Polyethylene glycol 600

Water, acetonitrile (ACN), and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) were Optima Grade purchased from Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hampton, NH, USA). Calibration mixture including angiotensin II, bovine insulin, polyethylene glycol 600, and MALDI matrices 2′,5′-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHA), 3,5-dimethoxy 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (sinapinic acid, SA), and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated conductive glass microscope slides were purchased from Bruker Daltonics (Billerica, MA, USA). Sequencing grade trypsin was purchased from Promega (Madison, WI, USA). Accu-Edge low profile blades (4689) were purchased from VWR (Radnor, PA, USA).

Polysulfone (PSf, Udel^® P-1700, MW = 67,000 g mol⁻¹, Solvay) and polyethersulfone (PES, 3000 P, MW = 58,000 g mol⁻¹, Merck) were dried overnight in an oven at 80 °C. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP, ≥99.5%, MW = 99.13 g mol⁻¹), polyethylene glycol 600 (PEG 600, MW = 570 g mol⁻¹), 1,4-phenylenediamine (PPD, ≥99%, MW = 108.14 g mol⁻¹), 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride (TMC, 98%, MW = 265.47 g mol⁻¹), n-hexane (ACS grade, ≥96%, MW = 86.18 g mol⁻¹) were all purchased from Merck & Co., Darmstadt, Germany. The sodium chloride (NaCl, MW = 58.44 g mol⁻¹) was purchased from Hamburg Chemicals, Hamburg, Germany.

Polyphenylsulfone (PPSu) was kindly supplied by Solvay Advanced Polymers, Milano, Italy, and served as the main polymer matrix for the fabrication of the membranes. Polyethylene glycol-600, magnesium sulfate, sodium sulfate, sodium hydroxide, potassium chloride, sodium azide, and glycerol were obtained from Merck, Rahway, NJ, USA and used as received. Chlorosulfonic acid, an important reagent in the synthesis of sulfonated polyphenylenesulfone (SPPSu), was also obtained from Merck, Rahway, NJ, USA. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which played a crucial role in enhancing the properties of the membranes, were obtained from Sigma–Aldrich, Rahway, NJ, USA. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a surfactant, was also obtained from Sigma–Aldrich and used in the membrane preparation process. N-Methyl Pyrrolidone and dichloromethane were sourced from SD Fine-Chem Limited, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India, and used as solvents in the synthesis and processing of the membranes. Millipore MQ purified water was used for the experiments and to prepare the gelation bath, ensuring the purity of the water used in the membrane fabrication process.

The green seaweed Ulva intestinalis was collected from the coast of Farahabad, Mazandaran province, Iran, in September 2019. Then, the fresh seaweeds were washed using seawater, followed by tap water, and dried at 60℃. The dried seaweeds were pulverized with a blender, sieved (<0.4mm), and stored in a plastic bag at −20℃. Glycerol, polyethylene glycol 600, acetone, and ethanol of 96% purity were purchased from Merck Corporation (Readington Township, NJ, USA).