Abstract
Nanoporous alumina membranes exhibit high pore densities, well-controlled and uniform pore sizes, as well as straight pores. Owing to these unusual properties, nanoporous alumina membranes are currently being considered for use in implantable sensor membranes and water purification membranes. Atomic layer deposition is a thin-film growth process that may be used to modify the pore size in a nanoporous alumina membrane while retaining a narrow pore distribution. In addition, films deposited by means of atomic layer deposition may impart improved biological functionality to nanoporous alumina membranes. In this study, zinc oxide coatings and platinum coatings were deposited on nanoporous alumina membranes by means of atomic layer deposition. PEGylated nanoporous alumina membranes were prepared by self-assembly of 1-mercaptoundec-11-yl hexa(ethylene glycol) on platinum-coated nanoporous alumina membranes. The pores of the PEGylated nanoporous alumina membranes remained free of fouling after exposure to human platelet-rich plasma; protein adsorption, fibrin networks and platelet aggregation were not observed on the coated membrane surface. Zinc oxide-coated nanoporous alumina membranes demonstrated activity against two waterborne pathogens, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results of this work indicate that nanoporous alumina membranes may be modified using atomic layer deposition for use in a variety of medical and environmental health applications.
Highlights
There is a great interest in incorporating nanoporous materials within devices for medical and environmental health applications
We examined the proliferation of neonatal human epidermal keratinocytes on zinc oxide-coated nanoporous alumina membranes and uncoated nanoporous alumina membranes using the MTT assay
These figures demonstrate that the nanoporous alumina membrane coated with platinum using atomic layer deposition exhibited a monodisperse pore size and high porosity
Summary
There is a great interest in incorporating nanoporous materials within devices for medical and environmental health applications. An example of a natural filter is the nanostructured epithelial cell in the kidney, which is known as the podocyte. The podocyte allows water and small waste molecules to pass into the urine. It prevents proteins (e.g. albumin) and cells from passing into the urine. Karnovsky & Ainsworth (1972) described glomerular filtration in the kidney as a two-part process, in which the glomerular basement membrane serves as a coarse filter and the slit diaphragm serves as a molecular sieve. Rodewald & Karnovsky (1974) subsequently demonstrated, using electron microscopy, that the slit diaphragm contains rectangular pores; the dimensions of the filtration slit are 4 × 14 nm It prevents proteins (e.g. albumin) and cells from passing into the urine. Karnovsky & Ainsworth (1972) described glomerular filtration in the kidney as a two-part process, in which the glomerular basement membrane serves as a coarse filter and the slit diaphragm serves as a molecular sieve. Rodewald & Karnovsky (1974) subsequently demonstrated, using electron microscopy, that the slit diaphragm contains rectangular pores; the dimensions of the filtration slit are 4 × 14 nm
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