Unravelling Design Rules For Creating Water Purification Membranes Based On Immobilized Aquaporin Proteins

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Aquaporin proteins are responsible for regulating selective water transport in plant and animal cells. Uniquely, aquaporins do not compromise between selectivity and water permeability, a quality that the conventional membrane technology lacks. The encapsulation and immobilization of aquaporins in porous materials can lead to the development of stable, selective and fast water transporting membranes. The overall aim of this project is to explore pore geometries and chemical functionalities in order to find the optimum properties for immobilizing aquaproteins in porous materials. The design rules that will be uncovered as a result of this project will then be used to seek follow on funding for a joint experimental-computational project to manufacture aquaporin-immobilized water purification membranes that will achieve transformative advances for providing clean water to societies deprived of potable water.