Micropatterning of a PSF electrospun anti-biofouling membrane for water filtration via Hot Embossing

One of the most ambitious goals of the last decades is increasing drinkable water availability in poor countries. Among a number of strategies for water treatment, pressure-driven filtration using polymeric membranes is a promising approach as it is green, scalable, and cheap. However, there are some major limitations. Membrane fouling is a critical issue in water filtration as it limits the efficiency and durability of membranes; strategies against the effect of several types of fouling have been studied by many research groups so far. Biofouling is the unwanted formation and growth of a biofilm, and the prevention of this phenomenon needs to be tackled to get performant membranes; among various ways of inhibiting biofouling, bioinspired micro- and nanopatterns have been found to be really effective, so structuring the surfaces of membranes could be a non-selective method for discouraging bacteria proliferation to achieve better performances and increase their durability. Membranes, as well as antibiofouling and antibacterial surfaces, need to be tested. In the present work, the developing of a method for Water Contact Angle measuring without a goniometer, and a standard procedure for curing Poly Ethylene Glycol Diacrylate and Poly Propylene Glycol Diacrylate for antibacterial tests, were found. The developing of a procedure for molding polymers for analysis of an antibacterial bioinspired nanopattern has been initiated; the optimization of Hot Embossing (HE) processes for engraving a micro- and a nanopattern on microporous Polysulfone (PSF) mats obtained by electrospinning was carried out.