ARRS-J2-1719

Title Structural and surface properties of fibrous membranes for purification and chromatographic separation of biomacromolecules
Area Engineering sciences and technologies: Textile and leather
Presentation illustration
Duration 1. 7. 2019 – 30. 6. 2022
Funding 300.000 EUR (ARRS)
Project head Prof. Dr. Vanja Kokol https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/8756
Participating organizations BIA Separations L.t.d. Separations technology company https://www.biaseparations.com https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/en/organization/2479
Univerist yof Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty https://www.bf.uni-lj.si/en/organisation/biology/
IJS, Department of surafce engineering https://f4.ijs.si
Objectives In this project we aim to investigate the preparation/manufacturing process for developing of novel low-cost and high-flow fiber-based filters and ion-exchange membranes, which may act as a complementary method to the existing polymeric-based filters or expensive chromatographic monolithic cartridge-based systems, to enable: i) high and sterile bacteria filtration retention, ii) good gDNA and endotoxin removal, and iii) chromatographic purification/separations of proteins, with high performance and economic feasibility.
The membranes will be prepared by merging existing textile, paper and composite technologies, optionally in a combination with advanced plasma processing to further chemically modify or functionalize the fibers surface with specific ligand, and thus to tailor/increase the membrane surface area and mass transfer properties with good binding capacity, supporting efficient biomolecules purification, separation and recovery.
Specific phases and stage of realization

Developing / manufacturing, characterizing, and testing novel fiber-based:

  • filter membranes for sterile size-exclusion removal of bacteria
  • chromatographic membranes for purification and separation of selected model proteins
  • chromatographic membranes for depletion of target impurities, for example genomic DNA (gDNA) gDNA fragments and endotoxins
Bibliographic references

Scientific conference contributions

KOKOL, Vanja. Nanocellulose-based antimicrobial microparticles as an alternative to toxic nano-biocides. In: International Conference on Cellulose Fibres 2022 : 2 – 3 February 2022, hybrid event, Cologne (Germany). 2022. 1 p. https://cellulose-fibres.eu/poster-session/

KOKOL, Vanja, VIVOD, Vera, SIMČIČ, Tina, ČERNIGOJ, Urh. Characterisation of membranes prepared from carboxymethyl cellulose and cellulose nanofibrils and their applicability for biochromatography. In: Abstract book. 8th Monolith Summer School & Symposium, June 15th-20th 2018, Portoroz, Slovenija. p 46.