Applications of Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes

Abdelrasoul, Amira; Doan, Huu; Lohi, Ali

doi:10.5772/intechopen.71720

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 101 publications

(152 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Incorporation of hydrophilic groups or zwitterionic components can provide antifouling properties, reducing membrane fouling and thereby extending its lifespan for applications. Chemical modifications or the inclusion of stabilizing agents can render the membranes more resistant to harsh conditions like extreme pH, high temperatures, or aggressive solvents [75]. Some modern gel-based membranes are imbued with self-healing capabilities, where minor damage can be auto-repaired, thus prolonging their operational lifespan [76,77].…”

Section: Advances In Gel-based Membrane Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

State-of-the-Art Advances and Current Applications of Gel-Based Membranes

Ungureanu,

Răileanu,

Zgârian

et al. 2024

Gels

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Gel-based membranes, a fusion of polymer networks and liquid components, have emerged as versatile tools in a variety of technological domains thanks to their unique structural and functional attributes. Historically rooted in basic filtration tasks, recent advancements in synthetic strategies have increased the mechanical strength, selectivity, and longevity of these membranes. This review summarizes their evolution, emphasizing breakthroughs that have positioned them at the forefront of cutting-edge applications. They have the potential for desalination and pollutant removal in water treatment processes, delivering efficiency that often surpasses conventional counterparts. The biomedical field has embraced them for drug delivery and tissue engineering, capitalizing on their biocompatibility and tunable properties. Additionally, their pivotal role in energy storage as gel electrolytes in batteries and fuel cells underscores their adaptability. However, despite monumental progress in gel-based membrane research, challenges persist, particularly in scalability and long-term stability. This synthesis provides an overview of the state-of-the-art applications of gel-based membranes and discusses potential strategies to overcome current limitations, laying the foundation for future innovations in this dynamic field.

show abstract

Section: Advances In Gel-based Membrane Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

State-of-the-Art Advances and Current Applications of Gel-Based Membranes

Ungureanu,

Răileanu,

Zgârian

et al. 2024

Gels

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

An improved fluorescent tag and its nanobodies for membrane protein expression, stability assay, and purification

Cai

Yao

et al. 2020

Commun Biol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) are widely used to monitor membrane protein expression, purification, and stability. An ideal reporter should be stable itself and provide high sensitivity and yield. Here, we demonstrate that a coral (Galaxea fascicularis) thermostable GFP (TGP) is by such reasons an improved tag compared to the conventional jellyfish GFPs. TGP faithfully reports membrane protein stability at temperatures near 90 °C (20-min heating). By contrast, the limit for the two popular GFPs is 64 °C and 74 °C. Replacing GFPs with TGP increases yield for all four test membrane proteins in four expression systems. To establish TGP as an affinity tag for membrane protein purification, several high-affinity synthetic nanobodies (sybodies), including a non-competing pair, are generated, and the crystal structure of one complex is solved. Given these advantages, we anticipate that TGP becomes a widely used tool for membrane protein structural studies.

show abstract

Biological Seawater Desalination

O. Martínez

2024

Environmental Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

More than two billion people worldwide lack access to safe, clean drinking water, and this number is likely to increase due to population growth and rapidly diminishing freshwater supplies. Current seawater desalination methods can effectively provide freshwater and meet the growing demand for this resource. However, they are becoming increasingly controversial owing to their adverse environmental impacts, including high energy consumption and generation of desalination brine. For millions of years, various species of organisms such as plants, microalgae, and bacteria have adapted to environments with variable salinity and have developed mechanisms to eliminate excess intracellular NaCl. This has encouraged scientists to study the possibility of using biological processes for seawater desalination. Biodesalination is an emerging technology for the selective removal of Na + and Cl − from salt water by various halophile organisms, such as macrophytes, microalgae, and cyanobacteria, with very low energy consumption. Microbial desalination cells that allow simultaneous desalination of water in conjunction with wastewater treatment are also included in this category. The direct use of living organisms such as halophile plants, microalgae, and bacteria to desalinate water appears to be a promising field. However, the development and practical applicability of these technologies depend on the living organisms selected for desalinating seawater.

show abstract

Applications of Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes

Cited by 3 publications

References 101 publications

State-of-the-Art Advances and Current Applications of Gel-Based Membranes

State-of-the-Art Advances and Current Applications of Gel-Based Membranes

An improved fluorescent tag and its nanobodies for membrane protein expression, stability assay, and purification

Biological Seawater Desalination

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About