Molecule Sorting: Antibody membrane lends a hand

Many drug molecules exist in mirror-image versions. Often, only one form carries out the intended medical mission?and sometimes the other causes side effects. Now, a new high-tech filter might make it easier to separate mixes into their mirror-image components.

HOLEY SEPARATION. An alumina molecule-sorting membrane, 40 micrometers thick, has pores just 35 nanometers wide.