Molecularly imprinted bioartificial membranes for the selective recognition of biological molecules. Part 2: release of components and thermal analysis

Molecularly imprinted membranes imprinted for a large-molecular-weight protein were realised using a blend of natural and synthetic polymers. Bioartificial membranes of synthetic (poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol)-EVAL, Clarene) and biological (Dextran) polymers, molecularly imprinted with alpha-amylase as the template, were prepared and investigated. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions of the alpha-amylase template, Clarene and Dextran were mixed under stirring in the desired proportions and dipped in DMSO (solvent)/water (non solvent) mixture, to obtain the phase separation. The release of Clarene, Dextran and alpha-amylase in the inversion baths was quantified by spectrophotometric methods and final composition of membranes was established. To study the interactions between the polymer components and between polymeric materials and the template, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out. Results indicated that stable and continuous bioartificial membranes of Clarene and Dextran can be obtained, whereby calorimetric analysis suggested the presence of high interaction between alpha-amylase and the Clarene component.