Protein Nanopore Membranes Prepared by a Simple Langmuir–Schaefer Approach

Small, vol. 17, pp. e2102975

Abstract

Filtration through membranes with nanopores is typically associated with high transmembrane pressures and high energy consumption. This problem can be addressed by reducing the respective membrane thickness. Here, a simple procedure is described to prepare ultrathin membranes based on protein nanopores, which exhibit excellent water permeance, two orders of magnitude superior to comparable, industrially applied membranes. Furthermore, incorporation of either closed or open protein nanopores allows tailoring the membrane's ion permeability. To form such membranes, the transmembrane protein ferric hydroxamate uptake protein component A (FhuA) or its open-pore variant are assembled at the air-water interface of a Langmuir trough, compressed to a dense film, crosslinked by glutaraldehyde, and transferred to various support materials. This approach allows to prepare monolayer or multilayer membranes with a very high density of protein nanopores. Freestanding membranes covering holes up to 5 μm in diameter are visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), helium ion microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. AFM PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical property mapping (PeakForce QNM) demonstrates remarkable mechanical stability and elastic properties of freestanding monolayer membranes with a thickness of only 5 nm. The new protein membrane can pave the way to energy-efficient nanofiltration.

Authors 17

1. Magnus S. Schwieters

   Technische Universität Berlin · Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP Geiselbergstr. 69 14476 Potsdam‐Golm Germany

   Polymer Engineering/Polymer Physics Berlin Institute of Technology (TU Berlin) Ernst‐Reuter‐Platz 1 10587 Berlin Germany

   Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP Geiselbergstr. 69 14476 Potsdam-Golm Germany

   Polymer Engineering/Polymer Physics Berlin Institute of Technology (TU Berlin) Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1 10587 Berlin Germany

2. Maria Mathieu‐Gaedke

   University of Potsdam · Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Polymer Materials and Polymer Technologies Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Str. 24–25 14476 Potsdam‐Golm Germany

   Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP Geiselbergstr. 69 14476 Potsdam‐Golm Germany

   Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP Geiselbergstr. 69 14476 Potsdam-Golm Germany

3. Raphael Dalpke

   Bielefeld University

   Affiliation as printed

   Physics of Supramolecular Systems and Surfaces Faculty of Physics Bielefeld University Universitätsstr. 25 33615 Bielefeld Germany

4. Maxim Dirksen

   Bielefeld University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Faculty of Chemistry Bielefeld University Universitätsstr. 25 33615 Bielefeld Germany

5. Daizong Qi

   Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Ackermannweg 10 55128 Mainz Germany

   Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Ackermannweg 10 55128 Mainz Germany

6. Marco Grull Aachen Institute of Biotechnology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringer Weg 3 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringer Weg 3 52074 Aachen Germany

7. Thomas Bick

   University of Potsdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biochemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Str. 24–25 14476 Potsdam‐Golm Germany

8. Stephanie Taßler

   Synchrotron SOLEIL

   Affiliation as printed

   Synchrotron SOLEIL L'Orme des Merisiers BP48, Gif‐Sur‐Yvette Saint‐Aubin 91192 France

   Synchrotron SOLEIL L'Orme des Merisiers BP48, Gif-Sur-Yvette Saint-Aubin 91192 France

9. Daniel F. Sauer Aachen Institute of Biotechnology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringer Weg 3 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringer Weg 3 52074 Aachen Germany

10. Mischa Bonn

    Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Ackermannweg 10 55128 Mainz Germany

    Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Ackermannweg 10 55128 Mainz Germany

11. Petra Wendler

    University of Potsdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biochemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Str. 24–25 14476 Potsdam‐Golm Germany

12. Thomas Hellweg

    Bielefeld University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Faculty of Chemistry Bielefeld University Universitätsstr. 25 33615 Bielefeld Germany

13. André Beyer

    Bielefeld University

    Affiliation as printed

    Physics of Supramolecular Systems and Surfaces Faculty of Physics Bielefeld University Universitätsstr. 25 33615 Bielefeld Germany

14. Armin Gölzhäuser

    Bielefeld University

    Affiliation as printed

    Physics of Supramolecular Systems and Surfaces Faculty of Physics Bielefeld University Universitätsstr. 25 33615 Bielefeld Germany

15. Ulrich Schwaneberg Aachen Institute of Biotechnology

    RWTH Aachen University · DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

    Affiliation as printed

    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. Forckenbeckstr. 50 52056 Aachen Germany

    Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringer Weg 3 52074 Aachen Germany

    Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringer Weg 3 52074 Aachen Germany

16. Ulrich Glebe corresponding

    Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP Geiselbergstr. 69 14476 Potsdam‐Golm Germany

    Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP Geiselbergstr. 69 14476 Potsdam-Golm Germany

17. Alexander Böker corresponding

    University of Potsdam · Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Chair of Polymer Materials and Polymer Technologies Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Str. 24–25 14476 Potsdam‐Golm Germany

    Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP Geiselbergstr. 69 14476 Potsdam‐Golm Germany

    Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP Geiselbergstr. 69 14476 Potsdam-Golm Germany