Page 34 - Search ""

Liposomes are vesicles consisting of an aqueous core inside a hydrophobic membrane bilayer that can be used as a carrier system. They present a promising tool for the delivery of pharmaceutical agents and compounds that typically are unable to diffuse across membrane barriers. Production of liposomes allows for the incorporation of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds into their structure for targeted delivery, enabling use in diagnostics, gene therapy, vaccines, cosmetics, and cancer treatment. In fact, multiple liposomal formulations of cancer therapies have already been introduced on the market.¹ Potential applications extend well past drug delivery – from food production and nutritional supplements to environmental remediation.^2,3

Liposomes can be prepared using extrusion, wherein a lipid suspension is forced through a microporous membrane filter over multiple passes. The membrane pore size and operating conditions determine the liposome sizes created in this process. Track-etched

Join Sterlitech's membrane and process development scientists for a live webinar presentation on our membrane test skids.
We will be discussing how our customizable test skids can enable you to explore new filtration applications in the lab. This webinar will provide an overview of the features and applications of the product line, with a special focus on our multi-functional Convertible Test Skid. We will also have plenty of time for Q&A after the presentation and look forward to answering any questions.

Click here to sign up and learn more about our speakers!

We have observed a growing need in the research community for a high pressure stirred cell to test 25 mm membrane discs. The Membrane Area Reducer was developed in collaboration with Christopher M. Stafford, PhD. and Chris Amigo , Machinist, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to add more versatility to our standard HP4750 high pressure stirred cell. Researchers are now able to test 25 or 47 mm discs in the cell with relative ease.

A smaller membrane disc diameter is ideal in the following research applications:

Fabrication of new membranes

Researchers may prefer to test the membranes in a cell with small membrane active area initially. Casting large areas of homogenous membranes at lab-scale production is challenging, whereas testing smaller disks ensure membrane homogeneity across the active area.

Membrane surface modifications

Researchers who modify the membrane surface using plasma, UV radiation, vapor deposition, or one of the many other techniques with lab-size

When selecting the right membrane for a microfiltration application, one of the most important factors to consider is membrane wettability. While hydrophobic membrane filters are ideal for air and gas filtration, they are not suitable for filtering aqueous solutions. Hydrophilic membrane filters, on the other hand, are commonly used for clarification and sterilization of water-based fluids but are not typically used for venting applications.

To conceptualize the forces contributing to membrane wettability, you can start by thinking of a water drop on a material’s surface.

(Yuan & Lee, 2013)

When the electrostatic attraction between the water molecules and the material is greater than the attraction between the water molecules themselves, the water drop will spread out. Here, the instantaneous angle between the edge of the drop and the surface, the water contact angle, will be <90°. Such materials are called hydrophilic, literally meaning “water loving”. The more hydrophilic

Sterlitech has recently discontinued sale of the MS7-Pro Analog Magnetic Stirrer from Scilogex. For fans of the MS7 model, we recommend the MS7-H550-Pro Hotplate Stirrer. 

If you're looking for a comparable stirrer (and don't need the heating function), we still have a selection to choose from in the Magnetic Stirrers & Hotplates section of our website. We are happy to assist with finding the right stir plate for your lab - please contact us with any questions!

In a joint effort to address our customers’ growing need for a Forward Osmosis (FO) membrane module that has a larger membrane active area compared to our flat sheet FO modules, but has a smaller membrane active area than the Aquaporin Inside HFFO2 module, Sterlitech is now pleased to announce the launch of Aquaporin Inside HFFO06 hollow fiber FO membrane module.

Aquaporin Inside HFFO06 hollow fiber FO membrane module has a 0.6 m² membrane active area and can be operated with lower volumes of feed and draw solutions compared to the Aquaporin Inside HFFO2 hollow fiber FO membrane module with a 2.3 m² membrane active area, making this a perfect fit for lab scale testing and small-scale production.

Membrane active layer in these HF membranes is composed of a thin film composite with integrated aquaporin proteins. Use of HF membranes allows higher packing density (i.e. higher membrane active area) in the module.

Applications of Aquaporin Inside HFFO06 hollow fiber FO membrane module:

• Forward

Sterlitech Kato-Katz Test Kits are designed for diagnostic use in the field. Our kit was developed in response to difficulty among research groups, control programs, and health organizations to readily source the materials needed for this testing. Field scientists utilize Kato-Katz tests to identify the presence of parasitic Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) eggs in fecal samples from infected patients. It can be used to diagnose individual infection and monitor disease prevalence across communities for epidemiological studies. Compared to other diagnostic methods, the Kato-Katz technique offers the benefit of sample preservation, enabling field samples to be stored for later study.¹ It complements the Sterlitech Schistosome Test Kit, which detects parasitic Schistosome worm eggs in urine.

STH worm infections affect a substantial portion of the world’s population living in warm and moist climates with limited access to clean water and sanitation services. When eggs are ingested, or hookworm

Groundwater is a vital natural resource; it provides drinking, household, and irrigation water across the country and the world. Over half of the United States population relies on groundwater as their drinking water source.¹ Unfortunately, in some geographical regions, groundwater supplies are at risk of depletion and contamination. Pollutants can originate from septic systems, landfills, underground oil and gas tanks, and various atmospheric contaminants. Emerging issues to assess in groundwater testing are the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, sea water intrusion, and microplastics accumulation.  

In the US, organizations like the US Geological Survey (USGS) sample and analyze groundwater to monitor water availability and water quality. Scientists run tests on the physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of groundwater sources, and use this data to monitor and forecast how these factors might be impacted by increasing human consumption and climate change.

Mixed cellulose

Sterlitech is pleased to partner with the Pasteur Paris research team, who is using our gold-coated polycarbonate and aluminum oxide membrane filters in their exciting research for this year’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. Team Pasteur’s project, called NeuronArch, seeks to improve outcomes of surgical prothesis implants.

After surgery, microbes like S. aureus can colonize implants and form surface biofilms – these rare but severe infections are hard to treat with antibiotics, and often require removal of the implant to cure completely (1). One avenue of preventing this problem is to combat biofilm accumulation. However, the NeuronArch project aims to subvert the biofilm instead of fighting it. Their goal is to coat the implant with a genetically modified lab-grown E. coli, to serve as an interface between the synthetic prosthesis and organic tissues. This controlled biofilm would work to promote neural connections while preventing colonization by

Sterlitech Glass Filter Holders are available in a variety of sizes to accommodate most filtration applications, ranging from milliliters to liters of solution. Glass filter holders are reusable, easy to clean and sterilize, and enable precise filtration. They are recommended for use with polymeric Membrane Disc Filters to perform particulate collection and fluid filtration. Applying vacuum reduces process time compared to gravity flow.

Compared to other vacuum filter holders suited for coarse filtration (i.e. Buchner funnels), Glass Filter Holders form a tight seal with the membrane to ensure all fluid passes through its pores.

A typical holder apparatus consists of:

• glass base
• membrane support (glass frit, stainless steel, or PTFE)
• glass funnel
• rubber adaptor
• aluminum clamp

Glass frit supports are ideal for filtering acidic solutions, while stainless steel support screens offer the faster flow rate with viscous solutions. PTFE-coated supports provide the best of both worlds. Many