Nucleopore filter

A nucleopore filter (brand name Nuclepore) is a kind of filter in which holes a few micrometres in size have been created in a plastic (e.g. polycarbonate) membrane. These filters are generally created by exposing the membrane to radiation that weakens the plastic and creates specific areas that can be removed by dousing the membrane in acid (or other chemicals). The technique and patent was developed by P. Buford Price et al. as an outgrowth of his cosmic ray research. The technique allows for creating uniform holes of any desired diameter to allow even a virus to be filtered.

The most common use of nucleopore filters is in microbiology where they are used to trap cells while removing all other fluids and smaller particles.