SPECIALIZED MEMBRANES FOR CONCENTRATION OF GASTRIC PEPTIDES

CURRENT SYSTEMS FOR CONCENTRATION OF GASTRIC PEPTIDES FROM RATS AND DOGS RELY ON REGENERATED CELLULOSE MEMBRANES THAT ARE IMPLANTED INTO THE STOMACH WALL. THESE MEMBRANES BLOCK ADSORPTION OF THE PEPTIDES THEY ARE DESIGNED TO CARRY; ONLY 5 TO 30 PERCENT OF THE BULK CONCENTRATION IS OBSERVED. THIS RESEARCH PROGRAM WILL DEVELOP A NEW MEMBRANE THAT DEMONSTRATES ENHANCED PERMEATION TO CHARGED PEPTIDES, SUCH AS GASTRIN-RELEASING PEPTIDE, GRP-10, PERMITTING HIGHER PERMEATION AND LONGER LIFETIME OF THE MEMBRANE IN THE STOMACH ENVIRONMENT. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUITABLE MEMBRANE SUBSTRATE, SUCH AS POLYSULFONE, DESIGNED TO SPECIFIED SIZE TO ENHANCE PERMEATION OF THE BULKY PROTEINS. IN ADDITION, LOW-TEMPERATURE PLASMA TREATMENT OF THE MEMBRANE WILL IMPARTDESIRABLE CHEMICAL FUNCTIONALITY TO ENHANCE PERMEATION OF HIGHLY POLAR SPECIES.