Bio-inorganic hybrid membranes with nanoporosity control by genetically engineered viral seal rings

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A novel preparation route is proposed to obtain bio/inorganic hybrid membranes with arrays of nanoscaled pores. The procedure allows controlling the distance between pores as well as their diameter. For that purpose, a virus template-assisted solid state membrane approach will be de-veloped. Specifically, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) assembly intermediates forming protein disks of precise dimensions with an inner 4 nm pore and an outer diameter of 18 nm will be used. These inter-mediates may be genetically tailored on both, the inner hole and the outer rim surfaces. Hence, combining functionalized inorganic templates (MT) with TMV "pore adapter inlays" might yield mem-branes benefiting from both a stable inorganic backbone and nanopores with near-to-zero size devi-ations. The intended experimental strategy interconnects biogenic and inorganic phases by a bionic „glue‟: peptide-mediated interaction with solid silica and subsequent protein-induced SiO2 deposition should immobilize the TMV disks in MTs and seal gaps. Primary goals are to produce layered membranes with specifically addressable, functionalized conical pores (Ø 15-30 nm) and genetically tailored trifunctional TMV protein disks, to position and pre-fix them into pores by help of intermediate chemical coupling, and to finish the assemblies by rugged biogenic mineral ridges formed between the two material phases. Quality and permeability of the hybrid membrane materials will be analyzed.