BRIGE: Engineering Antifouling Ultrafiltration Membranes Using Polycationic Nanofibers

背景：在全球范围内，腹泻仍然是儿童死亡的第二大原因。虽然基于膜的技术可以有效地降低这种死亡率，但与保持膜性能相关的成本使发展中国家无法获得安全的饮用水。这项nsf - bridge提案着手于新一代抗菌超滤膜，该膜将在操作系统中使用更长时间。技术描述：聚砜超滤膜将用聚阳离子/聚环氧乙烷纳米纤维垫进行表面功能化。纳米纤维层将通过接触暴露的表面阳离子电荷使广谱微生物失活。聚环氧乙烷含量将使膜表面更亲水，从而更耐微生物附着。对于聚阳离子，我们将研究生物聚合物壳聚糖，以及合成类似物聚二甲基二烯丙基氯化铵。纳米纤维增强的超滤膜将被表征为功能、生物污垢和它们的材料特性。这项研究将提供高孔隙率纳米纤维垫作为超滤膜上的薄层与它们在操作条件下保持高通量和灭活微生物的能力之间的关键结构-性能关系。这些纳米结构增强的超滤膜通过向地方市政当局和欠发达社区提供安全、高质量的水，具有在地方、国家和全球范围内影响水质的潜力。除了提高水净化膜的功能和寿命外，了解材料-生物界面对膜的正常功能具有重要意义，包括饮料澄清，血液过滤/处理，蛋白质纯化和金属离子回收。更广泛的意义和重要性：从这项工作中，将获得制造低成本，具有“绿色”抗菌剂的水净化膜的新见解。这项技术通过向地方市政当局和欠发达社区提供安全、高质量的水，具有在地方、国家和全球范围内影响水质的潜力。水的数量和质量的持续下降是一个切实的社会影响，使该项目成为一个强大的工具，在广泛的人口中传播STEM学科的重要作用。扩大未被充分代表的群体在工程领域的参与：该项目的一个关键组成部分是在化学工程、材料科学和环境工程的新兴界面上教育和指导多样化的劳动力。除了她正在进行的努力之外，这项提案将为失聪或听力障碍的本科生，以及女性和少数民族本科生和研究生带来许多新的研究经验。此外，PI还将担任两个新的基于网络的国际讨论组的主持人。一个将增加全球获得科学知识的机会，第二个将为服务不足的妇女人口提供一个安全的妇女指导网络，这些妇女生活在偏远地区，那里可能没有其他妇女榜样。此外，PI还将担任全球材料网维护的两个新的基于网络的国际讨论组的主持人。第一个将是一个专题论坛，以增加全球对“聚合物”科学知识的获取。第二个是“工程领域的女性讨论小组”，它将为偏远地区的女性提供一个指导网络，这些地区可能没有其他女性榜样，女性群体得不到充分的服务。这项研究是由工程教育和中心部的工程项目扩大参与计划的一部分，即工程项目扩大参与研究启动基金资助的。

Background:Globally, diarrhea remains the second leading cause of childhood mortality. While membrane-based technologies can effectively diminish this mortality rate, the costs associated with retaining membrane performance prohibits developing countries from maintaining access to safe drinking water. This NSF-BRIGE proposal embarks on a new generation of antimicrobial ultrafiltration membranes that will last longer in operational systems. Technical Description:Polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes will be surface functionalized with polycationic/poly(ethylene oxide) nanofiber mats. The nanofiber layer will inactivate a broad-spectrum of microbes via contact with the exposed cationic surface charges. The poly(ethylene oxide) content will render the membrane surface more hydrophilic, and thus, more resistant to microbial attachment. For the polycation, we will investigate the biopolymer chitosan, as well as a synthetic analogue, poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride). Ultrafiltration membranes enhanced with nanofibers will be characterized for functionality, biofouling, and their materials properties.This research will provide critical structure-property relationships between high porosity nanofiber mats applied as a thin-layer on ultrafiltration membranes and their ability to retain high flux and inactivate microbes under operational conditions. These nanostructure-enhanced ultrafiltration membranes hold the potential to impact water quality on a local, national, and global scale by providing safe, high-quality water to local municipals and underdeveloped communities. In addition to improving the functionality and lifetime of membranes for water purification, understanding the materials-biology interface has great implications on the proper functioning of membranes for a broad range of separations, including, beverage clarification, blood filtration/treatment, protein purification, and metal ion recovery.Broader Signficance and Importance:From this work, new insights into the manufacturing of low cost, water purification membranes that feature "green" antimicrobials will be acquired. This technology holds the potential to impact water quality on a local, national, and global scale by providing safe, high-quality water to local municipals and underdeveloped communities. The continuous decline in water quantity and quality is a tangible societal impact that makes this project a powerful vehicle for communicating the vital role of STEM disciplines over a broad demographic.Broadening Participation of Underrepresented Groups in Engineering:A key component of this project is its aim to educate and mentor a diverse workforce at the emerging interface of chemical engineering, materials science, and environmental engineering. In addition to her on-going efforts, this proposal will result in numerous new research experiences for deaf or hard-of hearing undergraduate students, as well as women and minority undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the PI will act as the moderator to two new web-based international discussion groups. One will increase access to scientific knowledge globally and the second will provide a safe women-mentorship network to an underserved population of women, those living in remote places where there may not be other women role models. Additionally, the PI will act as the moderator to two new web-based international discussion groups maintained by the Global Materials Network. The first will be a topical forum to increase access to scientific knowledge on "Polymers" globally. The second, will be a "Women in Engineering Discussion Group" that will provide a mentorship network to women in remote locations where there may not be other women role models, an underserved population of women.This research has been funded through the Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering solicitation, which is part of the Broadening Participation in Engineering Program of the Engineering Education and Centers Division.