TRANSMISSION OF BIO-MOLECULES THROUGH POROUS MEMBRANES TRIGGERED BY AN EXTERNAL ELECTRIC-FIELD

The transmission of charged macromolecules through porous ultrafiltration membranes is often dependent on the retentate ionic strength. A laboratory apparatus has been designed to use this effect to control the diffusion of macromolecules through ultrafiltration membranes. The ionic strength is adjusted in the cell by electrodialysis, through two ion-exchange membranes directly mounted on two walls of the diffusion cell. Experimental results with bovine serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin and tetracycline show that the application of impulses of positive or negative electrodialytic current through the ion exchange membranes allow to reversibly increase or decrease the diffusion rate of molecules through the porous membrane.