Current Trends and Future Developments on Bio-membranes ― Membrane Processes in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Field

Current Trends and Future Developments on (Bio-) Membranes: Membrane Processes in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Field presents in a comprehensive way the main membrane techniques: basic principles, mode of operations and applications. The book presents well-known techniques like ultrafiltration for purification of antibiotic broths, DNA, microfiltration for cell recycle and harvesting, virus removal and virus purification. It also includes membrane chromatography which is increasingly developed and used for the purification and polishing of different biomolecular species, including purification of monoclonal antibodies and DNA, virus capture and emerging membrane technologies, which are finding their way into the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Membrane emulsification and liquid membranes are reported for concentration and separation of biochemical compounds like amino acids, organic acids and antibiotics and chiral resolution. Membrane bioreactors and their applications in chemical synthesis and protein hydrolysis are also discussed as well as solvent resistant nanofiltration for the extraction of drugs and natural compounds. The last part of the book reviews drug delivery with membranes systems, including nanocapsules and liposomes, which are surrounded respectively by a polymeric or lipid membrane and are increasingly used for therapeutic treatments with many new forms emerging. Bilayer lipid membranes are also receiving increased attention as model systems of drug permeation through biomembranes.

• Offers an overview of classical membrane-based separation techniques such as ultrafiltration, microfiltration and virus filtration
• Discusses emerging membrane-based separation techniques such as nofiltration in the presence of solvent, membrane emulsification and membrane crystallization
• Outlines their applications to bioseparation, biopurification and bioproduction
• Includes examples in the production of vaccines, antibiotics, biomolecules, drugs, DNA and cells
• Lists membranes systems for drug delivery like liposomes, nanocapsules and bilayer membranes