title: Fabrication of perforated isoporous membranes via a transfer-free strategy: enabling high-resolution separation of cells.
abstract: Thin perforated membranes with ordered pores are ideal barriers for high-resolution and high-efficiency selective transport and separation of biological species. However, for self-assembled thin membranes with a thickness less than several micrometers, an additional step of transferring the membranes onto porous supports is generally required. In this article, we present a facile transfer-free strategy for fabrication of robust perforated composite membranes via the breath figure process, and for the first time, demonstrate the application of the membranes in high-resolution cell separation of yeasts and lactobacilli without external pressure, achieving almost 100% rejection of yeasts and more than 70% recovery of lactobacilli with excellent viability. The avoidance of the transfer step simplifies the fabrication procedure of composite membranes and greatly improves the membrane homogeneity. Moreover, the introduction of an elastic triblock copolymer increases the interfacial strength between the membrane and the support, and allows the preservation of composite membranes in a dry state. Such perforated ordered membranes can also be applied in other size-based separation systems, enabling new opportunities in bioseparation and biosensors.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, and ‡State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Chang-Jiang
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zheng-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Ling-Shu
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Zhi-Kang
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008689:Methacrylates; D009757:Nylons; D011137:Polystyrenes; C407037:poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)
keywords: breath figures; cell separation; isoporous membranes; porous materials; self-assembly