Membrane Transport Mechanisms in Industry and Medicine

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Membrane Transport Mechanisms in Industry and
Medicine
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Membrane Technologies

• Technology uses natural systems as a model for
  building efficient manufactured systems.
• Advancement in medicine and Industry has largely
  been due to research into the structure and
  function of the cell membrane.

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Membrane Technologies

• Membrane technology involves the research and
  development of synthetic materials to function
  like the cell membrane

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Recognition Proteins

• Proteins in the membrane that allow cells to
  recognize other cells
• Examples Egg and sperm cells, Immune system
  recognition of specific viruses, bacteria or
  early stage cancer cells

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Receptor Proteins
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Receptor Proteins

• Receptor Proteins bind with specific molecules
  that trigger a response such as receptor mediated
  endocytosis
• Proteins in the membrane have sugar groups
  attached to them that help identify the virus or
  bacteria
• Certain viruses also use this process to target
  human cells HIV,Hepatitis, and Influenza

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Membrane Properties

• Membrane Technologies look at developing and
  testing drug therapies involving recognition and
  receptor proteins

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Membrane Properties

• Importance of determining the 3-D shape of
  certain molecules
• Lock-and-key fit between molecule and receptor
  protein
• Locking out the virus by blocking the receptor
• Reduces effects of medications that affect
  healthy cells

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Cancer Research

• Looking at the possibility of identifying
  membrane proteins unique to cancer cells
• developing a possible drug specific to those
  proteins which could possibly identify cancer
  cells to be destroyed by the bodies immune system
• animation

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Synthetic Membrane Technology
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Liposomes

• specially designed vesicles fluid-filled sacs
  that have a phospholipid bilayer containing water
  soluble medications.

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Liposomes

• The membrane can be manipulated to attach and
  release their contents in specifically targeted
  cells.
• Causes less damage to healthy cells.
• Used in HIV and cancer treatments
• Have the ability to circulate in the blood system
  much longer than the medication would on its own

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Gene Therapy

• Liposomes used like viruses
• Contain DNA that once injected into the cell will
  produce toxins that will kill the cancerous cell
• animation

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Transport of Protein Hormones

• Insulin
• a hormone released into blood when elevated
  levels of sugar are detected in the pancreas.
  Insulin binds to receptors in liver, muscle and
  fat cells, triggering a response in these cells
  to take in glucose
• diabetes pill stimulates the production of more
  insulin or increases cell sensitivity to insulin
  for people with Type II Diabetes

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Diabetes

• Type I Diabetes
• cant produce insulin
• have to take insulin injections to help regulate
  blood sugar levels
• Type II Diabetes
• Pancreas produces insulin but receptors on the
  cell membrane are defective and so the cells
  wont take in much sugar
• Diabetes Animation (blausen.com)

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Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis

• The kidneys filter the blood to remove waste
  products, toxins, and excess fluid - maintaining
  its natural balance (homeostasis).
• When the kidneys fail the blood must still be
  filtered in some way or the person will die.
• The filtering processes involved rely on the
  principles of diffusion and osmosis

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Peritoneal Dialysis

• The peritoneum (the membrane that lines the
  abdominal cavity) is used as a natural filter.
• Fluid containing water, glucose and ions
  (dialysate) is pumped into peritoneal cavity .
• Waste materials will move down their
  concentration gradient and into the dialysate.
• The dialysate and waste products can then be
  removed from the body.
• This treatment can be done at home
• animation

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Peritoneal Dialysis
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Hemodialysis

• Blood is removed from the body, filtered in a
  special machine and then returned to the body.
  This procedure is only available in a health
  facility.
• animation

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Reverse Osmosis

• Forcing water against the concentration gradient
  to filter out the impurities
• Desalination of sea water