Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new generation of biomimetic membranes for water treatment and drug delivery.

The highly permeable and selective membranes are based on the incorporation of the functional water channel protein Aquaporin Z into a novel A-B-A triblock copolymer.

The experimental membranes, currently in the form of vesicles, show significantly higher water transport than existing reverse-osmosis membranes used in water purification and desalination. They are based on the method that kidneys use to efficiently transport water through a membrane.