(557a) Membranes for Bioseparation Applications Synthesized By Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Templating

Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) are formed from the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in the presence of selective solvent(s). LLCs have a mesostructure with domain size in the range of 2-50 nm, in which the structure varies based on the shape of the micelles. Some typical structures are hexagonal, lamellar, and cubic mesophases. LLCs can be used as a template to synthesize membranes for separation applications. In this study, the self-assembly of Pluronic F127 which is an FDA approved surfactant with PEO-PPO-PEO structure is investigated in the presence of ethylammonium nitrate as a solvent. Results show the successful formation of discontinuous cubic structures with the domain size of 20-26 nm. Adding small amounts of water to the system could change the structure and its domain size, which enable pore size engineering for membrane applications. UV crosslinked LLCs show promising results for further use as membranes for biopharmaceutical applications. Resulting membrane with pore size of about 18 nm are appropriate for virus clearance in monoclonal antibody production. The membrane has a narrow pore size distribution and hydrophilic surface, which provides fouling resistance.