Surface-Modified Membranes via 'Click'-Based Chemistry for Creating Low Fouling and Cell Adhesion-Triggering Interfaces

通过基于“点击”化学的表面改性膜，用于创建低污染和细胞粘附触发界面

• 批准号: 544115-2019
• 负责人: Hoare, Todd
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=681192
• 关键词: Surface; Modified; Membranes; via; Click

Controlling the surface properties of membranes is essential to ensure that they function properly in their targeted applications. In many environmental or biomedical applications, the key challenge is to eliminate the adhesion and thus fouling associated with cells, proteins, or other molecules that can substantially change the membrane properties in the target application; alternately, in some bioreactor applications, reversible cell adhesion to the membrane to allow for cell culturing followed by on-demand cell collection would be highly beneficial. Our company partner Thetis Environmental has interests in developing both types of membranes, particularly those that can operate over broad temperature ranges. However, current techniques for fabricating protein-repellent or responsive membrane surfaces are inefficient, require air-free conditions, and/or are difficult to scale to a manufacturing context. The Hoare lab at McMaster University has recently developed an alternative coating technique for cellulose-based surfaces using a simple dip coating process in which functional short polymer chains based on the polymer poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) can be stably attached to the surface without requiring any complex processing steps. In this context, the objective of the proposed Engage grant is to engineer a reproducible and scalable polymer composition and coating strategy based on reactive POEGMA polymers to functionalize Thetis Environmental's unique multi-layer membranes. We will assess both the surface properties (i.e. the ability to resist protein fouling and control cell adhesion) as well as the membrane transport properties (i.e. flow, selectivity, and permeability) of the modified membranes to identify the best strategy for improving surface properties without significantly changing the membrane performance, aiming to identify a translatable process for implementation within Thetis Environmental's current workflow by the end of the Engage period. This work has the potential to lead to a marketable product that solves key challenges in multiple application areas associated with membranes in addition to providing training opportunities within a fast-growing field (>10% annual growth).

控制膜的表面特性是必不可少的，以确保它们在其目标应用中正常工作。在许多环境或生物医学应用中，关键的挑战是消除与细胞、蛋白质或其他分子相关的粘附和污染，这些分子可以在目标应用中显著改变膜的特性；另外，在一些生物反应器应用中，可逆的细胞粘附到膜上，允许细胞培养，然后按需收集细胞，这将是非常有益的。我们的合作伙伴Thetis环境公司对开发这两种类型的膜很感兴趣，特别是那些可以在宽温度范围内工作的膜。然而，目前用于制造蛋白质排斥或反应膜表面的技术效率低下，需要无空气条件，并且/或者难以扩展到制造环境。麦克马斯特大学（McMaster University）的Hoare实验室最近开发了一种纤维素基表面的替代涂层技术，使用简单的浸渍涂层工艺，其中基于聚合物聚低聚乙二醇甲基丙烯酸酯（POEGMA）的功能性短聚合物链可以稳定地附着在表面上，而不需要任何复杂的加工步骤。在这种情况下，拟议的Engage资助的目标是设计一种可复制的、可扩展的聚合物组合物和涂层策略，基于活性POEGMA聚合物，使Thetis环境公司独特的多层膜功能化。我们将评估改性膜的表面特性（即抵抗蛋白质污染和控制细胞粘附的能力）以及膜运输特性（即流动性、选择性和渗透性），以确定在不显著改变膜性能的情况下改善表面特性的最佳策略，旨在确定在参与期结束时在Thetis环境公司当前工作流程中实施的可翻译过程。除了在快速增长的领域（年增长率约为10%）提供培训机会外，这项工作有可能产生一种可销售的产品，解决与膜相关的多个应用领域的关键挑战。