Microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were prepared from PVDF/N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) solutions by using upercritical CO2 phase inversion process. As revealed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), he PVDF membranes exhibit morphological characteristics resulting from both liquid–liquid phase separation and crystallization, i.e.,...

PURPOSE This study examined the potential of a synthetic polymer to support stable epithelial growth when implanted in the feline cornea. METHODS A perfluoropolyether-based polymer was cast into lenticules that were coated with collagen I and implanted in four feline corneas. Epithelial growth onto the lenticules was monitored clinically for 6 weeks, after which time the animals were killed, ...

Structure and function of many transmembrane proteins are affected by their environment. In this respect, reconstitution of a membrane protein into a biomimetic polymer membrane can alter its function. To overcome this problem we used membranes formed by poly(1,4-isoprene-block-ethylene oxide) block copolymers blended with 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. By reconstituting the outer...

Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are widely used in clinical examinations. The mechanisms of ISEs have been studied to develop a disposable ISE for "dry chemistry" analyses. The behavior of Na+ and Ag+ in an ion-selective polymer liquid membrane (ISM) containing methyl monensin (MMO), which is selective for Na+, has been clarified by x-ray microanalysis and measurement of electrical potential. T...

We present a methodology to entrap and run the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction inside a polymer vesicle. We report on experiments with polymer vesicles where we observed (1) vesicle membrane deformations, (2) oscillations and (3) pulsating (expansion/contraction) episodes. The above provide us with evidence for chemo-mechanical coupling between these polymersomes and their contents.

Cellulose acetate (CA) is a semisynthetic, biodegradable polymer. Due to its characteristics, CA has several applications, including water membranes, filament-forming matrices, biomedical nanocomposites, household tools, and photographic films. This review deals with topics related the which are prepared using different techniques, such as phase inversion technique. membranes considered very im...

Topical application of polyols such as xylitol and fructose accelerated epidermal water-impermeable barrier recovery. The polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene dimethyl ether (EPDME) random copolymer accelerates recovery the well. Previous physicochemical studies have demonstrated that these polymer interact with phospholipid membrane. To examine interaction between polyols/polymer lipids in epiderm...

Here, we report on a new solvent polymeric membrane electrode incorporating thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPA) as a polymer with the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of ca. 32 °C. The response of the solvent polymeric membrane electrode to the ions changes at 25 and 40 °C. Pulsed NMR analyses demonstrated the novel effects of the LCST behaviour on the potentiometric p...

We show that an electric field can drive single-stranded RNA and DNA molecules through a 2.6-nm diameter ion channel in a lipid bilayer membrane. Because the channel diameter can accommodate only a single strand of RNA or DNA, each polymer traverses the membrane as an extended chain that partially blocks the channel. The passage of each molecule is detected as a transient decrease of ionic curr...

A method of tethering a mediator to an enzymatic membrane was studied. Glucose oxidase (GOD) and ferrocene redox polymer were immobilized in cross-linked poly (vinyl alcohol) (CLPVA) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) added as a protein stabilizer. Redox hydrogel polyallylamine ferrocene was prepared by cross-linking polyallylamine hydrochloride with glutaraldehyde and attaching the ferrocene cova...