Nano-porous fibers and protein membranes

• US 20040241436A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Li, Lei, Zhang, Lifeng, Chen, Hong, Wang, Yuhong, Cecile, Corine, Hsieh, You-Lo, Xie, Jiangbing
• Application Number:
  US10/761,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20040241436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/361
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0007 Electro-spinning non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0038 the fibre formed by solvent evaporation, i.e. dry electro-spinning
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/247 Discontinuous hollow structure or microporous structure
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 4/00 Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of proteins; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2907 with coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2935 Discontinuous or tubular or cellular core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2525 Coating or impregnation functions biologically [e.g., insect repellent, antiseptic, insecticide, bactericide, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention provides nano-porous fibers and protein membrane compositions. In certain embodiments, continuous fiber compositions are provided having nanometer sized diameters and surface pores. In another embodiment, a protein membrane composition is provided comprising a protein; and a polymer, wherein the protein and the polymer are electrospun to form a protein membrane composition. In certain instance, the protein is covalently bound to the fiber.

Claims

1. A nanofiber comprising a first polymer and a biological material, wherein said nanofiber has a plurality of nanopores.

2. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said first polymer is a synthetic polymer.

3. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said first polymer is a naturally occurring polymer.

4. The nanofiber of claim 2, wherein said synthetic polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of:

poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene naphthalate), polyaniline, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylon nitrile, polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), polyvinyl acetate, and derivatives thereof.

5. The nanofiber of claim 3, wherein said naturally occurring polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of:

polysaccharides, polypeptides, cellulose, poly-L-lactide, cellulose, casein, and derivatives thereof.

6. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said biological material and said first polymer are present in a ratio of about 1:

20 to about 20;

1.

7. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said biological material and said first polymer are present in a ratio of about 1:

10 to about 10;

1.

8. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said biological material and said first polymer are present in a ratio of about 1:

5 to about 5;

1.

9. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said biological material and said first polymer are present in a ratio of 1:

4.

10. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said biological material is covalently attached to said nanofiber via a linker.

11. The nanofiber of claim 10, wherein said linker is a member selected from the group consisting of:

polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyacrylamide (PAM) as non-ionic, and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) or combinations thereof.

12. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said nanofiber is about 50 nm to about 1000 nm in diameter.

13. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said nanopores are about 5 nm to about 500 nm in diameter.

14. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said nanopores are about 25 nm to about 100 nm in diameter.

15. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said nanopores are about 5 nm to about 25 nm in diameter.

16. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said nanopores are about 10 nm to about 50 nm in diameter.

17. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said nanofiber is insoluble in an aqueous solution.

18. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said nanofiber is insoluble in an organic solution.

19. The nanofiber of claim 18, wherein said first polymer is crosslinked.

20. The nanofiber of claim 1, further comprising a second polymer.

21. The nanofiber of claim 20, wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are present in a ratio of about 1:

20 to about 20;

1.

22. The nanofiber of claim 20, wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are present in a ratio of about 1:

10 to about 10;

1.

23. The nanofiber of claim 20, wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are present in a ratio of 4:

1.

24. The nanofiber of claim 20, wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are present in a ratio of 1:

4.

25. The nanofiber of claim 20, wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are present in a ratio of 1:

1.

26. The nanofiber of claim 20, wherein said first polymer is a synthetic organic polymer and said second polymer is a naturally occurring polymer.

27. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein said biological material is a protein.

28. The nanofiber of claim 27, wherein said protein is a member selected from the group consisting of:

integral membrane proteins, structural proteins, intracellular proteins, and enzymes.

29. The nanofiber of claim 26, wherein said synthetic organic polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of:

poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene naphthalate), polyaniline, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylon nitrile, polysaccharides, cellulose, poly-L-lactide, polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), polyvinyl acetate and derivatives thereof, and said naturally occurring polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of;

polysaccharides, polypeptides, cellulose, poly-L-lactide, cellulose, casein, and derivatives thereof.

30. The nanofiber of claim 28, wherein said protein is an enzyme.

31. The nanofiber of claim 30, wherein said enzyme is a member selected from the group consisting of:

a lipase, a carbohydrolase, a DNAse, and a protease.

32. A membrane comprising a nanofiber comprising a first polymer and a biological material, wherein said nanofiber has a plurality of nanopores.

33. The membrane of claim 32, wherein said membrane is insoluble in an aqueous solution.

34. The membrane of claim 32, wherein said membrane is insoluble in an organic solution.

35. The membrane of claim 32, wherein said biological material is attached to said membrane via a linker.

36. The membrane of claim 35, wherein said linker is PEG.

37. The membrane of claim 35, wherein said linker is PAA.

38. A fabric comprising a nanofiber comprising a first polymer and a biological material, wherein said nanofiber has a plurality of nanopores.

39. The fabric of claim 38, wherein said biological material is attached to said nanofiber via a linker.

40. The fabric of claim 38, wherein said linker is PEG.

41. The fabric of claim 38, wherein said linker is PAA.

42. An insoluble nanofiber comprising a polymer and a biological material, wherein said nanofiber is insoluble in an aqueous solution.

43. An insoluble nanofiber comprising a polymer and a biological material, wherein said nanofiber is insoluble in an organic solution.