Self-organized hybrid membranes forming anionic and cationic permeation paths for the transport of biological solutes

Thin supported films based on hybrid siloxane materials containing different organic receptors: propyl, amino, urea and/or 15-crown-5 were synthesized by sol–gel process. They have been characterized by ATR-infrared spectroscopy, SEM and contact angle measurements. Their transport properties provide evidence of the key-role of these receptors as well as their organization into the dense inorganic network. Self-organized urea-based membranes with or without macrocycle moved Na2ATP solute in defined transport conditions. A mechanism was proposed in which an electrical potential-dependant alkali salt concentration gradient could mediate this large biological solute.