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Development of isoporous microslit silicon nitride membranes for sterile filtration applications.

ABSTRACT: The widely used 0.2/0.22?µm polymer sterile filters were developed for small molecule and protein sterile filtration but are not well-suited for the production of large nonprotein biological therapeutics, resulting in significant yield loss and production cost increases. Here, we report on the development of membranes with isoporous sub-0.2??m rectangular prism pores using silicon micromachining to produce microslit silicon nitride (MSN) membranes. The very high porosity (~33%) and ultrathin (200?nm) nature of the 0.2?µm MSN membranes results in a dramatically different structure than the traditional 0.2/0.22?µm polymer sterile filter, which yielded comparable performance properties (including gas and hydraulic permeance, maximum differential pressure tolerance, nanoparticle sieving/fouling behavior). The results from bacteria retention tests, conducted according to the guidance of regulatory agencies, demonstrated that the 0.2?µm MSN membranes can be effectively used as sterile filters. It is anticipated that the results and technologies presented in this study will find future utility in the production of non-protein biological therapeutics and in other biological and biomedical applications.

SUBMITTER: Wright E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7015775 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Protection against airborne viruses has become very relevant since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2. Nonwoven face masks along with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters have been used extensively to reduce infection rates; however, some of these filter materials provide inadequate protection due to insufficient initial filtration efficiency (FE) and FE decrease with time. Flat sheet porous membranes, which have been used extensively to filter waterborne microbes and particulate matter due to their high FE have the potential to filter air pollutants without compromising its FE over time. Therefore, in this study, single layer polysulfone (PSf) membranes were fabricated via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) and were tested for airflow rate, pressure drop and FE. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glycerol were employed as pore-forming agents, and the effect of the primary polymer and pore-forming additive molecular weights (MW) on airflow rate and pressure drop were studied at different concentrations. The thermodynamic stability of dope solutions with different MWs of PSf and PEG in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) at different concentrations was determined using cloud-point measurements to construct a ternary phase diagram. Surface composition of the fabricated membranes was characterized using contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while membrane morphology was characterized by SEM, and tensile strength experiments were performed to analyze the membrane mechanical strength (MS). It was observed that an increase in PSf and PEG molecular weight and concentration increased airflow and decreased pressure drop. PSf60:PEG20:NMP (15:15:70)% w/w showed the highest air flow rate and lowest pressure drop, but at the expense of the mechanical strength, which was improved significantly by attaching the membrane to a 3D-printed polypropylene support. Lastly, the FE values of the membranes were similar to those of double-layer N95 filters and significantly higher than those of single layer of N95, surgical mask and HVAC (MERV 11) filters.

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Development of isoporous microslit silicon nitride membranes for sterile filtration applications.

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