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

水通道蛋白负责调节植物和动物细胞中选择性的水运输。独一无二的是，水通道蛋白不会在选择性和透水性之间妥协，这是传统膜技术所缺乏的品质。水通道蛋白在多孔材料中的包裹和固定化可以开发出稳定、选择性和快速的水传递膜。该项目的总体目标是探索孔几何结构和化学功能，以找到在多孔材料中固定化水蛋白的最佳性能。该项目将揭示的设计规则将被用于为一个联合实验-计算项目寻求后续资金，该项目旨在制造水通道蛋白固定化净水膜，以实现向被剥夺饮用水的社会提供清洁水的变革性进展。

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.