Membraanis

Membraanis are barrier structures designed to imitate the function of natural membranes and to provide customized permeability in both biological and technological contexts. They can be natural, partially synthetic, or fully synthetic and are used to create distinct compartments, regulate transport, and protect sensitive components.

In terms of composition, membraanis typically combine lipid-based layers with synthetic polymers, peptides, or proteins to form flexible, semi-permeable barriers. Common architectures include lipid bilayers supported on polymer templates, polymeric vesicles, and hybrid systems that integrate inorganic or nanomaterial components to enhance stability or functionality. The exact arrangement determines properties such as thickness, fluidity, charge, and permeability.

Fabrication methods are diverse and include self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules, solvent evaporation and rehydration to form vesicles, Langmuir–Blodgett or Langmuir–Schaefer deposition for thin films, and layer-by-layer assembly. Microfluidic techniques enable precise control over size, composition, and lamellarity, while electroformation and solvent-assisted assembly are used to produce defect-free membranes for experimental study.

Common applications span medicine, sensing, and materials science. In medicine, membraanis function as models of cellular membranes, as drug delivery vehicles, or as protective barriers for enzymes and bioactive compounds. In sensing and diagnostics, their selective permeability supports controlled analyte transport and signal transduction. In materials science, they serve as components of organ-on-a-chip devices, filtration systems, and responsive coatings.

Research challenges include achieving long-term stability, reproducibility, and compatibility with living systems, as well as scalable production and integration with other technologies.