# US 9,517,438 B2 · Programmable membrane system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,438 B2 - Document ID: US9517438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/383,955 - Filed: 2011-06-13 - Published: 2012-12-13 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-13 - Assignees: Empire Technology Development LLC - Applicants: Seth Adrian Miller - Inventors: Seth Adrian Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517438B2 ## CPC - B01D 67/00931: {by introduction of specific groups after membrane formation, e.g. by grafting} - B01D 61/463: {comprising the membrane sequence AC or CA, where C is a cation exchange membrane} - B01D 63/10: Spiral-wound membrane modules - B01D 71/10: Cellulose; Modified cellulose - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - B01D 2323/38: Graft polymerization - B01D 2325/26: Electrical properties - C02F 1/44: by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis {(general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract Functionalized membranes for use in applications, such as electrodeionization, can be prepared simply and efficiently by associating a first element of a specific binding pair to a membrane surface and binding a second species comprising the second element of the specific binding pair and at least one functional group to form a complex on the membrane surface. Such membranes may be reversibly modified by disassociating the complex, thereby, providing a fresh surface which may be re-modified according to the preceding methods. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing a reversibly-functionalized membrane comprising: providing a membrane and solution, wherein: the membrane comprises, a porous support including a plurality of pores therein; and a conductive metal coating at least partially defining a surface having a first species operatively attached thereto, wherein the conductive metal coating has a thickness that coats an interior surface of at least some of the plurality of pores without clogging the at least some of the plurality of pores and the first species comprises a first element of a specific binding pair; and the solution comprises a second species comprising a second element of the specific binding pair and at least one functional group, wherein the at least one functional group is chemically bonded either directly or through a linking group to the second element of the specific binding pair; and the membrane can be reversibly-functionalized by contacting the membrane with the solution; contacting the membrane with the solution to functionalize the membrane with the at least one functional group of the second element of the specific binding pair; using the functionalized membrane to filter a substance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a polymeric membrane having the conductive metal coating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a track-etched membrane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the specific binding pair comprises complementary single-stranded nucleic acid molecules. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise DNA molecules. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise RNA molecules. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a cellulose membrane and the specific binding pair is complementary single-stranded DNA molecules. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first element of the specific binding pair is operatively attached to the membrane by a direct bond, or by association of a chemical group capable of reacting with or coordinating the membrane layer surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the second species is of the formula, X—Y—Z, wherein X is the second element of the specific binding pair, Y is a linking group, and Z a functional group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one functional group comprises a second polymer, an enzyme, an antibody, or metal nanoparticles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting the reversibly-functionalized membrane with metal nanoparticles, wherein at least a portion of the functional groups present are capable of bonding to or coordinating to the nanoparticles to provide a nanoparticle-coated reversibly-functionalized functionalized membrane. ### Claim 12 A method for using a membrane comprising: contacting a membrane with a solution, wherein: the membrane is a porous membrane and comprises a conductive metal coating at least partially defining a surface having a first species operatively attached thereto, wherein the conductive metal coating has a thickness of about 50 nm to about 1000 nm that coats an interior surface of at least some of the plurality of pores without clogging the at least some of the plurality of pores and the first species comprises a first element of a specific binding pair; and the solution comprises a second species comprising a second element of the specific binding pair and at least one functional group, wherein the at least one functional group is chemically bonded either directly or through a linking group to the second element of the specific binding pair; in response to said contacting, the first and second elements of the specific binding pair form a complex on the surface of the membrane to form a reversibly functionalized membrane and one or more of the at least one functional group comprises nanoparticles; and using the functionalized membrane to filter a substance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the conductive metal coating has a thickness of about 50 nm to about 100 nm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the specific binding pair includes complementary nucleic acids, biotin and avidin, biotin and streptavidin, an antigen and an antibody, an enzyme and a ligand, or an aptamer and an aptamer target. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the specific binding pair includes complementary nucleic acids, biotin and avidin, biotin and streptavidin, an antigen and an antibody, an enzyme and a ligand, or an aptamer and an aptamer target.