Development and characterization of bioartificial polysulfone membranes for proton transport applications

Identifier:  TDX:2803

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2803

Authors:  Szałata, Kamila

Abstract:
In this thesis a bioartificial polysulfone membrane containing biomolecule Gramicidin was designed and prepared by three different techniques: two physical and one chemical method. Materials characterization consists in evaluation of morphology, water interaction and membrane ion transport properties. Also biological activity of immobilized protein as well as characterization of immobilized micelles containing protein was performed. Results show that physical gramicidin immobilization with use of magnetic nanoparticles and protein/surfactant micelles, as well as chemical protein immobilization by glutaraldehyde coupling, lead to obtain membranes with enhanced ion transport properties confirmed by permeability experiments and Current-Voltage measurements. Protein maintains its biological activity when entrapped within protein/surfactant micelle in both, solution and after immobilization on polysulfone membrane. Membranes with physically immobilized gramicidin exhibits improved antibacterial properties, confirmed by bioactivity assay, optical density measurements and microscopic analysis. Obtained membranes are easy to prepare, chemically and mechanically stable and present a potential to be used in proton transport application.