title: Electrochemically controlled growth and positioning of suspended collagen membranes.
abstract: Two independently recognized in vitro polymer aggregation variables, electric field and pH, can be used in concert to produce suspended membranes from solutions of type I collagen monomers, without need of a supporting substrate. A collagen network film can form at the alkaline-acidic pH interface created during the normal course of water electrolysis with parallel plate electrodes, and the anchoring location can be controlled by adjusting the bulk electrolyte pH. Electrosynthesized films remain intact upon drying and rehydration and function as ion-separation membranes even in submillimeter channels. This approach could benefit lab-on-a-chip technologies for the rational placement of membranes in microfluidic devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography and Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's NL A1B 3X7, Canada.
authors.forename: Holly R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Erika F Merschrod
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: S
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Poduska
mesh_terms: D024042:Collagen Type I; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014867:Water