was strictly associated with sites of cell-cell contact, neuroglian was more broadly distributed over the cell surface. A direct interaction between neuroglian and ankyrin was demonstrated using yeast two-hybrid analysis. Thus, neuroglian appears to be activated by extracellular adhesion so that ankyrin and the membrane skeleton selectively associate with sites of cell contact and not with other regions of the plasma membrane.

Do trehalose and dimethyl sulfoxide affect intermembrane forces?

PubMed

Pincet, F; Perez, E; Wolfe, J

1994-12-01

The sugar trehalose is produced in some organisms that survive dehydration and desiccation, and it preserves the integrity of membranes in model systems exposed to dehydration and freezing. Dimethyl sulfoxide, a solute which permeates membranes, is added to cell suspensions in many protocols for cryopreservation. Using a surface forces apparatus, we measured the very large, short-range repulsion between phosphatidylcholine bilayers in water and in solutions of trehalose, sorbitol, and dimethyl-sulfoxide. To the resolution of the technique, the force-distance curves between bilayers are unchanged by the addition of trehalose or sorbitol in concentrations exceeding 1 kmol.m-3. A relatively small increase in adhesion in the presence of trehalose and sorbitol solutions may be explained by their osmotic effects. The partitioning of trehalose between aqueous solutions and lamellar phases of dioleylphosphatidylcholine was measured gravimetrically. The amount of trehalose that preferentially adsorbs near membrane surfaces is at most small. The presence of dimethyl sulfoxide in water (1:2 by volume) makes very little difference to the short-range interaction between deposited bilayers, but it sometimes perturbs them in ways that vary among experiments: free bilayers and/or fusion of the deposited bilayers were each observed in about one-third of the experiments.

[Study of the electrical properties of retinal horizontal cell syncytia by the technic of uniform polarization].

PubMed

Shura-Bura, T M; Trifonov, Iu A

1980-01-01

For uniform polarization of syncytial or cable structures at a large area with current passed via extracellular electrodes the extracellular longitudinal gradient of potential must be proportional to distance from the edge of preparation. In this paper the profile of conducting plate was found analytically which allows to obtain such a distribution of potentials. The profile is formed by hyperbola and its orthogonal asymptotes. Two polarizing electrodes are applied to places where the hyperbola is near to asymptotes. On the surfaces formed by asymptotes the gradient of potential is proportional to distance from intersection of these surfaces. Such a conducting plate was made as cavity in plexiglas filled by Ringer solution in agar. The plate was used for obtaining the voltage-current curves of horizontal cell membrane in gold fish retina. The area of uniform polarization was 4-5 mm long. Measurements inside this area allowed to determine the space constant of horizontal cell layer. The space constant measured in bright light (when resistance of subsynaptic membrane is high) depends on the membrane potential, being high (approximately 1,5 mm) during depolarization and low (0,2-0,4 mm) during hyperpolarization.

GroPBS: Fast Solver for Implicit Electrostatics of Biomolecules

PubMed Central

Bertelshofer, Franziska; Sun, Liping; Greiner, Günther; Böckmann, Rainer A.

2015-01-01

Knowledge about the electrostatic potential on the surface of biomolecules or biomembranes under physiological conditions is an important step in the attempt to characterize the physico-chemical properties of these molecules and, in particular, also their interactions with each other. Additionally, knowledge about solution electrostatics may also guide the design of molecules with specified properties. However, explicit water models come at a high computational cost, rendering them unsuitable for large design studies or for docking purposes. Implicit models with the water phase treated as a continuum require the numerical solution of the Poisson–Boltzmann equation (PBE). Here, we present a new flexible program for the numerical solution of the PBE, allowing for different geometries, and the explicit and implicit inclusion of membranes. It involves a discretization of space and the computation of the molecular surface. The PBE is solved using finite differences, the resulting set of equations is solved using a Gauss–Seidel method. It is shown for the example of the sucrose transporter ScrY that the implicit inclusion of a surrounding membrane has a strong effect also on the electrostatics within the pore region and, thus, needs to be carefully considered, e.g., in design studies on membrane proteins. PMID:26636074

Membranes with Surface-Enhanced Antifouling Properties for Water Purification

PubMed Central

Shahkaramipour, Nima; Tran, Thien N.; Ramanan, Sankara; Lin, Haiqing

2017-01-01

Membrane technology has emerged as an attractive approach for water purification, while mitigation of fouling is key to lower membrane operating costs. This article reviews various materials with antifouling properties that can be coated or grafted onto the membrane surface to improve the antifouling properties of the membranes and thus, retain high water permeance. These materials can be separated into three categories, hydrophilic materials, such as poly(ethylene glycol), polydopamine and zwitterions, hydrophobic materials, such as fluoropolymers, and amphiphilic materials. The states of water in these materials and the mechanisms for the antifouling properties are discussed. The corresponding approaches to coat or graft these materials on the membrane surface are reviewed, and the materials with promising performance are highlighted. PMID:28273869

Membranes with Surface-Enhanced Antifouling Properties for Water Purification.

PubMed

Shahkaramipour, Nima; Tran, Thien N; Ramanan, Sankara; Lin, Haiqing

2017-03-05

Membrane technology has emerged as an attractive approach for water purification, while mitigation of fouling is key to lower membrane operating costs. This article reviews various materials with antifouling properties that can be coated or grafted onto the membrane surface to improve the antifouling properties of the membranes and thus, retain high water permeance. These materials can be separated into three categories, hydrophilic materials, such as poly(ethylene glycol), polydopamine and zwitterions, hydrophobic materials, such as fluoropolymers, and amphiphilic materials. The states of water in these materials and the mechanisms for the antifouling properties are discussed. The corresponding approaches to coat or graft these materials on the membrane surface are reviewed, and the materials with promising performance are highlighted.

Serum protein adsorption and platelet adhesion on aspartic-acid-immobilized polysulfone membranes.

PubMed

Higuchi, Akon; Hashiba, Hirokazu; Hayashi, Rika; Yoon, Boo Ok; Sakurai, Masaru; Hara, Mariko

2004-01-01

Polysulfone (PSf) membranes that covalently conjugated with aspartic acid (ASP-PSf) were prepared and analyzed for hemocompatability. Compared to PSf or other types of surface-modified PSf membranes, the ASP-PSf membranes had a reduced ability to adsorb protein from either a plasma solution or a mixed solution of albumin, globulin and fibrinogen. This appears to be due to the creation of a hydrophilic surface by the aspartic acid zwitterion immobilized on the ASP-PSf membranes. Furthermore, the analyses of membrane protein adsorption showed that a mixed protein solution recapitulates the cooperative adsorption of proteins that occurs in plasma. We also found that the number of adhering platelets was the lowest on the ASP-PSf membranes and, in general, that platelet adhesion decreased in parallel with fibrinogen adsorption. In summary, aspartic acid immobilized on the ASP-PSf membranes, which have zwitterions with a net zero charge, effectively contributes to the hydrophilic and hemocompatible sites on the surface of the hydrophobic PSf membranes.

A model of ion transport processes along and across the neuronal membrane.

PubMed

Xiang, Z X; Liu, G Z; Tang, C X; Yan, L X

2017-01-01

In this study, we provide a foundational model of ion transport processes in the intracellular and extracellular compartments of neurons at the nanoscale. There are two different kinds of ionic transport processes: (i) ionic transport across the neuronal membrane (trans-membrane), and (ii) ionic transport along both the intracellular and extracellular surfaces of the membrane. Brownian dynamics simulations are used to give a description of ionic trans-membrane transport. Electro-diffusion is used to model ion transport along the membrane surface, and the two transport processes can be linked analytically. In our model, we found that the interactions between ions and ion channels result in high-frequency ionic oscillations during trans-membrane transport. In ion transport along the membrane, high-frequency ionic oscillations may be evoked on both the intracellular and extracellular surfaces of the plasma membrane. The electric field caused by Coulomb interactions between the ions is found to be the most likely origin of those ionic oscillations.

Design of UV-absorbing PVDF membrane via surface-initiated AGET ATRP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Li; Liu, Xiangdong; Xiong, Zhengrong; Sheng, Dekun; Zhou, Yan; Lin, Changhong; Yang, Yuming

2018-03-01

Herein, PVDF membranes with excellent UV-absorbing property were first synthesized through grafting the polymerizable low-molecular-weight organic UV-absorber 2-hydroxy-4-(3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxylpropoxy) benzophenone (BPMA) onto α-bromoester-functionalized PVDF membranes via the surface-initiated activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-AGET ATRP). The surface initiators were immobilized by the reaction between 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB) and the hydroxylated PVDF membranes. PVDF-g-PBPMA membranes with different grafting densities were obtained by tuning the polymerization time and the modified membranes were characterized by 1H-NMR, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, UV-vis Spectrophotometer, TGA and DSC. The experimental results indicated that PBPMA chains were successfully introduced onto PVDF membranes. Most importantly, the PVDF-g-PBPMA membranes exhibited outstanding UV-shielding property. UV-vis transmittance spectra showed that most UV light below 360 nm could be absorbed by PVDF-g-PBPMA membranes and the whole UV light region (200-400 nm) can be blocked with the reaction time increased.

Direct Observation of Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies with the Porin MspA on Mica

PubMed Central

Basel, Matthew T.; Dani, Raj Kumar; Kang, Myungshim; Pavlenok, Mikhail; Chikan, Viktor; Smith, Paul E.; Niederweis, Michael

2009-01-01

The octameric porin MspA from Mycobacterium smegmatis is sufficiently stable to form a non-membrane-supported stand-alone porin on Mica surfaces. About 98% of all MspA octamers were found to stand upright on Mica, with their periplasmic loop regions bound to the hydrophilic Mica surface. Both, small (d = 3.7 nm) and large (d = 17 nm) gold nanoparticles bind to MspA, however in different positions: small gold nanoparticles bind within the MspA pore, whereas the large gold nanoparticles bind to the upper region of MspA. These experiments demonstrate that gold nanoparticles can be positioned at different, well-defined distances from the underlying surface using the MspA pore as a template. These findings represent a significant step towards the use of electrically insulating stable proteins in combination with metal nanoparticles in nanodevices. PMID:19236086

Test progress on the electrostatic membrane reflector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mihora, D. J.

1981-01-01

An extemely lightweight type of precision reflector antenna, being developed for potential deployment from the space shuttle, uses electrostatic forces to tension a thin membrane and form it into a concave reflector surface. The typical shuttle-deployed antenna would have a diameter of 100 meters and an RMS surface smoothness of 10 to 1 mm for operation at 1 to 10 GHz. NASA Langley Research Center built and is currently testing a subscale (16 foot diameter) model of the membrane reflector portion of such an antenna. Preliminary test results and principal factors affecting surface quality are addressed. Factors included are the effect of the perimeter boundary, splicing of the membrane, the long-scale smoothness of commercial membranes, and the spatial controllability of the membrane using voltage adjustments to alter the electrostatic pressure. Only readily available commercial membranes are considered.

Method for measuring the three-dimensional distribution of a fluorescent dye in a cell membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Kazuya; Ishimaru, Ichirou; Fujii, Yoshiki; Yasokawa, Toshiki; Kuriyama, Shigeki; Masaki, Tsutomu; Takegawa, Kaoru; Tanaka, Naotaka

2007-01-01

This letter reports on a method for accurately determining the component distribution in a cell membrane over the entire cell surface. This method involves exciting a fluorescent-dyed cell membrane using evanescent light and scanning the entire cell surface by rotating the cell using a noncontact technique, namely, proximal two-beam optical tweezers. To position the cell membrane in the thin evanescent field, the authors designed an optical system capable of precisely positioning the focal position. Using this method, they were able to measure the surface distribution of glycoprotein labeled by lectin in a breast cancer cell membrane.

DMSO Induces Dehydration near Lipid Membrane Surfaces

PubMed Central

Cheng, Chi-Yuan; Song, Jinsuk; Pas, Jolien; Meijer, Lenny H.H.; Han, Songi

2015-01-01

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been broadly used in biology as a cosolvent, a cryoprotectant, and an enhancer of membrane permeability, leading to the general assumption that DMSO-induced structural changes in cell membranes and their hydration water play important functional roles. Although the effects of DMSO on the membrane structure and the headgroup dehydration have been extensively studied, the mechanism by which DMSO invokes its effect on lipid membranes and the direct role of water in this process are unresolved. By directly probing the translational water diffusivity near unconfined lipid vesicle surfaces, the lipid headgroup mobility, and the repeat distances in multilamellar vesicles, we found that DMSO exclusively weakens the surface water network near the lipid membrane at a bulk DMSO mole fraction (XDMSO) of <0.1, regardless of the lipid composition and the lipid phase. Specifically, DMSO was found to effectively destabilize the hydration water structure at the lipid membrane surface at XDMSO <0.1, lower the energetic barrier to dehydrate this surface water, whose displacement otherwise requires a higher activation energy, consequently yielding compressed interbilayer distances in multilamellar vesicles at equilibrium with unaltered bilayer thicknesses. At XDMSO >0.1, DMSO enters the lipid interface and restricts the lipid headgroup motion. We postulate that DMSO acts as an efficient cryoprotectant even at low concentrations by exclusively disrupting the water network near the lipid membrane surface, weakening the cohesion between water and adhesion of water to the lipid headgroups, and so mitigating the stress induced by the volume change of water during freeze-thaw. PMID:26200868

Optimization of Polysulfone / Graphene Oxide / Polyethylene Glycol / Triaminopyrimidine by Using Response Surface Methodology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riduan Jamalludin, Mohd; Harun, Zawati; Khadijah Hubadillah, Siti; Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Mohd; Hasliza Kamarudin, Noor; Zaini Yunos, Muhamad; Izzati Ismail, Ras; Lailina, N. M.

2018-03-01

The addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG), graphene oxide (GO) and triaminopyrimidine (TAP) into polysulfone membranes was used to modify the membrane morphology and increase membrane performance. The central composite design of the response surface methodology was used to predict the maximum permeability and rejection of the PSf membrane. The parameter chosen for this study were PEG (7-14 wt%), GO (0-2.5wt%) and TAP (0-0.5 wt%) concentration. The flat sheet membrane was prepared via phase inversion technique where polysulfone (PSf) was used as base polymer. Various concentration of GO, PEG and TAP were added into the casting solution to produce different membrane composition. PEG was added as pore forming agent for the PSf membrane while inorganic additive such as GO was used to increase the hydrophilicity of the membrane. Besides that, the addition of TAP as a compatibilizer to enhance the physical interaction between GO and PEG. The characterization and surface morphology of produced membrane were analysed via scanning electron microscope, SEM and X-ray diffraction, XRD. The optimization of membrane performance was carried out by using response surface methodology (RSM). The performance of the membrane was analysed by using distilled water for pure water flux test and humic acid for rejection test. The optimized responses, membrane permeability and rejection obtained experimentally were 301.562 Lm-2h-1 and 91.562% respectively, with deviation from the predicted value of 7.884 and 0.4381 %, respectively.

Comparison of fouling characteristics in different pore-sized submerged ceramic membrane bioreactors.

PubMed

Jin, Le; Ong, Say Leong; Ng, How Yong

2010-12-01

Membrane fouling, the key disadvantage that inevitably occurs continuously in the membrane bioreactor (MBR), baffles the wide-scale application of MBR. Ceramic membrane, which possesses high chemical and thermal resistance, has seldom been used in MBR to treat municipal wastewater. Four ceramic membranes with the same materials but different pore sizes, ranging from 80 to 300 nm, were studied in parallel using four lab-scale submerged MBRs (i.e., one type of ceramic membrane in one MBR). Total COD and ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies were observed to be consistently above 94.5 and 98%, respectively, in all submerged ceramic membrane bioreactors. The experimental results showed that fouling was mainly affected by membrane's microstructure, surface roughness and pore sizes. Ceramic membrane with the roughest surface and biggest pore size (300 nm) had the highest fouling potential with respect to the TMP profile. The 80 nm membrane with a smoother surface and relatively uniform smaller pore openings experienced least membrane fouling with respect to TMP increase. The effects of the molecular weight distribution, particle size distribution and other biomass characteristics such as extracellular polymeric substances, zeta potential and capillary suction time, were also investigated in this study. Results showed that no significant differences of these attributes were observed. These observations indicate that the membrane surface properties are the dominant factors leading to different fouling potential in this study. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Towards Enhanced Performance Thin-film Composite Membranes via Surface Plasma Modification

PubMed Central

Reis, Rackel; Dumée, Ludovic F.; Tardy, Blaise L.; Dagastine, Raymond; Orbell, John D.; Schutz, Jürg A.; Duke, Mikel C.

2016-01-01

Advancing the design of thin-film composite membrane surfaces is one of the most promising pathways to deal with treating varying water qualities and increase their long-term stability and permeability. Although plasma technologies have been explored for surface modification of bulk micro and ultrafiltration membrane materials, the modification of thin film composite membranes is yet to be systematically investigated. Here, the performance of commercial thin-film composite desalination membranes has been significantly enhanced by rapid and facile, low pressure, argon plasma activation. Pressure driven water desalination tests showed that at low power density, flux was improved by 22% without compromising salt rejection. Various plasma durations and excitation powers have been systematically evaluated to assess the impact of plasma glow reactions on the physico-chemical properties of these materials associated with permeability. With increasing power density, plasma treatment enhanced the hydrophilicity of the surfaces, where water contact angles decreasing by 70% were strongly correlated with increased negative charge and smooth uniform surface morphology. These results highlight a versatile chemical modification technique for post-treatment of commercial membrane products that provides uniform morphology and chemically altered surface properties. PMID:27363670

Efficient adhesion-based plasma membrane isolation for cell surface N-glycan analysis.

PubMed

Mun, Ji-Young; Lee, Kyung Jin; Seo, Hoon; Sung, Min-Sun; Cho, Yee Sook; Lee, Seung-Goo; Kwon, Ohsuk; Oh, Doo-Byoung

2013-08-06

Glycans, which decorate cell surfaces, play crucial roles in various physiological events involving cell surface recognition. Despite the importance of surface glycans, most analyses have been performed using total cells or whole membranes rather than plasma membranes due to difficulties related to isolation. In the present study, we employed an adhesion-based method for plasma membrane isolation to analyze N-glycans on cell surfaces. Cells were attached to polylysine-coated glass plates and then ruptured by hypotonic pressure. After washing to remove intracellular organelles, only a plasma membrane fraction remained attached to the plates, as confirmed by fluorescence imaging using organelle-specific probes. The plate was directly treated with trypsin to digest and detach the glycoproteins from the plasma membrane. From the resulting glycopeptides, N-glycans were released and analyzed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and HPLC. When N-glycan profiles obtained by this method were compared to those by other methods, the amount of high-mannose type glycans mainly contaminated from the endoplasmic reticulum was dramatically reduced, which enabled the efficient detection of complex type glycans present on the cell surface. Moreover, this method was successfully used to analyze the increase of high-mannose glycans on the surface as induced by a mannosidase inhibitor treatment.

Natural Organic Matter Removal and Fouling in a Low Pressure Hybrid Membrane Systems

PubMed Central

Uyak, Vedat; Akdagli, Muge; Cakmakci, Mehmet; Koyuncu, Ismail

2014-01-01

The objective of this study was to investigate powdered activated carbon (PAC) contribution to natural organic matter (NOM) removal by a submerged MF and UF hybrid systems. It was found that filtration of surface waters by a bare MF and UF membranes removed negligible TOC; by contrast, significant amounts of TOC were removed when daily added PAC particles were predeposited on the membrane surfaces. These results support the assumption that the membranes surface properties and PAC layer structure might have considerably influential factor on NOM removal. Moreover, it was concluded that the dominant removal mechanism of hybrid membrane system is adsorption of NOM within PAC layer rather than size exclusion of NOM by both of membrane pores. Transmembrane pressure (TMP) increases with PAC membrane systems support the view that PAC adsorption pretreatment will not prevent the development of membrane pressure; on the contrary, PAC particles themselves caused membrane fouling by blocking the entrance of pores of MF and UF membranes. Although all three source waters have similar HPI content, it appears that the PAC interaction with the entrance of membrane pores was responsible for offsetting the NOM fractional effects on membrane fouling for these source waters. PMID:24523651

Manufacturing Large Membrane Mirrors at Low Cost

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2007-01-01

Relatively inexpensive processes have been developed for manufacturing lightweight, wide-aperture mirrors that consist mainly of reflectively coated, edge-supported polyimide membranes. The polyimide and other materials in these mirrors can withstand the environment of outer space, and the mirrors have other characteristics that make them attractive for use on Earth as well as in outer space: With respect to the smoothness of their surfaces and the accuracy with which they retain their shapes, these mirrors approach the optical quality of heavier, more expensive conventional mirrors. Unlike conventional mirrors, these mirrors can be stowed compactly and later deployed to their full sizes. In typical cases, deployment would be effected by inflation. Potential terrestrial and outer-space applications for these mirrors include large astronomical telescopes, solar concentrators for generating electric power and thermal power, and microwave reflectors for communication, radar, and short-distance transmission of electric power. The relatively low cost of manufacturing these mirrors stems, in part, from the use of inexpensive tooling. Unlike in the manufacture of conventional mirrors, there is no need for mandrels or molds that have highly precise surface figures and highly polished surfaces. The surface smoothness is an inherent property of a polyimide film. The shaped area of the film is never placed in contact with a mold or mandrel surface: Instead the shape of a mirror is determined by a combination of (1) the shape of a fixture that holds the film around its edge and (2) control of manufacturing- process parameters. In a demonstration of this manufacturing concept, spherical mirrors having aperture diameters of 0.5 and 1.0 m were fabricated from polyimide films having thicknesses ranging from <20 m to 150 m. These mirrors have been found to maintain their preformed shapes following deployment.

Flapping Tail Membrane in Bats Produces Potentially Important Thrust during Horizontal Takeoffs and Very Slow Flight

PubMed Central

Adams, Rick A.; Snode, Emily R.; Shaw, Jason B.

2012-01-01

Historically, studies concerning bat flight have focused primarily on the wings. By analyzing high-speed video taken on 48 individuals of five species of vespertilionid bats, we show that the capacity to flap the tail-membrane (uropatagium) in order to generate thrust and lift during takeoffs and minimal-speed flight (<1 m s−1) was largely underestimated. Indeed, bats flapped the tail-membrane by extensive dorso-ventral fanning motions covering as much as 135 degrees of arc consistent with thrust generation by air displacement. The degree of dorsal extension of the tail-membrane, and thus the potential amount of thrust generated during platform launches, was significantly correlated with body mass (P = 0.02). Adduction of the hind limbs during upstrokes collapsed the tail-membrane thereby reducing its surface area and minimizing negative lift forces. Abduction of the hind limbs during the downstroke fully expanded the tail-membrane as it was swept ventrally. The flapping kinematics of the tail-membrane is thus consistent with expectations for an airfoil. Timing offsets between the wings and tail-membrane during downstrokes was as much as 50%, suggesting that the tail-membrane was providing thrust and perhaps lift when the wings were retracting through the upstoke phase of the wing-beat cycle. The extent to which the tail-membrane was used during takeoffs differed significantly among four vespertilionid species (P = 0.01) and aligned with predictions derived from bat ecomorphology. The extensive fanning motion of the tail membrane by vespertilionid bats has not been reported for other flying vertebrates. PMID:22393378

Periodic minimal surface organizations of the lipid bilayer at the lung surface and in cubic cytomembrane assemblies.

PubMed

Larsson, Marcus; Larsson, Kåre

2014-03-01

The existence of infinite periodic lipid bilayer structures in biological systems was first demonstrated in cell membrane assemblies. Such periodicity is only possible in symmetric bilayers, and their occurrence is discussed here in relation to the asymmetry of cell membranes in vivo. A periodic membrane conformation in the prolamellar body of plants corresponds to a dormant state without photosynthesis. A similar reversible formation of a dormant state has also been observed in the mitochondria of the amoeba Chaos. In these cases the energy production has become insufficient to maintain the membrane asymmetry. Formation of membranes that are symmetric over the bilayer is proposed to be a principal mechanism behind formation of cubic membrane systems. Another type of bicontinuous minimal surface structure is considered to form the alveolar lining of mammals at normal breathing conditions. The CLP surface corresponds to such a tetragonal surface phase. It is also a symmetric bilayer and in a state of zero energy expenditure. Structural alternatives of the bilayer conformation in this latter system are also discussed here. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface charges promote nonspecific nanoparticle adhesion to stiffer membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinha, Shayandev; Jing, Haoyuan; Sachar, Harnoor Singh; Das, Siddhartha

2018-04-01

This letter establishes the manner in which the electric double layer induced by the surface charges of the plasma membrane (PM) enhances the nonspecific adhesion (NSA) of a metal nanoparticle (NP) to stiffer PMs (i.e., PMs with larger bending moduli). The NSA is characterized by the physical attachment of the NP to the membrane and occurs when the decrease in the surface energy (or any other mechanism) associated with the attachment process provides the energy for bending the membrane. Such an attachment does not involve receptor-ligand interactions that characterize the specific membrane-NP adhesion. Here, we demonstrate that a significant decrease in the electrostatic energy caused by the NP-attachment-induced destruction of the charged-membrane-electrolyte interface is responsible for providing the additional energy needed for bending the membrane during the NP adhesion to stiffer membranes. A smaller salt concentration and a larger membrane charge density augment this effect, which can help to design drug delivery to cells with stiffer membranes due to pathological conditions, fabricate NPs with biomimetic cholesterol-rich lipid bilayer encapsulation, etc.

Mechanisms of Contact-Mediated Killing of Yeast Cells on Dry Metallic Copper Surfaces▿

PubMed Central

Quaranta, Davide; Krans, Travis; Santo, Christophe Espírito; Elowsky, Christian G.; Domaille, Dylan W.; Chang, Christopher J.; Grass, Gregor

2011-01-01

Surfaces made of copper or its alloys have strong antimicrobial properties against a wide variety of microorganisms. However, the molecular mode of action responsible for the antimicrobial efficacy of metallic copper is not known. Here, we show that dry copper surfaces inactivate Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae within minutes in a process called contact-mediated killing. Cellular copper ion homeostasis systems influenced the kinetics of contact-mediated killing in both organisms. Deregulated copper ion uptake through a hyperactive S. cerevisiae Ctr1p (ScCtr1p) copper uptake transporter in Saccharomyces resulted in faster inactivation of mutant cells than of wild-type cells. Similarly, lack of the C. albicans Crp1p (CaCrp1p) copper-efflux P-type ATPase or the metallothionein CaCup1p caused more-rapid killing of Candida mutant cells than of wild-type cells. Candida and Saccharomyces took up large quantities of copper ions as soon as they were in contact with copper surfaces, as indicated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis and by the intracellular copper ion-reporting dye coppersensor-1. Exposure to metallic copper did not cause lethality through genotoxicity, deleterious action on a cell's genetic material, as indicated by a mutation assay with Saccharomyces. Instead, toxicity mediated by metallic copper surfaces targeted membranes in both yeast species. With the use of Live/Dead staining, onset of rapid and extensive cytoplasmic membrane damage was observed in cells from copper surfaces. Fluorescence microscopy using the indicator dye DiSBaC2(3) indicated that cell membranes were depolarized. Also, during contact-mediated killing, vacuoles first became enlarged and then disappeared from the cells. Lastly, in metallic copper-stressed yeasts, oxidative stress in the cytoplasm and in mitochondria was elevated. PMID:21097600

Hollow-Fiber Ultrafiltration and PCR Detection of Human-Associated Genetic Markers from Various Types of Surface Water in Florida ▿

PubMed Central

Leskinen, Stephaney D.; Brownell, Miriam; Lim, Daniel V.; Harwood, Valerie J.

2010-01-01

Hollow-fiber ultrafiltration (HFUF) and PCR were combined to detect human-associated microbial source tracking marker genes in large volumes of fresh and estuarine Florida water. HFUF allowed marker detection when membrane filtration did not, demonstrating HFUF's ability to facilitate detection of diluted targets by PCR in a variety of water types. PMID:20435774

Effects of different fermentation methods on bacterial cellulose and acid production by Gluconacetobacter xylinus in Cantonese-style rice vinegar.

PubMed

Fu, Liang; Chen, Siqian; Yi, Jiulong; Hou, Zongxia

2014-07-01

A strain of acidogenic bacterium was isolated from the fermentation liquid of Cantonese-style rice vinegar produced by traditional surface fermentation. 16S rDNA identification confirmed the bacterium as Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which synthesizes bacterial cellulose, and the acid productivity of the strain was investigated. In the study, the effects of the membrane integrity and the comparison of the air-liquid interface membrane with immerged membrane on total acidity, cellulose production, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and number of bacteria were investigated. The cellulose membrane and the bacteria were observed under SEM for discussing their relationship. The correlations between oxygen consumption and total acid production rate were compared in surface and shake flask fermentation. The results showed the average acid productivity of the strain was 0.02g/(100mL/h), and the integrity of cellulose membrane in surface fermentation had an important effect on total acidity and cellulose production. With a higher membrane integrity, the total acidity after 144 h of fermentation was 3.75 g/100 mL, and the cellulose production was 1.71 g/100 mL after 360 h of fermentation. However, when the membrane was crushed by mechanical force, the total acidity and the cellulose production were as low as 0.36 g/100 mL and 0.14 g/100 mL, respectively. When the cellulose membrane was forced under the surface of fermentation liquid, the total acid production rate was extremely low, but the activity of ADH in the cellulose membrane was basically the same with the one above the liquid surface. The bacteria were mainly distributed in the cellulose membrane during the fermentation. The bacterial counts in surface fermentation were more than in the shake flask fermentation and G. xylinus consumed the substrate faster, in surface fermentation than in shake flask fermentation. The oxygen consumption rate and total acid production rate of surface fermentation were respectively 26.13 times and 2.92 times that of shake flask fermentation.