COF-based membranes for liquid phase separation: Preparation, mechanism and perspective

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a new kind of crystalline porous materials composed of organic molecules connected by covalent bonds, processes the characteristics of low density, large specific surface area, adjustable pore size and structure, and easy to functionalize, which have been widely used in the field of membrane separation technology. Recently, there are more and more researches focusing on the preparation methods, separation application, and mechanism of COF membranes, which need to be further summarized and compared. In this review, we primarily summarized several conventional preparation methods, such as two-phase interfacial polymerization, in-situ growth on substrate, unidirectional diffusion method, layer-by-layer assembly method, mixed matrix membranes, and so on. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are briefly summarized. The application potential of COF membrane in liquid separation are introduced from four aspects: dyeing wastewater treatment, heavy metal removal, seawater desalination and oil-water separation. Then, the mechanisms including pore structure, hydrophilic/hydrophobic, electrostatic repulsion/attraction and Donnan effect are introduced. For the efficient removal of different kind of pollutions, researchers can select different ligands to construct membranes with specific pore size, hydrophily, salt or organic rejection ability and functional group. The ideas for the design and preparation of COF membranes are introduced. Finally, the future direction and challenges of the next generation of COF membranes in the field of separation are prospected.

RNA-seeded membraneless bodies: Role of tandemly repeated RNA

Membraneless organelles (bodies, granules, etc.) are spatially distinct sub-nuclear and cytoplasmic foci involved in all the processes in a living cell, such as development, cell death, carcinogenesis, proliferation, and differentiation. Today the list of the membraneless organelles includes a wide spectrum of intranuclear and cytoplasmic bodies. Proteins with intrinsically disordered regions are the key players in the membraneless body assembly. However, recent data assume an important role of RNA molecules in the process of the liquid-liquid phase separation. High-level expression of RNA above a critical concentration threshold is mandatory to nucleate interactions with specific proteins and for seeding membraneless organelles. RNA components are considered by many authors as the principal determinants of organelle identity. Tandemly repeated (TR) DNA of big satellites (a TR family that includes centromeric and pericentromeric DNA sequences) was believed to be transcriptionally silent for a long period. Now we know about the TR transcription upregulation during gameto- and embryogenesis, carcinogenesis, stress response. In the review, we summarize the recent data about the involvement of TR RNA in the formation of nuclear membraneless granules, bodies, etc., with different functions being in some cases an initiator of the structures assembly. These RNP structures sequestrate and inactivate different proteins and transcripts. The TR induced sequestration is one of the key principles of nuclear architecture and genome functioning. Studying the role of the TR-based membraneless organelles in stress and disease will bring some new ideas for translational medicine.

Ultrasonic modulation of phase separation and corrosion resistance for ternary Cu-Sn-Bi immiscible alloy

The effect of power ultrasound on the liquid phase separation of ternary Cu-32%Sn-20%Bi immiscible alloy is experimentally investigated, which shows that as compared with the layered structure formed under static condition, the macrosegregation resulted from liquid phase separation is remarkably reduced with the increase of ultrasonic amplitude. A homogenous microstructure characterized by refined (Bi) particles dispersing uniformly on the (Cu₃Sn) matrix is obtained when the ultrasonic amplitude reaches the highest value of 24 μm. This is mainly ascribed to the ultrasonically induced cavitation and acoustic streaming, which promotes the nucleation, the fragmentation, and the dispersion of (Bi) droplets. The finally solidified immiscible alloy exhibits obvious improvements in electrochemical corrosion resistance, microhardness and wear-resisting if compared with those in static solidification. These results prove that applying power ultrasound is an effective way to modulate the liquid phase separation and enhance the applied performance for immiscible alloys.

Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation of Oil Bodies from Seeds

Fundamentally, oil bodies are discrete storage organelles found in oilseeds, comprising a hydrophobic triacylglycerol core surrounded by a half-unit phospholipid membrane and an outer shell of specialized proteins known as oleosins. Oil bodies possess a number of attributes that were exploited by SemBioSys Genetics to isolate highly enriched fractions of oil bodies through liquid-liquid phase separation for a number of commercial applications. The current chapter provides a general guide for the isolation of oil bodies from Arabidopsis and/or safflower seed, from which protocols can be refined for different oilseed sources. For SemBioSys Genetic's recombinant technology, therapeutic proteins were covalently attached to oleosins or fused in-frame with ligands which bound oil bodies, facilitating their recovery to high levels of purity during "upstream processing" of transformed seed. Core to this technology was oil body isolation consisting of simple manipulation including homogenization of seeds to free the oil bodies, followed by the removal of insoluble fractions, and phase separation to recover the oil bodies. During oil body enrichment (an increase in oil body content concomitant with removal of impurities), a number of options and tips are provided to aid researchers in the manipulation and monitoring of these robust organelles.