title: Fabrication of flexible self-standing all-cellulose nanofibrous composite membranes for virus removal.
abstract: All-cellulose nanocomposite membranes with excellent performance were successfully fabricated as novel filtration system to remove nanoparticles and virus from aqueous medium. These membranes were composed of two combined layers: an electrospun cellulose nanofabric layer treated by hot-pressing to provide mechanical support and a coating of regenerated cellulose gel with tiny inter-connected pores as barrier. Hot-pressing did not affect the fiber shape of electrospun nanofabrics, but significantly improved their mechanical properties due to increased hydrogen bonds. The regenerated cellulose gel formed a porous coating that tightly attached to electrospun nanofabrics, and its pore size varied depending on cellulose source, solution concentration, and drying process. By assembling these two layers together, the nanocomposite membranes showed the notable retention of negatively charged 100 nm latex beads (99.30%). Moreover, the electronegative nature of cellulose membranes imparted the rejection ratio of 100% and (98.68 ± 0.71)% against positively charged 50 nm latex beads and Hepatitis C Virus, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5.
authors.forename: Weijuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5.
authors.forename: Yixiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2E1.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2E1.
authors.forename: John Lok Man
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Law
authors.affiliation: Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2E1.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5. Electronic address: lingyun.chen@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Lingyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005782:Gels; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D012995:Solubility; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014462:Ultrafiltration; D014508:Urea
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D014508:Urea; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: All-cellulose ultrafiltration membranes; Electrospun nanofiber; Flexible self-standing; Regenerated gel; Virus removal