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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jun 5.
Published in final edited form as: Adv Exp Med Biol. 2010;670:104–125. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419-5786-3_10

Table 2.

Advantages and disadvantages of polymer and inorganic nanoporous membranes

Membrane
Material		 Advantages Disadvantages
Polymer

  1. Circular pore geometry

  2. High pore density

  3. Biocompatible

  4. Inexpensive

  1. Broad pore size distribution

  2. Broad thickness distribution

  3. Thick membrane
Silicon

  1. Tight pore size distribution

  2. Tight thickness distribution

  3. Proven fabrication of channel widths as small as 10 nm

  4. Thin membrane

  5. Biocompatible

  1. Low pore density

  2. Rectangular pores

  3. Expensive
Alumina

  1. Tight pore size distribution

  2. Tight thickness distribution

  3. Circular pore geometry

  4. Inexpensive

  1. Thick membrane

  2. Fabrication of pore diameters as small as 10 nm has not been proven

  3. Biocompatibility unclear
Titania

  1. Tight pore size distribution

  2. Tight thickness distribution

  3. Circular pore geometry

  4. Biocompatible

  5. Material is FDA approved for implant into the peritoneal cavity

  6. Inexpensive

  1. A thin membrane has not yet been proven to be adequately mechanically robust

  2. Fabrication of pore diameters as small as 10 nm has not been proven