Biocompatible membranes of block copolymers and fuel cells produced therewith

A biocompatible membrane comprising:

• at least one layer of a synthetic polymer material having a first side and a second side, said synthetic polymer material being present in an amount of at least about 5% by weight based on weight of the finished membrane and at least one polypeptide embedded therein and being present in an amount of at least about 10% by weight of said biocompatible membrane, said polypeptide having the ability to participate in a redox reaction or in the transporting of protons from said first side of said at least one layer to said second side of said at least one layer and being capable of providing at least about 10 milliamps/cm2 of current density, and wherein said synthetic polymer material consists of at least one block copolymer and optionally at least one additive.

A fuel cell comprising:

• an anode compartment including an anode;
• a cathode compartment including a cathode;
• and disposed within said anode compartment, within said cathode compartment, or between said anode compartment and said cathode compartment, at least one biocompatible membrane having at least one layer of a synthetic polymer material which includes an anode side and a cathode side and at least one polypeptide associated therewith, said polypeptide capable of participating in a chemical reaction, participating in the transporting of protons from said anode side of said at least one layer to said cathode side of said at least one layer, or participating in the formation of molecular structures that facilitate such reactions or transport, and wherein said synthetic polymer material consists of at least one block copolymer and optionally at least one additive.

A solution useful for producing a biocompatible membrane comprising:

• at least one synthetic polymer material consisting of at least one block copolymer and optionally at least one additive, said synthetic polymer material being present in an amount of between about 1 and about 30% w/v, at least one polypeptide, in an amount of between at least about 0.001 and about 10.0% w/v said polypeptide capable of participating in a chemical reaction, participating in the transporting molecules, atoms, protons or electrons or participating in the formation of molecular structures that facilitate such reactions or transport, in a solvent system including both organic solvents and water.

A fuel cell comprising:

• an anode compartment including an anode;
• a cathode compartment including a cathode;
• and disposed within said anode compartment, within said cathode compartment, or between said anode compartment and said cathode compartment, at least one biocompatible membrane having at least one layer of a synthetic polymer material which includes an anode side and a cathode side and at least one polypeptide associated therewith, said polypeptide capable of participating in a chemical reaction, participating in the transporting of protons from said anode side of said at least one layer to said cathode side of said at least one layer or participating in the formation of molecular structures that facilitate such reactions or transport.