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Tshetiz Dahal,
- General Physician and Clinical Researcher, Department of Medicine and Surgery,Lugansk State Medical University, Lypnia St. Rivne, Ukraine
Abstract
The development of multifunctional ultrafiltration membranes for simultaneous controlled drug delivery and viral removal has gained considerable attention in biomedical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and water purification. Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes offer excellent thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability; however, their hydrophobicity can limit permeability, antifouling performance, and biocompatibility. This study proposes the fabrication of PES–graphene oxide (GO) ultrafiltration membranes using the phase inversion technique, with systematic variation of GO concentration to optimize membrane performance. Physicochemical characterization will include scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurements, and tensile testing to evaluate morphology, functional groups, surface roughness, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties, respectively. Water permeability and pore structure will also be assessed. Drug loading and controlled release will be investigated using a model therapeutic compound under simulated physiological conditions, while viral removal efficiency will be evaluated using an appropriate viral surrogate under standardized ultrafiltration conditions. GO incorporation is anticipated to enhance hydrophilicity, water flux, mechanical stability, drug loading, and sustained release while improving viral rejection through size-exclusion and electrostatic interactions. Statistical analysis will identify the optimal GO concentration balancing permeability, drug release, and viral removal. Overall, PES–GO membranes are expected to provide a promising multifunctional platform integrating therapeutic delivery and pathogen filtration for potential biomedical, pharmaceutical, and water purification applications.
Keywords: Polyethersulfone; Graphene Oxide; Ultrafiltration Membrane; Drug Delivery; Virus Removal; Phase Inversion; Controlled Release; Membrane Engineering.
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International Journal of Membranes
| Volume | 03 | |
| 02 | ||
| Received | 09/06/2026 | |
| Accepted | 22/09/2026 | |
| Published | 05/10/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 118 Days |