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

The transmission of charged macromolecules through porous ultrafiltrat ion membranes is often dependent on the retentate ionic strength. A la boratory apparatus has been designed to use this effect to control the diffusion of macromolecules through ultrafiltration membranes. The io nic strength is adjusted in the cell by electrodialysis, through two i on-exchange membranes directly mounted on two walls of the diffusion c ell. 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 a llow to reversibly increase or decrease the diffusion rate of molecule s through the porous membrane.