Ionic selectivity of nystatin A1 confined in nanoporous track-etched polymer membrane

Abstract

The hybrid biological/polymeric solid-state nanopore membrane offers several opportunities to combine the advantage of biological channel (selectivity) and material (robustness). Based on this technology, the challenge is to obtain selective ionic exchange membranes, with no energy intake. The direct insertion of an ionic channel inside a nanopore should be a promise solution. Here, the authors report a hybrid nanopore based on nystatin A1 confinement in commercial nanopore membrane. Ionic transport and selectivity studies show that the hybrid nanopores exhibit mainly an anionic behaviour, on the contrary to biological conditions. However, the order of magnitude between the different ratios of permeation of several cationic species is retained even if the blocking of divalent cation is not totally proved. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2014.