Filtration membranes and related compositions, methods and systems

1. A filtration membrane with embedded polymeric nanoparticles comprising:

hyperbranched polymeric molecules covalently cross-linked to form polymeric nanoparticles embedded in a polymer matrix formed by a porous polymeric aggregate.

2. The filtration membrane of claim 1 wherein the porous polymeric aggregate is formed by a polymer according to Formula I:

wherein:

Q, Y, and Z comprise saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon, or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons;

m, l, and k independently are integers ranging between 0-50;

at least one of m, l, or k is not equal to zero;

j is an integer ranging between 50-500; and

wherein at least one of Q (when Q≠0), Y (when Y≠0), or Z (when Z≠0), comprises a polymer component functional group.

3. The filtration membrane according to claim 2 , wherein Q, Y, and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of Formulas II-X

wherein:

n=0 or 1;

m is an integer ranging from 0-15; and

X is a functional group comprising an atom selected from O, S, N, P, or F; and R 1 -R 18 are independently selected from: the polymer component functional group; hydrogen; C 1 -C 20 linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, or aryl hydrocarbon which are either substituted or unsubstituted with O, N, B, S, P; or substituted O, N, B, S, or P.

4. The filtration membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric nanoparticles comprise covalently cross-linked dendritic polymer.

5. The filtration membrane according to claim 4 , wherein the cross-linked dendritic polymer is a polyimine.

6. The filtration membrane according to claim 5 , wherein the polyimine is poly(ethyleneimine).

7. The filtration membrane of claim 6 , wherein the poly(ethyleneimine) has a degree of branching of about 65-70%.

8. The filtration membrane according to claim 4 , wherein the cross-linked dendritic polymer is present in a concentration of greater than about 20 weight %.

9. The filtration membrane according to claim 4 , wherein the cross-linked dendritic polymer is present in a concentration of greater than about 40 weight %.

10. The filtration membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric nanoparticles further comprise cross-linked poly(methacrylic acid).

11. The filtration membrane of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric nanoparticles are homogenously distributed in the polymer matrix.

12. The filtration membrane of claim 11 , wherein the polymeric nanoparticles are in a concentration up to about 50% and/or wherein fractal formation of nanoparticle is not detectable.