AMPHIPHILIC NETWORKS .10. DIFFUSION OF GLUCOSE AND INSULIN (AND NONDIFFUSION OF ALBUMIN) THROUGH AMPHIPHILIC MEMBRANES

Select semipermeable amphiphilic membranes have been prepared and thei r diffusional characteristics for glucose, insulin, and albumin invest igated. The membranes were prepared by cast copolymerization of a hydr ophilic monomer (i.e., N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, or N,N-dimethylaminoet hyl methacrylate) with the hydrophobic crosslinker methacrylate-ditele chelic polyisobutylene. The products have sufficient mechanical proper ties for the fabrication of swollen membranes, sheets, tubes, etc. Mem branes have been identified which allowed the rapid simultaneous count ercurrent diffusion of glucose (M-n = 180 Da) and insulin (M-n = 5733 Da) but did not allow albumin (Mn similar to 60,000 Da) to pass. Evide ntly, the effective molecular weight cutoff point of these membranes i s in the 6-60-KDa range. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.