Abstract: The present invention provides porous media or membranes having a surface coating that includes a first coating of a cross-linked terpolymer and a second coating comprising a copolymer or a terpolymer modified with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic functional group which has a superior combination of properties, including heat stable biomolecule resistant adsorptive properties, resistance to strong alkaline solutions, and low levels of extractable matter.

Abstract: A process for imparting hydrophilic properties to a polymeric membrane by exposing the membrane to an acrylate monomer containing hydrophilic segments, such as ethylene oxide, and a hydrophilic functional group, a diacrylate monomer containing hydrophilic functional groups, and an initiator for facilitating crosslinking and polymerization reactions.

Abstract: To provide an artificial cardiopulmonary circuit system having high heat resistance and excellent blood compatibility. The artificial cardiopulmonary circuit system includes a hollow fiber membrane oxygenator including a plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes for gas exchange having a blood contact part that contacts blood on one side thereof and a gas contact part that contacts a gas on the other side thereof, and a housing that contains the hollow fiber membranes therein. At least a portion of the blood contact part of the hollow fiber membrane oxygenator is coated with a polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (1) as a main structural component and having a viscosity at 65° C. of 5,000 poise (500 Pa·s) [Chemical Formula 4] (Wherein R1 is hydrogen or a methyl group, R2 is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms).

Abstract: The current invention provides methods for molecule purification by RP-LC and RP-HPLC that uses unbranched terminal alkyldiols as eluting solvents. In particular, the present invention purifies molecules, particularly proteins and peptides, on reverse phase liquid chromatography columns using a buffer containing either 1,5 pentanediol, 1,6 hexanediol or 1,7 heptanediol.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved synthetic polymer hydrogel permeation layers for use on active electronic matrix devices for biological assays. The permeation layers have a defined porous character, with mesopores in a size range between about 100 nanometers and about 1000 nanometers, and may also have micropores in the micrometer size range. The mesoporous synthetic hydrogel permeation layers demonstrate improved signal intensity and linearity characteristics as compared to nanoporous synthetic hydrogel permeation layers on active electronic matrix devices. In addition, the present invention also provides synthetic polymer hydrogel permeation layers which contain copolymerized attachment sites for nucleic acid probes or other biomolecules.

Abstract: A filter for processing a biological fluid is disclosed comprising at least two filter elements wherein the surface of one filter element is substantially non-hydroxylated and has a nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio in the range of from at least 0.01 to less than about 1.00, and the surface of the other filter element is hydroxylated relative to the bulk of the element.

Abstract: A method for casting-in-place composite and/or non-filled structures which are useful as sorptive or reactive media or for size-based separations. Any particular housing size or configuration can be used, and the inclusion of a large amount of adsorptive particles in polymer is achieved while still maintaining the membrane three dimensional structure. In a first preferred embodiment, the composite structures comprise particles entrapped within a porous polymeric substrate, and are cast in-place into a housing such as a pipette tip, thereby providing an effective platform for micromass handling. With the appropriate selection of particle chemistry, virtually any separation or purification operation can be conducted, including selective bind/elute chromatography operations, on sample mass loads less than 1 microgram in volumes of a few microliters, as well as larger mass loads and volumes. The present invention also encompasses the composite structures as well as sample preparation devices containing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in certain embodiments, a negatively charged microporous membrane comprising a porous substrate and a crosslinked coating having fixed negative charges. The crosslinked coating can be prepared, e.g., from a polymerized composition comprising an unsaturated monomer having an anionic group, an N-(hydroxymethyl)- and/or N-(alkoxymethyl)-acrylamide, a hydrophilic unsaturated monomer, and an initiator. The present invention further provides, in some embodiments, a negatively charged microporous membrane comprising a porous substrate and a crosslinked coating prepared from a polymerized composition comprising an unsaturated monomer having an anionic group, an N-(hydroxymethyl)- or N-(alkoxymethyl)-acrylamide, a polysaccharide, and an initiator. The membranes of the present invention are suitable for use in ion exchange chromatography, for example, in the separation and purification of positively charged species such as proteins.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that certain membranes, which include side chains or molecular “brushes” having, for example, tertiary amino functional groups, can be used as highly effective filters to capture viruses/virus particles from liquids without removal of proteins. New methods based on this discovery include removing viruses from liquids such as blood or plasma, removing viruses from pharmaceuticals, concentrating and/or purifying viruses, e.g., for use in gene therapy, and producing recombinant viruses in new bioreactors. The invention also includes new methods of therapy or adjunct therapy for viral infections, in which a patient's blood or plasma is filtered through the membranes to remove viruses to reduce the viral load. The invention also includes new bioreactors and viral filters containing the membranes.

Abstract: A method of treating a membrane comprises the steps of providing a membrane with surfaces that define a plurality of pores extending through the membrane. Providing a dispersion of oleophobic fluoropolymer solids. Stabilizing the dispersion with a stabilizing agent. Diluting the dispersion with a wetting agent. Wetting surfaces which define the pores in the membrane with the diluted and stabilized dispersion. Removing the wetting agent and the stabilizing agent from the membrane. Coalescing the oleophobic fluoropolymer solids of the dispersion on surfaces that define pores in the membrane. A composite membrane comprises a porous membrane having a plurality of interconnecting pores extending through the membrane and made from a material which tends to absorb oils and certain contaminating surfactants. A coating is disposed on surfaces of the nodes and fibrils defining the interconnecting passages in the membrane.

Abstract: A process for imparting hydrophilic properties to a polymeric membrane by exposing the membrane to an acrylate monomer containing hydrophilic segments, such as ethylene oxide, and a hydrophilic functional group, a diacrylate monomer containing hydrophilic functional groups, and an initiator for facilitating crosslinking and polymerization reactions.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in certain embodiments, a negatively charged microporous membrane comprising a porous substrate and a crosslinked coating having fixed negative charges. The crosslinked coating can be prepared, e.g., from a polymerized composition comprising an unsaturated monomer having an anionic group, an N-(hydroxymethyl)- and/or N-(alkoxymethyl)-acrylamide, a hydrophilic unsaturated monomer, and an initiator. The present invention further provides, in some embodiments, a negatively charged microporous membrane comprising a porous substrate and a crosslinked coating prepared from a polymerized composition comprising an unsaturated monomer having an anionic group, an N-(hydroxymethyl)- or N-(alkoxymethyl)-acrylamide, a polysaccharide, and an initiator. The membranes of the present invention are suitable for use in ion exchange chromatography, for example, in the separation and purification of positively charged species such as proteins.

Abstract: Molecularly imprinted polymer membranes for selectively collecting phosphate, nitrate and ferric ions are disclosed, prepared by copolymerizing a matrix monomer, cross-linking agent, ion imprinting complex, permeability agent and polymerization initiator, after which the ions of the ion imprinting complex are permeability agent are removed. The permeability agent creates channels in the membrane permitting the ion binding sites in the membrane to communicate with the exterior surface of the membrane.

Abstract: A charge mosaic membrane having excellent selective permeability comprises a cationic polymer component, an anionic polymer component and a matrix component. Both of the cationic polymer component and the anionic polymer component are crosslinked particulate polymers. The matrix component is at least one polymer selected from a polysulfone resin, a polyarylate resin, a polyamide resin, a polyimide resin, a polyamideimide resin, a polyurethane resin, a fluorinated resin or a silicone resin. The charge mosaic membrane can be easily produced by conducting formation of the membrane by using a composition in which the cationic polymer component and the anionic polymer component are both dispersed in a solution of the matrix component in an organic solvent.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to intrinsically bacteriostatic synthetic polymer membranes, and to process for the manufacture thereof. In one embodiment, bacteriostatic metal ions are attached to a surface of a preformed synthetic polymer membrane by static adsorption/adsorption and reduced to the metal in situ. In another embodiment, the instrinsically bacteriostatic membranes are formed by providing a casting solution of a membrane forming synthetic polymer and bacteriostatic metal ions, and casting into a bath containing a reducing agent for the metal ions to form the membrane containing the metal ions incorporated therein.

Abstract: A breathable, stretch-thinned barrier film having improved strength, processability and/or breathability is formed from a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and cavated filler particles such as cyclodextrin. The cavated filler particles provide the film with enhanced breathability to water vapor due to their ring-like, conical, cylindrical or otherwise hollow molecular structure, yet the film remains substantially impermeable to aqueous liquids. The enhanced breathability occasioned by the cavated particles permits the use of relatively low filler levels and correspondingly high polymer levels, thereby enhancing the film strength. The filler may melt during extrusion of the molten polymer into a film, facilitating smooth processing, and re-crystallize into particles after the film is formed and cooled.

Abstract: A pore plugging material, for pH dependent membrane diffusion, in which cyclic olefins having phosphazene-functional moieties provide predictable erosion properties when used to plug pores in separation barriers and other porous membranes. Specific properties of the polymers are dependent on several factors, including molecular weight and identity of side groups attached to the phosphazene moiety. However, as a class, phosphazene-functional cyclic olefins provide both predictable erodibility and uniformly benign hydrolysis products and are, therefore, uniquely suitable as pore plugging polymers for separation barriers and membranes of all kinds. The invention, therefore, embraces the provision of a pH-sensitive erodible pore plugging material for pores in separation barriers and membranes of all kinds.

Abstract: A novel microporous membrane comprising a hot-melt adhesive and an engineering plastics, the methods of preparing such microporous membrane and the uses of the microporous membrane in, e.g., batteries, super capacitors, fuel cells, sensors, electrochromic devices or the like.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filter material characterized in that it is impregnated with an amphiphilic substance or with a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic substance to control the water wettability and water absorption.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane oxygenator of external blood circulation type has a housing and a lot of porous hollow fiber membranes for gas transfer housed in the housing. In the oxygenator, blood flows along the outer side of the hollow fiber membranes, whereas oxygen-containing gas flows along the inner side thereof. An outer surface or outer layer of the hollow fiber membrane as a blood-contacting portion is coated with synthetic polymer mainly formed of alkoxyalkyl(meta)acrylate containing a C(1-4)alkoxy group and a C(1-4)alkyl group. An intermediate layer and inner layer of the hollow fiber membranes contain substantially no synthetic polymer.

Abstract: A leukocyte-removing filter medium for removing leukocytes from a leukocyte-containing fluid, wherein said filter medium has, at least on its surface, hydrophilic basic groups containing at least one nonionic hydrophilic portion and at least one basic portion, in which said hydrophilic portion(s) is located nearer to the end of the hydrophilic basic group than said basic portion(s) is.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polyion complex separation membrane with a double structure, which is applicable in the separation process of a water-soluble mixture having ionic molecules or particles by means of reverse osmotic pressure for the purposes of recovering expensive ionic organic materials such as anionic emulsifiers from the waste water. More particularly, this invention relates to said membrane having anionic polymers, as substrate, which is immersed into a cationic polymer solution containing a multivalent ion cross-linking agent, by which a cross-linkage within the internal of the separation membrane is achieved, thereby forming an ion complex between ionic polymers of opposite ion at the surface of the separation membrane to yield a stable separation membrane of a double structure.

Abstract: A porous material is disclosed, made of a semi IPN type polymer alloy of a crosslinked polymer (A) obtained by the crosslinking polymerization of a crosslinking-polymerizable vinyl monomer and/or oligomer (a) with a non-crosslinked polymer (D) which is soluble in a solvent (B) capable of dissolving said monomer and/or oligomer (a) therein and subjecting said crosslinked polymer (A) to gelation but is insoluble in a coagulating solution (C) which is compatible with said solvent (B) but doesn't subject said crosslinked polymer (D) to gelation. A porous material excellent in mechanical strength as well as in heat resistance can be prepared. Various functional groups can be introduced into the surface of the porous material. Further, the pore diameter can be easily controlled.

Abstract: A device for the rapid separation and/or conversion of substrates is disclosed herein. The device include a porous tube (2) disposed inside a tubular sample distributor (3). The tubular sample distributor (3) includes channel structures on its inner surface and is disposed inside a tubular body (4). A tubular sample collector (1) having channel structures on its outer surface is disposed inside the porous tube (2). A circular sample distributor (7) is provided having a circumferential portion and radially extending grooves in conjunction with the channel structures of the tubular sample distributor (3). A circular sample collector (8) is also provided having a circumferential portion and radially extending grooves in conjunction with the channel structures of the tubular sample collector (1). The hollow body (4) is arranged between securing means (5) that provide a sample inlet and outlet in communication with the circular sample distributor (7) and circular sample collector (8), respectively.

Abstract: A non-cracking hydrophilic polyether sulfone membrane is prepared by (a) directly coating the entire surface of a hydrophobic polyethersulfone membrane with an aqueous solution of a polyalkylene oxide polymer and at least one polyfunctional monomer, and (b) polymerizing the monomer over the entire surface of the membrane under conditions which cause the resulting polymer to attach to the polyethersulfone membrane and the polyethylene oxide to form a non-extractable surface which does not crack when the membrane is folded to form a pleated cartridge.

Abstract: A composite membrane and method for making the same, comprising a porous support and a crosslinked polyamide surface having polyalkylene oxide groups grafted thereto. The subject membrane provides improved resistance to fouling while offering excellent flux and salt passage performance. The subject method is easily adapted to commercial scale-up and does not require the use of chemical initiators.

Abstract: There is provided a leukocyte eliminating filter capable of exhibiting an excellent performance of eliminating leukocyte and platelet, which can be obtained through a simple process comprising the steps of coating a substrate constituting the filter with a polymer having a chemical structure represented by any one of the following formulas (I) and (II), and heat-drying the coated polymer: wherein R1, R3, R4, R5R6 and R7 may be the same or different and are individually hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 is CONH2 or COOH; R8 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and x is an integer of 3 or 4.

Abstract: A method for casting-in-place composite and/or non-filled structures which are useful as sorptive or reactive media or for size-based separations. Any particular housing size or configuration can be used, and the inclusion of a large amount of adsorptive particles in polymer is achieved while still maintaining the membrane three dimensional structure. In a first preferred embodiment, the composite structures comprise particles entrapped within a porous polymeric substrate, and are cast in-place into a housing such as a pipette tip, thereby providing an effective platform for micromass handling. With the appropriate selection of particle chemistry, virtually any separation or purification operation can be conducted, including selective bind/elute chromatography operations, on sample mass loads less than 1 microgram in volumes of a few microliters, as well as larger mass loads and volumes. The present invention also encompasses the composite structures as well as sample preparation devices containing the same.

Abstract: A non-cracking hydrophilic polyether sulfone membrane is prepared by (a) directly coating the entire surface of a hydrophobic polyethersulfone membrane with an aqueous solution of a polyalkylene oxide polymer and at least one polyfunctional monomer, and (b) polymerizing the monomer over the entire surface of the membrane under conditions which cause the resulting polymer to attach to the polyethersulfone membrane and the polyethylene oxide to form a non-extractable surface which does not crack when the membrane is folded to form a pleated cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anionically charge-modified membranes and methods of preparing such membranes. In one major aspect of the invention, the membranes are internally hydrophilic and formed from casting a film of a mixed polymer solution that includes an anionic agent.