Vesicle incorporating transmembrane protein
A vesicle incorporate a transmembrane protein, the vesicle forming material including a mixture of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and polyetheramine. The vesicle can generally withstand elevated temperature without substantial shrinkage of the diameter, which in turn results in maintenance of the water permeability virtually unaffected. Pluronic based vesicles have a large content of amino groups available on the surface illustrated by the larger zeta potential values available for crosslinking in the polyamide layer by chemical reaction with trimesoyl chloride (TMC).
1. A vesicle incorporating a transmembrane protein, wherein the vesicle forming material comprises a mixture of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly-(ethylene glycol) and polyetheramine.
2. The vesicle according to claim 1 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) is a substantially linear polymer having an average molecular weight of between about 1,000 Da to about 15,000 Da.
3. The vesicle according to claim 1 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) has the chemical formula:
in which
x denotes an integer between 10-30,
y denotes an integer between 50-100, and
z denotes an integer between 10-30.
4. The vesicle according to claim 1 , wherein the polyetheramine is of the general structure
in which
m is an integer of 1-15,
n is an integer of 5-50, and
R═CH 3 .
5. The vesicle according to claim 1 , wherein the proportion by weight between the poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and the polyetheramine is 5 to 1.
6. The vesicle according to claim 1 , wherein the transmembrane protein is an aquaporin water channel.
7. A method of preparing vesicles incorporating a transmembrane protein comprising:
a. mixing an aqueous solution of transmembrane protein and polyetheramine,
b. adding poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) as an aqueous solution to the mixture prepared step a,
c. agitating the solution obtained in step b.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) is a substantially linear polymer having an average molecular weight of between about 1,000 Da to about 15,000 Da.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) has the chemical formula:
in which
x denotes an integer between 10-30,
y denotes an integer between 50-100, and
z denotes an integer between 10-30.
10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the polyetheramine is of the general structure
in which
m is an integer of 1-15,
n is an integer of 5-50, and
R═CH 3 .
11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the proportion by weight between the poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and the polyetheramine is 5 to 1.
12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the transmembrane protein is an aquaporin water channel.
13. A separation membrane comprising a vesicle incorporating a transmembrane protein, wherein the vesicle forming material comprises a mixture of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and polyetheramine.
14. The separation membrane according to claim 13 , comprising an active layer incorporating the vesicle and a porous support membrane, said active layer comprising the vesicle incorporated in a thin film composite layer formed on the porous substrate membrane.
15. The separation membrane according to claim 13 , having the form of a hollow fiber.
16. The separation membrane according to claim 15 , wherein a bundle of hollow fibers is assembled in a housing to form a hollow fiber module, said hollow fiber module comprising an inlet connected to at least one lumen of a hollow fibers in one end for passing a first solution and an outlet connected to said at least one lumen in the other end, and an inlet provided in the housing for passing a second solution to an outlet connected to the housing.
17. The separation membrane according to claim 13 , having the form of a flat sheet.
18. The separation membrane according to claim 17 , wherein the separation membrane is spiral wound for the formation of a spiral wound membrane module.
19. The separation membrane according to claim 13 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) has the chemical formula:
in which
x denotes an integer between 10-30,
y denotes an integer between 50-100, and
z denotes an integer between 10-30.
20. The separation membrane according to claim 13 , wherein the polyetheramine is of the general structure
in which
m is an integer of 1-15,
n is an integer of 5-50, and
R═CH 3 .