Biomolecule assemblies and associated methods

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin, wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is ext

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention concerns biomolecule assemblies and associated methods and uses. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns methods of manufacturing an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin, wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly. The invention also concerns assemblies comprising (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly, and wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I as defined herein. Background of the Invention Biomolecules are a class of molecules that may be produced by living organisms, although they may also be produced synthetically. Biomolecules include large macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as smaller molecules. Biomolecules typically have a function which may be related to their structure. However, biomolecules may be fragile, and they can easily lose their function when exposed to harsh conditions (such as extremes of temperature or pH etc.) For example, proteins may become denatured or may aggregate when exposed to such harsh conditions, which may cause those proteins to lose their function. Such loss of function of a protein (or other biomolecule) can be irreversible and thus should be avoided if it is desired that the protein or biomolecule in question retains functionality. Biomolecules may also be utilised outside of living organisms within assemblies wherein the functional activity of the biomolecule is the basis of or is related to the function of the assembly. For example, a biosensor is a device that utilises biomolecules, such as enzymes, antibodies or nucleic acids to detect the presence of a specific substance (analyte) and then convert this detection into a measurable signal. As will be appreciated, if the biomolecule within such a biosensor partially or completely loses its functional activity, then the activity of the biosensor will be impaired. An example of such a biosensor is provided in US 2024 / 0124943 which describes a single-stranded nucleic acid aptamer capable of simultaneous detection of seven Cronobacter species and a biosensor comprising such a nucleic acid. A further example of an assembly which utilises a biomolecule is a biomimetic membrane. A biomimetic membrane is a specialized type of membrane designed and fabricated by imitating the composition, structure, formation process, and / or functions of biological membranes found in living organisms. These membranes take inspiration from natural systems and aim to replicate their properties for specific applications. For example, such biomimetic membranes may be used in filtration processes, e.g. the filtration of water, such as for the separation of water from contaminants or the desalination of sea water or brackish water. In the above applications, it would be desirable to ensure that the biomolecule retains its function to the greatest extent possible, both when manufacturing the assembly and when the assembly comprising the biomolecule is exposed to environmental conditions which would normally lead to the deactivation / loss of function of the biomolecule. Furthermore, it would be desirable to avoid or reduce environmental contamination when utilising the assemblies and to provide improved methods of manufacturing such assemblies. The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin, wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly; and wherein said method comprises the steps of: i) providing a biomolecule and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin; ii) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms the barrier between the biomolecule and the environment. In a second aspect, the present invention provides an assembly obtainable by the method of the first aspect. In a third aspect, the present invention provides an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a membrane assembly, for example a filtration membrane assembly, comprising: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly; and wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and the environment which is external to said assembly. In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a method of protecting a biomolecule comprising the steps of: (i) providing said biomolecule and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin and (ii) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms a barrier between the biomolecule and an environment external to said biomolecule. In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a use of a cured epoxy resin as a barrier to protect a biomolecule from an environment external to said biomolecule. It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the methods and uses of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the assemblies of the invention and vice versa. Description of the Drawings Figure 1 Reaction diagram of crosslinking acrylic acid with MBA with Irgacure 2959 as the photo initiator. Figure 2 Development and testing of the double labelling strategy on biomimetic membranes. Panel A shows two sets of double-labelled aquaporin incorporated vesicles coated on a PAA layer and sandwiched under a second PAA layer. Panel B shows another set of coupons where double labelled aquaporin incorporated vesicles sandwiched between a PAA layer (bottom) and a PEG layer (top) and Panel C shows a set of coupons in which the vesicles are between two PEG layers. The green signal on the coupons corresponds to the Green fluorescent protein GFP fused to RsAquaporin and the red signal is from a fluorescent dye crosslinked with primary amines from as many as 27 lysine residues in each monomer of the aquaporin tetramer. Figure 3 Schematic of the PEG-based hydrogel coating. Figure 4 Schematic of the process to create a biomimetic membrane using UV-curing with PEGMA and PEGDA to hold the AQP vesicles on membrane surface. Figure 5 Spraying of double labelled vesicles. Panel A shows a coupon containing double labelled aquaporin incorporated vesicles being coated on a PSF support via the spray method then coated with PEG hydrogel and excited at wavelengths suitable for GFP and the fluorescent dye. Panel B shows the colocalization (top panel) of both channels showing yellow signal which implies the folded GFP pixels overlap with the fluorescent dye labelling of the primary amines. The bottom panel depicts the colocalization scatter plot showing the coverage. Figure 6 Biomimetic membranes by spraying 0.5 mL of biomimetic solution a different number of times on the membrane surface. A PEG hydrogel was subsequently coated on top of the vesicles with a 12 pm wire rod and the UV box. The X-axis shows the number of 0.5mL sprays and whether the vesicles contained aquaporin or whether they were control vesicles. Pure water permeability measurements were taken at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 bar. Salt rejection results were done at 5 bar, with 250 ppm NaCl as the feed solution. Figure 7 PEI and PEGDE epoxy reaction chemistry Figure 8 lOkDa PSF membranes coated with PEI and PEGDE at different ratios. Water fluxes and salt rejections for the membranes were measured at 5, 10 or 20 bar in the Sterlitech high-pressure dead-end cell (“HP4750”). Figure 9A Proposed process to create a biomimetic membrane using heat to cure PEI and PEGDE to create a hydrogel to tether the aquaporin vesicles on the membrane. Figure 9B A schematic drawing of an embodiment of an assembly according to the present invention showing the support (1), an optional backing layer (2), the cured epoxy resin (3) and the membrane mimetic structures, in this case vesicles, (4), which comprise membrane proteins (5). Figure 10 A 20 square inch (130 cm2) sample of the membrane was sprayed with 2 mL of vesicles and then coated with 12 pm coating of 10% PEI &30% PEGDE. After coating, the samples were put into 45°C oven for 15 minutes, and then a water bath. Each bar represents 8 different membranes that were coated and tested (24 membranes total in the graph). PS membrane with 23 kDa MWCO was used for all the tests. Salt rejection was measured at 5 bar, and crossflow PWP was measured at a pressure of ~2 bar (30 psi). Figure 11 Conditions for spraying double labelled aquaporin-based vesicles. Figure 12 Compiled membrane performance data when 1 kW IR lamp was used to cure epoxy coatings on the surface of 10 kDa PSF. Salt rejection measurements were conducted in a dead-end cell at 5 bar with 250 ppm NaCl as feed solution. Cross-flow pure water permeabilities (PWP) were measured for 1 hour at 2 bar of feed pressure. Error bars represent the standard deviation of two coupons. Figure 13 The images shown in panels A and C are processed fluorescent images of polysulfone membranes coated with double-labelled aquaporin vesicles with (panel A) and without (panel C) a top coating of a cured epoxy resin. Each sample was prepared in triplicate. The fluorescence images were taken at two different wavelengths (one for GFP and a different wavelength for the fluorescent dye). The GFP signal is used to confirm if the protein maintained the proper folded configuration and the fluorescent dye is used to confirm if the protein is still physically present (in an unfolded or a folded state). To the right of each fluorescence image, there is a bar chart (panels B and D) to show the percent coverage of each membrane coupon at both wavelengths. Figure 14 The images shown in panels A and C are processed fluorescent images of polysulfone membranes coated with double-labelled aquaporin vesicles with (panel A) and without (panel C) a top coating of a cured epoxy resin. The fluorescence images were taken at two different wavelengths as in Figure 13. The GFP signal is used to confirm if the protein maintained the proper folded configuration and the fluorescent dye is used to confirm if the protein is still physically present (in an unfolded or a folded state). To the right of each fluorescence image, there is a bar chart (panels B and D) to show the percent coverage of each membrane coupon at both wavelengths for the membrane coupons with (panel B) and without (panel D) an epoxy coating. All membrane coupons were irradiated with UV (8 mW / m2 and emission of 365 nm) for 10 minutes. Figure 15 The images shown in panels A, C and E are processed fluorescent images of epoxy and polysulfone membranes coated with double-labelled aquaporin vesicles soaked in different pHs. The fluorescence images were taken at two different wavelengths (as in figures 13 and 14). The GFP signal is used to confirm if the protein maintained the proper confirmation and the fluorescent dye is used to confirm if the protein is still present (unfolded / folded). For each panel, there is a bar chart (panels B, D and F respectively) to show the percent coverage of each coupon at both wavelengths and the accompanying processed images. Panels A and B show polysulfone coupons soaked in neutral water (pH 7), panels C and D show coupons soaked in acidic water (pH 2), and panels E and F shows coupons soaked in basic water (pH 11). All panels were soaked for 5 minutes. Figure 16 The image shown in panel A is a processed fluorescent image of polysulfone membranes without epoxy coated with double-labelled aquaporin vesicles soaking in different pHs. The fluorescence images were taken at two different wavelengths (as in Figures 13 to 15). The GFP signal is used to confirm if the protein maintained the proper confirmation and the fluorescent dye is used to confirm if the protein is still present (unfolded / folded). Panel B is a bar chart to show the percent coverage of each coupon at both wavelengths and the accompanying processed images. All panels were soaked for 5 minutes. Detailed Description The present invention provides methods of manufacturing an assembly comprising a biomolecule and a cured epoxy resin; assemblies comprising a biomolecule and a cured epoxy resin; membrane assemblies, for example filtration membrane assemblies, comprising a porous support, a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and a cured epoxy resin; methods of protecting a biomolecule using a cured epoxy resin and uses of a cured epoxy resin as a barrier to protect a biomolecule. The methods, assemblies and uses of the present invention are based in part on the observation by the present inventors that a cured epoxy resin, in particular a PEG-based cured epoxy resin and / or a cured epoxy resin produced from an epoxy resin dissolved in aqueous solvent, can advantageously provide a suitable environment for maintaining a biomolecule in a functionally active state. Accordingly, an advantage of embodiments of the invention is that the cured epoxy resin can prevent a loss of function of the biomolecule by protecting the biomolecule from an environmental condition (e.g. a temperature of >40°C, high or low pH or exposure to UV radiation) which could result in a loss of function of the biomolecule if the biomolecule were directly exposed to that condition. Furthermore, due to their native environment, biomolecules often require a hydrophilic / aqueous environment in order to maintain their structural integrity and their functionality. Accordingly, a further advantage of embodiments of the invention is that a PEG-based cured epoxy resin and / or a cured epoxy resin produced from an epoxy resin dissolved in aqueous solvent provide a suitable hydrophilic environment for the biomolecule. Such cured epoxy resins thus stabilise the biomolecule, e.g. by maintaining the hydrogen-binding network of the biomolecule. Similarly, biomolecules also often require an environment which has a neutral or near neutral pH in order to maintain their structural integrity and functionality. Accordingly, a further advantage of embodiments of the invention is that cured epoxy resins as described herein (in particular PEG-based cured epoxy resins) provide a neutral or near neutral pH environment for the biomolecule (e.g. a pH of from about 6 to about 8, for example of from about 6.5 to about 7.5). Further advantages of embodiments of the invention are that epoxy crosslinking can occur in water (thus allowing the epoxy resin to be dissolved in aqueous solvent) and use of a water-based chemistry is better environmentally since there are fewer environmentally damaging byproducts of the process than when using other (e.g. organic) solvents. A further advantage of embodiments of the invention is that, in the context of an assembly which is a filtration assembly comprising a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein, a cured epoxy resin which forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure and an external environment both protects the membrane protein and is also able to reject salt, which is useful in the context of filtration processes, e.g. water filtration processes. Methods of manufacturing an assembly In a first aspect, according to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin, wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly; and wherein said method comprises the steps of: i) providing a biomolecule and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin; ii) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms the barrier between the biomolecule and the environment. As used herein, an “epoxy resin” refers to a composition comprising monomers, pre-polymers or polymers which contain epoxide groups, i.e. the uncured epoxy resin. Such resins may also be referred to in the art as polyepoxides. As used herein, “cured” will be understood to mean that at least a portion of the epoxide group-containing species within the uncured resin have been subjected to a curing process which induces crosslinking of said species (via reaction of the epoxide groups), which results in a toughening or hardening of the resulting material (with the resulting material being referred to herein as a “cured epoxy resin”). Epoxy resins may be reacted (cross-linked) either with themselves through catalytic homopolymerisation, or with a wide range of co-reactants which are referred to herein as epoxy curing agents. In some embodiments, step (i) of said method further includes providing an epoxy curing agent. In some embodiments, step (i) of said method further includes providing an epoxy curing agent and step ii) further includes mixing said epoxy resin and said epoxy curing agent (which results in curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin). In some embodiments, said method further includes a step of applying the epoxy resin and the epoxy curing agent to said biomolecule. In some embodiments, the aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin has a pH which is approximately neutral, e.g. from about 5.5 to 8.5, e.g. from about 6 to about 8, e.g. from about 6.5 to 7.5, e.g. about pH 7. In some embodiments said biomolecule is comprised as part of a membrane mimetic structure. The reference to "membrane" in the term “membrane mimetic structure” as used herein refers to a biological membrane (also known as a biomembrane), i.e. a selectively permeable membrane that can, for example, separate the interior of a cell from the external environment. Such biological membranes are usually formed of a phospholipid bilayer. Thus, the term "membrane mimetic structure" as used herein refers to a structure which mimics the structure of a natural biological membrane, and thus could also be referred to as a biological membrane mimetic structure or a biomembrane mimetic structure. Examples of (bio)membrane mimetic structures include vesicles, for example lipid vesicles or polymersomes. As in a natural biological membrane, such (bio)membrane mimetic structures can incorporate membrane proteins, for example membrane proteins as described elsewhere herein. When a polymersome incorporates a membrane protein, it is referred to as a proteopolymersome. In some embodiments, said membrane mimetic structure is a vesicle, e.g. a lipid vesicle or a polymersome. A polymersome is a vesicle made from amphiphilic block copolymers which mimic the role of lipid molecules in conventional lipid vesicles. Use of an epoxy-based chemistry in the methods of the present invention when the biomolecule is comprised as part of a membrane mimetic structure such as a vesicle is advantageous because epoxy-based chemistry does not require free-radical initiation and is therefore not disturbed by the presence of membrane mimetic structures such as vesicles. In some embodiments, an amphiphilic block copolymer (as used for making polymersomes as described herein) comprises at least one hydrophilic block and at least one hydrophobic block, for example a diblock copolymer AB or BA, or a triblock copolymer ABA or ABC. In such a di- or triblock copolymer, the B block represents the hydrophobic block and the A block (and C block, when present) represent the hydrophilic block(s). A very wide range of hydrophilic polymers and hydrophobic polymers may form the blocks A and B (and C if present). Suitable hydrophobic polymers may include for example poly siloxanes, for example polydimethylsiloxane or polydiphenylsiloxane, perfluoropolyether, polystyrene, polyoxypropylene, polyvinylacetate, polyoxybutylene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polyvinylchloride, polyalkylacrylates, polyalkylmethacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene, polytetrahyrofuran, polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, polysulfones, polyvinylethers, and poly(propylene oxide), and copolymers thereof. The hydrophobic segment of a block copolymer as described herein contains a predominant amount of hydrophobic monomers. A hydrophobic monomer is a monomer that typically gives a homopolymer that is insoluble in water and can absorb less than 10% by weight of water. Suitable hydrophobic monomers may include for example dimethylsiloxanes, C1-C18 alkyl and C3-C18 cycloalkyl acrylates and methacrylates, C3-C18 alkylacrylamides and -methacrylamides, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl C1-C18 alkanoates, C2-C18 alkenes, C2-C18 haloalkenes, styrene, (lower alkyl)styrene, C4 C12 alkyl vinyl ethers, C2-C10 perfluoro-alkyl acrylates and methacrylates and correspondingly partially fluorinated acrylates and methacrylates, C3-C12 perfluoroalkylethylthiocarbonylaminoethyl acrylates and methacrylates, acryloxy- and methacryloxyalkylsiloxanes, N-vinylcarbazole, C1-C12 alkyl esters of maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl valerate, chloroprene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyltoluene, vinyl ethyl ether, perfluorohexyl ethylthiocarbonylaminoethyl methacrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, trifluoroethyl methacrylate, hexa-fluoroisopropyl methacrylate, hexafluorobutyl methacrylate, tristrimethylsilyloxysilylpropyl methacrylate, and 3-methacryloxypropylpentamethyldisiloxane. The hydrophobic portion of a block copolymer as described herein may include a single type of polymer or more than one type of polymer, such as two or more of those mentioned above. Typically, the hydrophobic portion of a block copolymer of an embodiment of the present invention includes only a single type of polymer. The mean molecular weight (g / mol) of one hydrophobic segment B within a block copolymer as described herein may range from about 400 to about 50,000, for example from about 400 to about 15,000, for example from about 500 to 5,000, for example from about 500 to about 3,000, for example from about 500 to about 1000. In an embodiment of this aspect, the B block is formed from a poly siloxane (for example polydimethylsiloxane or poly diphenylsiloxane), perfluoropolyether, polystyrene, polyoxypropylene, polyvinylacetate, polyoxybutylene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polyvinylchloride, a polyalkylacrylate, a polyalkylmethacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene, polytetrahyrofuran, a polymethacrylate, a polyacrylate, a polysulfone, a polyvinylether, or poly (propylene oxide). In an embodiment, the B block of a block copolymer as described herein is formed from a polysiloxane (for example polydimethylsiloxane or polydiphenylsiloxane) or polybutadiene, for example polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polybutadiene. In an embodiment of a block copolymer as described herein, the B block is formed from polybutadiene. In addition to the hydrophobic segment B, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein includes at least 1, for example 2, segments A (or an A segment and a C segment) which include at least one hydrophilic polymer, for example a hydrophilic polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyoxazoline (for example a (poly )2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline (PAOXA)), polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, poly(meth)acrylic acid, polyethylene oxide-co-polypropyleneoxide block copolymers, poly (vinylether), poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), polyacrylic acid, polyacyl alkylene imine, polyhydroxyalkylacrylates such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, and polyols, and copolymers thereof. The hydrophilic segment of a block copolymer as described herein contains a predominant amount of hydrophilic monomers. A hydrophilic monomer is a monomer that typically gives a homopolymer that is soluble in water or can absorb at least 10% by weight of water. Suitable hydrophilic monomers include hydroxy 1-substituted lower alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, acrylamide, methacrylamide, (lower alkyl) acrylamides and methacrylamides, N,N-dialkyl-acrylamides, ethoxylated acrylates and methacrylates, polyethyleneglycol-mono methacrylates and polyethyleneglycolmonomethylether methacrylates, hydroxyl-substituted (lower alkyl)acrylamides and methacrylamides, hydroxyl-substituted lower alkyl vinyl ethers, sodium vinylsulfonate, sodium styrenesulfonate, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, N-vinylpyrrole, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-vinyloxazoline, 2-vinyl-4,4’-dialkyloxazolin-5-one, 2- and 4-vinylpyridine, vinylically unsaturated carboxylic acids having a total of 3 to 5 carbon atoms, amino(lower alkyl)- (where the term amino also includes quaternary ammonium), mono(lower alkylamino)(lower alkyl) and di(lower alkylamino)(lower alkyl) acrylates and methacrylates, allyl alcohol. 3-trimethylammonium 2-hydroxypropylmethacrylate chloride (Blemer,QA, for example from Nippon Oil), dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), dimethylaminoethylmethacrylamide, glycerol methacrylate, and N-(l,l-dimethyl-3-oxobuty 1) acrylamide. Specific examples of hydrophilic monomers from which such polymers can be made are cyclic imino ethers (2-Ci-3alkyloxazoline, e.g. 2-methyloxazoline), vinyl ethers (for example methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether and methoxy ethyl vinyl ether), cyclic ethers including epoxides, cyclic unsaturated ethers, N-substituted aziridines, P-lactones and P- lactams. Further suitable monomers include ketene acetals, vinyl acetals and phosphoranes. Suitable cyclic imino ethers include 2-oxazoline. If a 2-oxazoline having an alkenyl group in 2 position is used as hydrophilic monomer, a polymerizable unsaturated group is provided within segment A (in a side chain) of the amphiphilic segmented copolymer to serve as the polymerizable unsaturated group necessary for the final polymerization to obtain a polymeric product or as an additional polymerizable unsaturated group which offers the possibility of direct crosslinking in the preparation of the polymer. The hydrophilic portion of a block copolymer as described herein may include a single type of polymer or more than one type of polymer, such as two or more of those mentioned above. Typically, in an embodiment, the hydrophilic portion of a block copolymer of the present invention includes only a single type of polymer. The mean molecular weight (g / mol) of one hydrophilic segment A (or C if present) may be in the range from about 150 to about 50,000, e.g. in the range from about 200 to about 15,000, from about 250 to 5,000, from about 300 to about 1,000, or from about 300 to 500. Synthesis of block copolymers by polymerisation is well known, and the length of the one or more segments which are to be copolymerized on the starting segment can be easily controlled by controlling the amount of monomer (hydrophilic or hydrophobic) which is added for the copolymerization, and / or by the addition of suitable chain-terminating capping agents. In this way the size of the segments and their ratio can easily be controlled. In an embodiment, the A block of a block copolymer as described herein is formed from a polyoxazoline (for example a (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline (PAOXA)), polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, poly(meth)acrylic acid, a polyethylene oxide-co-polypropyleneoxide block copolymer, poly(vinylether), poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), polyacrylic acid, polyacyl alkylene imine, a polyhydroxyalkylacrylate such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, or a polyol. In an embodiment, the A block of a block copolymer as described herein is formed from a polyoxazoline, for example a (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline (PAOXA)), for example poly 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (PMOXA). In a further embodiment, the A block of a block copolymer as described herein is formed from (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline (PAOXA) (for example PMOXA), and the B block is formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene (PB) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). In another embodiment, the A block of a block copolymer as described herein is formed from PAOXA (for example PMOXA), and the B block is formed from PB. The absolute and relative lengths of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks are important in determining the suitability of the copolymers for forming polymersomes (so called polymer hydrophobic ratio). Further, the length of the blocks should be such that the thickness of the polymer layer of the polymersome is broadly comparable with the length of the membrane protein so that the protein can be readily incorporated into the polymersome without the channel becoming blocked. In an embodiment, the lengths of the blocks within the block copolymers as described herein are chosen such that the thickness of the polymer layer is from about 4 to about 12 nm, for example about 5 to 10 nm, for example about 8 to 10 nm. The thickness may be measured by cryoTransmission Electron Microscopy (cryoTEM). CryoTEM is a microscopy method wherein nanoparticles are deposited on 3 mm diameter copper or gold circular grids are flash frozen i.e., vitrified in liquid ethane and stored below -180°C in liquid nitrogen. These grids under their frozen state are then transferred into a cryo holder, which is inserted into the cryo microscope. Under vacuum, the specimen is exposed to a highly collimated electron beam, which passes through the frozen vitreous ice, producing a transmission image on a digital camera below the column. The images are digitised and can be further processed using standard image processing algorithms. The length of the hydrophobic block B is particularly important, and this should be no greater than 200 repeat units, for example 100 or fewer repeat units, for example 50 or fewer repeat units, for example 20 or fewer repeat units. Therefore, in another embodiment, in a polymersome or proteopolymersome as described herein, the A block has 200 or fewer units and the B block has 200 or fewer units, for example the A block has 150 or fewer units and the B block has 150 or fewer units, for example the A block has 100 or fewer units and the B block has 100 or fewer units. For example, the A block has 2-75 units and the B block has 2-75 units, for example the A block has 2-50 units and the B block has 2-50 units, for example the A block has 3-40 units and the B block has 3-40 units. In an embodiment, the A block has 2-25 units and the B block has 5-25 units. In an embodiment, the A block has 2-20 units, or 2 to 10 units, for example 3 to 6 units. In an embodiment, the B block has 5 to 50 units, for example 10 to 40 units. In an embodiment, the A block has 2 to 8 units and the B block has 8 to 14 units. The choice of end groups for block copolymers as described herein may provide functionality for onward reaction of the polymer. Suitable functional groups may be present following initial synthesis of the copolymer or may be introduced following the copolymer synthesis. If not present following initial synthesis, it is possible to introduce an appropriate end group by suitable reactions at the end of the relevant block (to produce functional end groups). For this purpose, the polymerization of the growing segment may be terminated after a suitable chain length is reached and the initiator group present at the chain end capped. For example, capping using water will result in an -OH end group, while capping with an appropriate amine will lead to an amine end group. Alternatively, hydroxyl end groups can be converted to primary amine via a Mitsunobu reaction (Kuo et al., Journal of Polymer Science: Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 46, 3108-3119 (2008); Park et al., Macromolecules 2004, 37, 6786-6792). In a further alternative, amine end groups may be introduced using a method as described in US 3,758,636, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. Capping may also be carried out using any other desired terminator, and the required end group may be introduced using known chemistry. For example, termination may be carried out using KOH / MeOH or unsaturated groups at the end of the growing segment. The end group(s) may then be reacted using conventional chemistry to introduce the required groups. It is not necessary that all the block copolymer molecules used in the present invention should have reactive end groups. The proportion of block copolymer molecules having reactive end groups is not critical, provided that there are sufficient groups to react with reactive groups either in a second population of proteopolymersomes, the epoxy coating and / or on the surface of the support. For example, at least 10%, for example at least 20%, for example at least 30 %, for example at least 40%, for example up to 60%, or up to 100%, of the block copolymer molecules used in the invention may have reactive end groups. Similarly, it is not required that only one type of reactive end group is present. For example, blends of block copolymers may be used, one containing one reactive end group, for example an end group including an -NH2 group, and the second containing a different reactive end group. The end groups on any particular polymer molecule may be the same as each other, or they may be different, but preferably they are the same. For example, one end group may be a reactive end group, while the other end group may be a non-reactive group. The exact nature of the groups will depend on the desired reactivity of the block copolymers and vesicles formed from the block copolymers. Suitable reactive groups include for example amine groups (reactive with for example carboxylic acid, activated carboxylic acid and / or azide groups), carboxylic acid, activated carboxylic acid and / or azide groups (reactive with for example amine groups), thiol groups (reactive with for example alkene groups), hydroxyl groups (reactive with for example amine and alkyl halide groups), methacrylate groups (reactive with for example thiol and alkene groups), and “click chemistry” groups (for example azide or alkyne groups, which are respectively reactive with alkyne and azide groups). A wide variety of amine-based end groups is available, and these may contain -NH2 (primary amine) and / or NH (secondary amine) groups. In an embodiment, the A block of a block copolymer as described herein is a PAOXA comprising an end group selected from a carboxylic acid, an activated carboxylic acid, an alkyne, an amine, a hydroxyl, a thiol, a methacrylate, or an azide group. In an embodiment, the A block of a block copolymer as described herein is a PAOXA comprising an amine end group, for example a primary and / or a secondary amine group. In an embodiment, the A block of a block copolymer as described herein is a PAOXA comprising a primary amine end group. In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein comprises at least one hydrophilic block comprising poly(4-vinyl-N-methylpyridine iodide). In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein comprises at least one hydrophobic block comprising hydrogenated polybutadiene (HPBD). In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein comprises at least one hydrophilic block comprising poly(4-vinyl-N-methylpyridine iodide) and at least one hydrophobic block comprising hydrogenated polybutadiene (HPBD). In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein is the triblock copolymer HPBD-b-(poly(4-vinylpyridine)2s)2. In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein comprises at least one hydrophilic block comprising (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline. In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein comprises at least one hydrophobic block comprising polybutadiene. In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein comprises at least one hydrophilic block comprising (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline and at least one hydrophobic block comprising polybutadiene. In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein is a diblock copolymer AB in which (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline forms the A block and polybutadiene forms the B block. In an embodiment, an amphiphilic block copolymer as described herein is a diblock copolymer AB in which (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline forms the A block and polybutadiene forms the B block, and which has at least one end group at the end of a (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block which is selected from carboxy, activated carboxy, amine, methacrylate, thiol, azide, and alkyne. The terms “biomolecule” (or protein, carbohydrate, nucleic acid etc.) and “membrane mimetic structure” as used herein should be understood as encompassing the respective plural terms, i.e. biomolecules and membrane mimetic structures. In other words, references to “an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule” also encompass and also refer to “an assembly comprising: (a) biomolecules”. Similarly, references to the biomolecule being comprised as part of a membrane mimetic structure also encompass and also refer to (a plurality of) biomolecules being comprised as part of (a plurality of) membrane mimetic structures. This may thus encompass, for example, an assembly comprising a plurality of membrane mimetic structures which each comprise a (single) biomolecule, or an assembly comprising a plurality of membrane mimetic structures which each comprise multiple biomolecules. Where a plurality of vesicles is present, in some embodiments, at least some of said vesicles may fuse forming planar layers of lipid (if the vesicles are lipid vesicles) or planar layers of amphiphilic block copolymer (if the vesicles are proteopolymersomes). In some embodiments, said membrane mimetic structure comprises suitable reactive groups on its surface (e.g. amine groups) such that during the curing process said membrane mimetic structure becomes cross-linked to the cured epoxy resin. In some embodiments, the biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide, a carbohydrate, a lipid, a nucleic acid and a protein. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a polypeptide or a protein. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a carbohydrate. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a lipid. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a nucleic acid. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a carbohydrate. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a protein, for example an enzyme or a membrane protein. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a membrane protein, for example a membrane-associated protein, an integral membrane protein or a transmembrane protein. A transmembrane protein as referred to herein is an integral membrane protein which spans the entire width of a membrane, in which some residues are exposed on each side of the membrane. A biomolecule which is a transmembrane protein may for example act as a transporter or channel (e.g. ATP-binding cassette transporters, solute carrier transporters, ion channels or water channels) to allow water or other substances to pass through the membrane in which it is embedded. In some embodiments the transmembrane protein is an aquaporin. Alternatively, a biomolecule which is a membrane protein may for example act as a signalling molecule, a receptor or an adhesive protein. In some embodiments the biomolecule is an enzyme. In some embodiments, step (i) of said method further comprises providing a support, e.g. a porous support, wherein said support comprises a surface onto which, in the context of step (ii), said biomolecule and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said biomolecule is located between the surface of the support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said assembly. In some embodiments the support, e.g. the porous support, may be cross-linked to the biomolecule. In some embodiments, the support, e.g. the porous support, may be crosslinked to both the biomolecule and the membrane mimetic structure. In some embodiments, the membrane mimetic structures on the support, e.g. the porous support, may be cross-linked to each other. In some embodiments, the membrane mimetic structures may be cross-linked to each other and to the support, e.g. the porous support. In some embodiments, the membrane mimetic structures may be cross-linked to each other, to the support, e.g. the porous support, and to the cured epoxy resin. In some embodiments said support, e.g. said porous support, comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide, poly(ether imide), polyamide (for example aromatic polyamide), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK), poly etheretherketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), poly(vinyl butyral), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly(2,6-dimethyl-l,4-phenylene oxide), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polypiperazine, polybenzimidazoline, polyols (for example polyphenol), polyolefins, cellulose acetates (for example cellulose triacetate), cellulose nitrates, cellulose esters, regenerated cellulose, and cellulose. In some embodiments, the porous support comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypiperazine, cellulose acetates, cellulose nitrates, and cellulose esters. In some embodiments, the support, e.g. the porous support, comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polypiperazine. In an embodiment of the invention, the porous support comprises polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES) or polypiperazine, for example poly sulfone (PS). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polysulfone (PS). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyethersulfone (PES). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyacrylonitrile (PAN). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyimide. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyamide. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polycarbonate (PC). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyethylene (PE). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polypropylene (PP). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polypiperazine. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise cellulose acetates. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polysulfone cellulose nitrates. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise cellulose esters. The support in a membrane assembly disclosed herein may be cast onto a backing, for example a fabric layer, typically non-woven polyester or polypropylene, although any form of backing may be used. In an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises a step of casting the (porous) support onto a backing, for example a non-woven layer, e.g. a non-woven polyester backing fabric, wherein the backing is on the opposite surface of the (porous) support from the membrane mimetic structure, i.e. the (porous) support is located between the membrane mimetic structure and the backing. In some embodiments of the method, the cured epoxy resin is a hydrogel. In some embodiments of the method, the epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin has at least 0.05 g / L solubility in water (at 20°C). In other embodiments, the epoxy resin in step (i) of the method (i.e. which is used to generate the cured epoxy resin in step (ii)) has at least 0.5 g / L, at least 1 g / L, at least 10 g / L, at least 50 g / L, at least 100 g / L, at least 200 g / L, at least 300 g / L, at least 400 g / L or at least 500 g / L solubility in water (at 20°C). In some embodiments, the epoxy resin in step (i) of the method is soluble in water (at 20°C). In some embodiments of the method, the pH of the cured epoxy resin is biocompatible, for example the pH of the cured epoxy resin is from about 6 to about 8. In some embodiments, the epoxy resin in step (i) of the method (i.e. which is used to generate the cured epoxy resin in step (ii)) comprises a molecule selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE), poly (propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PPGDGE), diglycidyl glycerol ether, triglycidyl glycerol ether, 4,4'-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline), N,N-Diglycidyl-4-glycidyloxyaniline, or Triglycidyl Isocyanurate. In some embodiments, the epoxy resin in step (i) of the method comprises PEGDGE. In some embodiments, the PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 5000 Da, for example about 500 Da. In some embodiments said PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 4000 Da, from about 250 to about 3500 Da, from about 250 to about 2500 Da, from about 250 to about 2000, from about 250 to about 1000 Da or from about 250 to about 750 Da. In some embodiments said PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of 5 greater than about 250 Da. In some embodiments, said PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 500 to about 5000 Da, from about 1000 to about 5000 Da, from about 2000 to about 5000 Da, from about 2500 Da to about 5000 Da, from about 3500 to about 5000 Da, from about 4000 to about 5000 Da. In some embodiments the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin 10 comprises a moiety of a Formula selected from the group consisting of: OH Formula I-A, wherein R is H or Me and n is a positive integer value, Formula I-B Formula I-C Formula I-D Formula I-E Formula I-F , and Formula I-G In some embodiments, the chemical structure of the cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I-A, wherein n is a positive integer value: Formula I-A, wherein R is H or Me. In some embodiments, the chemical structure of the cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I-B: OH Formula I-B In some embodiments, the chemical structure of the cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I-C: In some embodiments, the chemical structure of the cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I-D: Formula I-D In some embodiments, the chemical structure of the cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I-E: Formula I-E In some embodiments, the chemical structure of the cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I-F: OH Formula I-F In some embodiments, the chemical structure of the cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I-G: In some embodiments, the chemical structure of the cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I, wherein n is a positive integer value: / °¾ A 3 .¼ Formula I. In some embodiments of Formula I, Formula I-A or Formula III, n may be from about 5 to about 100. In other embodiments n may be at least about 5. In some embodiments n may be about 100 or less. In some embodiments n may be from about 5 to about 75, from about 5 to about 50, or from about 5 to about 25. In some embodiments, n may be from about 10 to about 100, from about 25 to about 100, from about 50 to about 100 or from about 75 to about 100. In some embodiments of the method, the epoxy curing agent is selected from the group consisting of amines, acids, acid anhydrides, phenols, alcohols and thiols, for example an amine. In some embodiments of the method the epoxy curing agent is an amine, for example a polyamine, a branched amine, a branched polyamine, an amine with a number average molecular weight from about 40 kDa to about 100 kDa, for example from about 40 kDa to about 80 kDa, for example about 60 kDa or a branched amine with a number average molecular weight from about 40 kDa to about 100 kDa, for example from about 40 kDa to about 80 kDa, for example about 60 kDa. In some embodiments of the method the epoxy curing agent is an acid. In some embodiments of the method the epoxy curing agent is an acid anhydride. In some embodiments of the method the epoxy curing agent is a phenol. In some embodiments of the method the epoxy curing agent is an alcohol. In some embodiments of the method the epoxy curing agent is a thiol. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent may be selected from the group comprising aliphatic amines (for example, hexamethylenediamine), acrylic poly amines, aromatic amines (for example xylylenediamine, metaphenylene diamine, or diaminodiphenylmethane, diaminodiphenylsulfone), polyamide resins, tertiary or secondary amines (for example piperidine, triethylenediamine or N-N-dimethylpiperidine). In some embodiments, the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a polyamine comprising primary, secondary and tertiary amine groups. In some embodiments of the method the epoxy curing agent is a polyethylenimine (PEI), for example a branched PEI. In some embodiments, the PEI has a number average molecular weight of from about 40 kDa to about 100 kDa, for example from about 40 kDa to about 80 kDa, for example about 60 kDa. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is an aliphatic amine, e.g. an aliphatic diamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is hexamethylenediamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is an acrylic polyamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is an aromatic amine, e.g. an aromatic diamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is xylylenediamine, e.g. m-xylylenediamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is metaphenylene diamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is diaminodiphenylmethane. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is diaminodiphenylsulfone. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a polyamide resin. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a tertiary amine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a secondary amine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is piperidine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is triethylenediamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is N,N-dimethy Ipiperidine. The products of reacting an epoxide group with either a primary or a secondary amine are shown in the following reaction schemes. In some embodiments, the cured epoxy resin is positively charged, e.g. if an amine-based epoxy curing agent such as a PEI has been used. Advantageously, when the cured epoxy resin is positively charged, fouling of the cured epoxy resin by environmental contamination is reduced or eliminated. In some embodiments of the method, in step (iii), the epoxy resin and the epoxy curing agent are mixed in a weight ratio of from about 10 to 1 to about 0.5 to 1, for example from about 8 to 1 to about 1 to 1, for example from about 5 to 1 to about 1 to 1, for example from about 2 to 1 to about 1 to 1, for example about 2 to 1. In some embodiments, the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises amine groups, for example secondary amine groups, tertiary amine groups or a combination of both secondary and tertiary amine groups. In some embodiments, the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula II: Formula II In some embodiments, the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula III, wherein n is a positive integer value: Formula III As has been described above, according to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing an assembly comprising a biomolecule and a cured epoxy resin wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly. In some embodiments said barrier is a protective barrier. In some embodiments, the cured epoxy resin forms at least 80% of the barrier, e.g. the cured epoxy resin forms at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99% of the barrier. This may be measured by weight or by volume. In some embodiments said barrier consists essentially of said cured epoxy resin. In some embodiments of the method, said assembly is a membrane assembly, for example a filtration membrane assembly. In some embodiments of the method, said filtration membrane assembly comprises: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin, wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and an environment which is external to said filtration membrane assembly, wherein said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between a surface of the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly; and wherein said method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a porous support, a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein, and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin and optionally an epoxy curing agent; (ii) applying the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein to a surface of the porous support; (iii) applying the aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin to the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein; (iv) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin, optionally using said epoxy curing agent. As will be apparent to the skilled person, the steps of the method may be performed in any order which results in the formation of the filtration membrane assembly comprising: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane protein and an environment which is external to said assembly. In other words, it is not necessarily required that the steps of the method are performed in the order (i) to (iv). In some embodiments said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and the environment which is external to said assembly. In an embodiment, the filtration membrane assembly is a crossflow filtration membrane assembly. In some embodiments of the method, said external environment comprises UV radiation and said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and said UV radiation. In some embodiments of the method, the environment which is external to said assembly is a liquid environment, for example an aqueous environment. In some embodiments said liquid environment comprises one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of turbulence, for example said environment comprises a liquid having a turbulent flow characterised by a Reynolds number of greater than about 3500, for example from about 3500 to about 5000, a pressure of greater than about 100 kPa, temperatures of about 40°C or greater or of about 5 °C or lower, a pH level of greater than about 8 or less than about 6, the presence of a non-aqueous solvent or a concentration of dissolved ions of greater than about 0.1 M. In some embodiments said liquid environment comprises a pressure of greater than about 100 kPa and a temperature of about 40°C or greater (e.g. a temperature of from about 40°C to about 60°C). In some embodiments said liquid environment comprises turbulence with a Reynolds number of about 3500 to about 5000. The Reynolds number of a flowing fluid is determined by multiplying the velocity of the fluid by the internal pipe diameter and dividing the result by the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. In some embodiments said liquid environment comprises a pressure of greater than about 100 kPa. In some embodiments said liquid environment has a temperature of about 40°C or greater. In some embodiments said liquid environment has a temperature of about 5°C or lower. In some embodiments said liquid environment has a pH level of greater than about 8. In some embodiments said liquid environment has a pH level of less than about 6. In some embodiments said liquid environment comprises the presence of a non-aqueous solvent. In some embodiments said liquid environment comprises a concentration of dissolved ions of greater than about 0.1 M. In some embodiments of the method, the generation of the cured epoxy resin is initiated and / or accelerated by the application of a treatment selected from the group consisting of heat, electromagnetic radiation and electron beam radiation. In some embodiments, the treatment is selected from the group consisting of heat and microwave radiation. In some embodiments, the treatment is heat, for example heat provided by an oven or an infrared (IR) lamp. In some embodiments, the generation of the cured epoxy resin is initiated and / or accelerated by exposing the epoxy resin and the epoxy curing agent to a temperature of from about 25 to about 55 °C, for example of from about 35 to about 50°C, of from about 40 to about 50°C, for example about 45°C. In some embodiments, the membrane mimetic structures comprising a membrane protein are deposited on the surface of the porous support in the form of a solution, e.g. an aqueous solution of the membrane mimetic structures. In some embodiments, said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is deposited on the surface of the porous support by spraying, i.e. a solution of the membrane mimetic structures is sprayed onto the porous support, for example using an airbrush or an air atomising spray, the latter of which combines liquid and compressed air at low pressures to form very fine droplets. In some embodiments said compressed air is at a pressure of from about 10 to about 60 psi, (from about 0.7 to about 4.1 bar), for example from about 20 to about 50 psi (from about 1.4 to about 3.4 bar), from about 30 to about 50 psi (from about 2.1 to about 3.4 bar), from about 30 psi to about 40 psi (from about 2.1 to about 2.8 bar), for example about 35 psi (about 2.4 bar). In some embodiments, a particular volume of the solution (e.g. an aqueous solution of the membrane mimetic structures) is deposited onto a particular surface area of the support, for example, in some embodiments the volume of solution deposited is from about 0.5 ml / 100 cm2 to about 5 ml / 100 cm2, for example from about 1 ml / 100 cm2 to about 2.5 ml / 100 cm2, for example about 1.5 ml / 100 cm2. In some embodiments, a particular amount of membrane mimetic structures (for example in aqueous solution) is deposited on a particular surface area of the support, for example, from about 0.5 mg / 100 cm2 to about 5 mg / 100 cm2, for example from about 1 mg / 100 cm2 to about 4 mg / 100 cm2, for example about 2 mg / 100 cm2. The concentration of membrane mimetic structures in aqueous solution is selected appropriately such that the volume of solution deposited, and the amount of membrane mimetic structures deposited, fall within the above ranges. In some embodiments the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and the cured epoxy resin are arranged such that the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between the surface of the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly. Assemblies In a second aspect, the present invention provides an assembly obtainable by the method of the first aspect. In a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the features of the first aspect of this invention as described herein are equally applicable to this third aspect of the invention. In some embodiments, the epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin has at least 0.1 g / L solubility in water. In other embodiments, the epoxy resin used to 5 generate the cured epoxy resin has at least 0.5 g / L, at least 1 g / L, at least 10 g / L, at least 50 g / L, at least 100 g / L, at least 200 g / L, at least 300 g / L, at least 400 g / L or at least 500 g / L solubility in water (at 20°C). In some embodiments, the epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin is soluble in water (at 20°C). In some embodiments the epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin is 10 selected from the group consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE), poly(propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PPGDGE), diglycidyl glycerol ether, triglycidyl glycerol ether, 4,4'-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline), N,N-Diglycidyl-4-glycidyloxyaniline, or Triglycidyl Isocyanurate. When said epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin is PEGDGE, said PEGDGE may have a weight 15 average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 5000 Da, for example about 500 Da. In some embodiments the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of a Formula selected from the group consisting of: Z A. am A / "y" yx' \ OH R n Formula LA, wherein R is H or Me and n is a positive integer value, < ITO a OH Ao-^y^Ay ' n Formula LB OHO / --1 1--( / " N N ^=0 hA 0 x—1 Formula LC Formula LD OH Formula I-F Formula I-E , and Formula I-G In some embodiments of Formula I-A, R is H, i.e. the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I, wherein n is a positive integer value: In some embodiments of Formula I, Formula I-A or Formula III, n may be from about 5 to about 100. In other embodiments n may be at least about 5. In some embodiments n may be about 100 or less. In some embodiments n may be from about 10 5 to about 75, from about 5 to about 50, or from about 5 to about 25. In some embodiments, n may be from about 10 to about 100, from about 25 to about 100, from about 50 to about 100 or from about 75 to about 100. Said cured epoxy resin may also be defined by reference to the molecular weight of the monomer unit used the preparation of said cured epoxy resin. In some 15 embodiments, the cured epoxy resin comprises a monomer unit derived from PEGDGE (poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether) wherein said PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 5000 Da, for example about 500 Da. In some embodiments said PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 4000 Da, from about 250 to about 3500 Da, from about 250 to about 2500 Da, from about 250 to about 2000, from about 250 to about 1000 Da or from about 250 to about 750 Da. In some embodiments said PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of greater than about 250 Da. In some embodiments, said PEGDE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 500 to about 5000 Da, from about 1000 to about 5000 Da, from about 2000 to about 5000 Da, from about 2500 Da to about 5000 Da, from about 3500 to about 5000 Da, from about 4000 to about 5000 Da. In some embodiments the biomolecule is comprised as part of a membrane mimetic structure. For example, the biomolecule may be within the membrane mimetic structure, on the surface of the membrane mimetic structure or partially on the surface and partially within the membrane mimetic structure. In some embodiments, said membrane mimetic structure may be a vesicle, e.g. a lipid vesicle or a polymersome (thus forming a proteopolymersome when the biomolecule is a protein), e.g. a polymersome made from amphiphilic block copolymers as described elsewhere herein, e.g. in the context of the first aspect of the present invention. In some embodiments, said membrane mimetic structure may be crosslinked to the cured epoxy resin. In some embodiments the biomolecule may be functional. For example, the biomolecule may be aquaporin and said aquaporin may retain its normal biological function, i.e. it can allow the passage of water molecules through a membrane layer (e.g. a lipid bilayer) but reject dissolved solute molecules. In some embodiments, the biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide, a carbohydrate, a lipid, a nucleic acid and a protein. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a polypeptide or a protein. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a carbohydrate. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a lipid. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a nucleic acid. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a carbohydrate. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a protein, for example an enzyme or a membrane protein. In some embodiments the biomolecule is a membrane protein, for example a membrane-associated protein, an integral membrane protein or a transmembrane protein. A transmembrane protein as referred to herein is an integral membrane protein which spans the entire width of a membrane, in which some residues are exposed on each side of the membrane. A biomolecule which is a transmembrane protein may for example act as a transporter or channel (e.g. ATP-binding cassette transporters, solute carrier transporters, ion channels or water channels) to allow water or other substances to pass through the membrane in which it is embedded. In some embodiments the transmembrane protein is an aquaporin. Alternatively, a biomolecule which is a membrane protein may for example act as a signalling molecule, a receptor or an adhesive protein. In some embodiments the biomolecule is an enzyme. In some embodiments, the assembly may further comprise a support, e.g. a porous support, comprising a surface onto which said biomolecule and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said biomolecule is located between the surface of the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly. In some embodiments the support, e.g. the porous support, may be cross-linked to the membrane mimetic structure. In some embodiments the support, e.g. the porous support, may be cross-linked to the biomolecule. In some embodiments, the support, e.g. the porous support, may be crosslinked to both the biomolecule and the membrane mimetic structure. In some embodiments, the membrane mimetic structures on the support may be cross-linked to each other. In some embodiments, the membrane mimetic structures may be crosslinked to each other and to the support. In some embodiments the membrane mimetic structure may be cross-linked to the cured epoxy resin. For example, if the membrane mimetic structure comprises a suitable functional group (e.g. an amine group), then that functional group may take part in the reaction which forms the cured epoxy resin. Suitable methods of cross-linking are well-known to the skilled person and will depend on the functional groups available on the membrane mimetic structure, the biomolecule, and the support. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise a polymer. In some embodiments said polymer may be selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide, poly(ether imide), polyamide (for example aromatic polyamide), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK), poly etheretherketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), poly(vinyl butyral), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly(2,6-dimethyl-l,4-phenylene oxide), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polypiperazine, polybenzimidazoline, polyols (for example polyphenol), polyolefins, cellulose acetates (for example cellulose triacetate), cellulose nitrates, cellulose esters, regenerated cellulose, and cellulose. In some embodiments, the porous support comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypiperazine, cellulose acetates, cellulose nitrates, and cellulose esters. In some embodiments, the porous support comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polypiperazine. In an embodiment of the invention, the porous support comprises polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES) or polypiperazine, for example polysulfone (PS). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polysulfone (PS). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyethersulfone (PES). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyacrylonitrile (PAN). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyimide. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyamide. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polycarbonate (PC). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyethylene (PE). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polypropylene (PP). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polypiperazine. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise cellulose acetates. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise polysulfone cellulose nitrates. In some embodiments the porous support may comprise cellulose esters. The support in a membrane assembly disclosed herein may be cast onto a backing, for example a fabric layer, typically non-woven polyester or polypropylene, although any form of backing may be used. In an embodiment of this invention, an assembly, e.g. a membrane assembly, as disclosed herein further comprises a backing, for example a non-woven layer, e.g. a non-woven polyester backing fabric, wherein the backing is on the opposite surface of the (porous) support from the membrane mimetic structure, i.e. the (porous) support is located between the membrane mimetic structure and the backing. As described above, the assembly comprising a biomolecule also comprises a cured epoxy resin. In some embodiments the cured epoxy resin is a hydrogel. In some embodiments the pH of the cured epoxy resin is biocompatible, for example the pH of the cured epoxy resin is from 5.5 to about 8.5, for example from about 6 to about 8, for example from about 6.5 to about 7.5, for example about 7. In some embodiments the epoxy resin used to make said cured epoxy resin is dissolved in aqueous solvent, for example water. Use of an aqueous solvent may enhance the biocompatibility of the cured epoxy resin and also avoids the use of chemicals which may be harmful to the environment. As used herein, in all aspects of the invention, the term ‘aqueous solution’ is taken to mean a solution in which the solvent used to prepare the solution is water. For example, when an aqueous solution of an epoxy resin is prepared, this can mean that the solvent used to prepare the aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin is deionised water. In another example in the context of this invention, aqueous solution may also mean that the solvent used to prepare the aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin may comprise minimal amounts of other water-miscible solvents, e.g. the water used to prepare the aqueous solution comprises <10%, <5%, <4%, <3%, <2%, <1%, <0.5%, <0.1%, <0.01% or <0.001% of another solvent, e.g. water in which other solvents are essentially or completely absent. In some embodiments the epoxy resin used to make said cured epoxy resin comprises poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE). In some embodiments said PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 5000 Da, for example from about 250 to about 2500, for example from about 250 to about 1000, for example about 500 Da. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is selected from the group consisting of amines, acids, acid anhydrides, phenols, alcohols and thiols. In some embodiments, said epoxy curing agent is an amine, for example a water-soluble amine. In some embodiments, said epoxy curing agent is a polyamine, for example a water-soluble polyamine. In some embodiments, said epoxy curing agent is an acid. In some embodiments, said epoxy curing agent is an acid anhydride. In some embodiments, said epoxy curing agent is a phenol. In some embodiments, said epoxy curing agent is an alcohol. In some embodiments, said epoxy curing agent is a thiol. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent may be selected from the group comprising aliphatic amines (for example, hexamethylenediamine), acrylic poly amines, aromatic amines (for example xylylenediamine, metaphenylene diamine, or diaminodiphenylmethane, diaminodiphenyl sulfone), polyamide resins, tertiary or secondary amines (for example piperidine, triethylenediamine or N-N-dimethylpiperidine). In some embodiments, the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a polyamine comprising primary, secondary and tertiary amine groups. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a polyethylenimine (PEI), for example a branched PEI. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is an aliphatic amine, e.g. an aliphatic diamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is hexamethylenediamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is an acrylic poly amine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is an aromatic amine, e.g. an aromatic diamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is xylylenediamine, e.g. m-xylylenediamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is metaphenylene diamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is diaminodiphenylmethane. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is diaminodiphenylsulfone. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a polyamide resin. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a tertiary amine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a secondary amine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is piperidine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is triethylenediamine. In some embodiments the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is N,N-dimethy Ipiperidine. In some embodiments, the PEI has a number average molecular weight of from about 20 kDa to about 100 kDa, for example from about 40 kDa to about 80 kDa, for example about 60 kDa. In some embodiments the epoxy resin used to make said cured epoxy resin and the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin are mixed in a weight ratio of from about 10 to 1 to about 0.5 to 1, for example from about 8 to 1 to about 1 to 1, for example from about 5 to 1 to about 1 to 1, for example from about 3 to 1 to about 1 to 1, for example about 3 to 1, for example from about 2 to 1 to about 1 to 1, for example about 2 to 1. In some embodiments the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises amine groups, for example secondary amine groups, tertiary amine groups or a combination of both secondary and tertiary amine groups. In some embodiments, the cured epoxy resin is positively charged, e.g. if an amine-based epoxy curing agent such as a PEI has been used thus resulting in a cured epoxy resin comprising amine groups. Advantageously, when the cured epoxy resin is positively charged, fouling of the cured epoxy resin by environmental contamination is reduced or eliminated. In some embodiments, the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula II: Formula II In some embodiments the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula III, wherein n is a positive integer value: In some embodiments, n may be between about 5 and about 100. In other embodiments n may be at least about 5. In some embodiments n may be about 100 or less. In some embodiments n may be between about 5 and about 75, between about 5 and about 50, or between about 5 and about 25. In some embodiments, n may be between about 10 and about 100, between about 25 and about 100, between about 50 and about 100 or between about 75 and about 100. As has been described above, according to the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising a biomolecule and a cured epoxy resin as described herein; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly. In some embodiments said barrier is a protective barrier. In some embodiments said barrier consists essentially of said cured epoxy resin. In some embodiments, said barrier comprises at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99% or 100% cured epoxy resin, when measured by weight or by volume. In some embodiments the assembly is a membrane assembly, for example a filtration membrane assembly. Filtration membrane assemblies find application in many areas, for example water filtration or water desalination. In essence, a membrane filtration process is a physical separation method characterized by the ability to separate molecules of different sizes and characteristics. Its driving force is the difference in pressure between the two sides of the membrane. In its simplest form, membrane filtration involves passing a single feed stream through a membrane system that separates it into two individual streams, known as the permeate (which passes through the membrane) and the retentate (which is retained by the membrane). The membrane that separates the permeate and the retentate is a physical barrier with specialised characteristics - a barrier that only certain selected components in the feed stream can pass through. There are four commonly accepted types of membrane filtration. These are defined on the basis of the size of material they are required to separate from the feed liquid. The four types of membrane filtration are known as reverse osmosis (RO), nanofiltration (NF), ultrafiltration (UF) and microfiltration (MF), in order of increasing pore size. RO uses the tightest possible membrane in liquid separation, and, in principle, water is the only material that can permeate the membrane. All other materials (which, depending on the feed stream and the particular application could include bacteria, fats, proteins, gums, salts, sugars, minerals etc.) will be unable to pass through. RO relies on the utilisation of high pressure in the feed stream to overcome osmotic pressure. The major application of RO is in the desalination of seawater, for example for the production of drinking water. NF allows small ions (e.g. minerals) to pass through while excluding larger ions and most organic components (e.g., bacteria, fats, proteins, gums and sugars). NF uses membranes that have slightly wider pores when compared to RO membranes and is therefore not as fine a separation process as RO. UF involves using membranes in which the pores are larger, and the pressure is relatively low. Salts, sugars, organic acids and smaller peptides are allowed to pass, while proteins, fats and polysaccharides are not. In MF, suspended solids, bacteria and fat globules are normally the only substances not allowed to pass through. Membrane filtration can be either dead-end filtration or crossflow filtration. Dead-end filtration is the conventional type of filtration where the feed stream is applied essentially perpendicularly to the filtration membrane. While simple, this type of filtration usually results in build-up of a filter cake on the feed stream side of the membrane, which can lead to fouling of the membrane, uneven flow and eventually blockage. Crossflow filtration provides significant built-in advantages over dead-end filtration. Because the liquids being processed flow continuously across the membrane (i.e. essentially parallel to the membrane), the build-up of a filter cake that can lead to fouling and uneven flow is reduced or eliminated. This makes it possible to operate a continuous, automated filtration process that results in a consistent and controllable product. Almost all industrial membrane filtration is carried out as crossflow filtration. In an embodiment, the filtration membrane assembly is a crossflow filtration membrane assembly. In terms of physical configuration, a filtration membrane assembly as described herein may be a flat sheet filtration membrane assembly or it may be a spiral wound filtration membrane assembly. In some embodiments the assembly is a filtration membrane assembly which comprises: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and an environment which is external to said filtration membrane assembly, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I, wherein n is a positive integer value: Formula I. In some embodiments, said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly. References herein to a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and a cured epoxy resin being “arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly” encompass various arrangements. For example, in an embodiment, the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located on a surface of the porous support with the cured epoxy resin on top of the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein, such that the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between (i.e. sandwiched between) the porous support and the cured epoxy resin. Alternatively, the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein may be embedded (e.g. encapsulated) in the cured epoxy resin such that the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between the porous support and the external surface of the cured epoxy resin (i.e. the surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly). Where a plurality of membrane mimetic structures comprising a membrane protein are present, it is equally possible that some of said membrane mimetic structures comprising a membrane protein are sandwiched between the cured epoxy resin and the porous support and some are embedded in the cured epoxy resin. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a membrane assembly, for example a filtration membrane assembly, comprising: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and an environment which is external to said assembly. In some embodiments, said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly. As will be apparent to a skilled person, the features of the membrane assembly of the fourth aspect of the invention (e.g. the porous support, the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein, the membrane protein itself, the cured epoxy resin and the barrier) may be further defined as specified elsewhere herein, e.g. in particular the specific features of the membrane assembly of the third aspect of the invention may also be applied to the membrane assembly of the fourth aspect of the invention as appropriate. In some embodiments, the environment which is external to an assembly as described herein is a liquid environment, for example an aqueous environment. In some embodiments, the environment of this fourth aspect is as defined herein in the context of the first aspect of the invention. Methods of protecting a biomolecule In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a method of protecting a biomolecule comprising the steps of: (i) providing said biomolecule and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin and (ii) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms a barrier between the biomolecule and an environment external to said biomolecule. As will be apparent to a skilled person, the features of the method of the fifth aspect of the invention (e.g. the biomolecule, the aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin and the step of curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms a barrier between the biomolecule and an environment external to said biomolecule) may be further defined as specified elsewhere herein, e.g. in particular the specific features of the method of the first aspect of the invention may also be applied to the method of the fifth aspect of the invention as appropriate. Uses of a cured epoxy resin to protect a biomolecule In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a use of a cured epoxy resin as a barrier to protect a biomolecule from an environment external to said biomolecule, wherein said cured epoxy resin and said biomolecule form an assembly. As will be apparent to a skilled person, the features of the use of the sixth aspect of the invention (e.g. the assembly, the epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin, the cured epoxy resin, the barrier, the external environment and the biomolecule) may be further defined as specified elsewhere herein, e.g. in particular the specific features of the assembly of the third aspect of the invention may also be applied to the assembly referred to in the context of the use of the sixth aspect of the invention. Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described. Examplcs Example 1 - Development of Acrylic Acid based Hydrogel The present inventors have previously hypothesised that the introduction of a hydrogel layer onto a polymeric support may be advantageous because it can provide the suitable support and cushioning for delicate membrane mimetic structures, e.g. lipid vesicles or block copolymer-based vesicles. Therefore, to provide a suitable biomimetic membrane, in accordance with the present invention, polyacrylic acid (PAA) was first chosen as a candidate for the production of the hydrogel layer because of its biocompatibility and abundant carboxylic acid groups. UV was selected as an energy source to crosslink PAA and form the hydrogel. Using a benchtop UV box, the polymerization of acrylic acid monomers (AA) in water was initiated on a 23 kDa polysulfone (PS) support membrane, resulting in the formation of the poly aery lie acid (PAA) (Figure 1). The polymerization process comprises the monomer, the initiator (Irgacure 2959; 2-Hydroxy-4'-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-2-methylpropiophenone), and the crosslinker (responsible for forming chemical bridges between the monomers and transforming the polymer into a hydrogel). Methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) was utilized as the crosslinker. See Table 1 for the amounts of each component. To enhance the coating solution's viscosity, PAA was introduced into the reaction mixture. This solution was applied onto the membrane using knife coating technology, specifically a doctor blade film applicator. Support AA %w MBA %w PAA %w Irgacure %w Methanol %w PWP (GFD / PSI) Salt rejection % 23 kDa 11.1 0.03 3.3 0.13 8.9 0.36 27 23 kDa 5.6 0.02 3.3 0.07 8.9 0.57 33 23 kDa 3.3 0.01 3.3 0.04 8.9 1.09 25 Table 1 Coatings on PSF membranes with 23kDa MWCO. A doctor blade was used to coat the membranes with a coating thickness of 40|am. The curing time was 90 minutes in the UV box. Pure water permeability measurements were taken at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 bar. Salt rejection was measured at 5 bar, with 250 ppm NaCl as the feed solution. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirmed that a coating with carboxylate groups on the membrane surface could be established. The hydrogel coating was also visible to the naked eye, and the hydrogels swelled when wet. Having established the parameters for synthesis of a PAA hydrogel using UV-light, methods of applying vesicles to the hydrogel were investigated. Vacuum or pressure driven filtration was first attempted to deposit the vesicles onto the surface of a PAA hydrogel. The PAA-based coating solution was applied to a membrane using a doctor blade (40 pM coating thickness) and cured for 90 minutes. The membrane was rinsed with water and the vesicles were applied to the membrane via vacuum or applied pressure. However, it was found that the membranes had insufficient permeability to be considered useable as the first layers of a biomimetic membrane (data not shown). A second approach was investigated wherein instead of coating the biomimetic vesicles (i.e. vesicles comprising aquaporin) on top of the hydrogel, they were mixed into the coating solution to embed them into the hydrogel. This was done to increase the permeability. These membranes did show higher permeability than the biomimetic membrane samples prepared by filtration / vacuum coating. However, the aquaporin proteins were found not to be folded correctly in the hydrogel when the samples were fluorescence imaged (see Example 2 for the method; data not shown). It was theorized that the aquaporin unfolding was caused by the very low pH of the acrylic-acid-coating solution. Example 2 - Double labelling strategy In order to determine whether the method of formation of a hydrogel caused the aquaporin protein to become denatured, a method was devised wherein fluorescently (double-labelled) aquaporin in exosomes (block copolymer-based vesicles) were added to various hydrogel coatings and imaged to assess the stability of aquaporin. Aquaporin double labelling entailed the protein having a fluorescent protein such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to its N- or C-terminus and a fluorescent dye capable of crosslinking to the aquaporin’s primary amine side chains via EDC:NHS crosslinking. GFP, which has a chromophore as part of its amino acid sequence, was used not only to show the presence of protein but also to show loss of functionality when aquaporin denaturation (i.e. unfolding) occurs, since unfolding of the aquaporin will also cause the fused GFP to unfold and therefore lose its ability to fluoresce. However, GFP signal would also be absent on biomimetic coupons if exosome delamination occurs. To circumvent this, a double labelling strategy was used, wherein a GFP fusion aquaporin is also further crosslinked via EDC:NHS chemistry to a fluorescent dye of an alternative wavelength. A double-labelled protein is bifunctional as it not only provides a signal of folded intact protein (i.e. GFP fluorescence) but also indicates the presence of unfolded protein, since the fluorescence of the red fluorescent dye is unaffected by unfolding of the aquaporin. Thus, if both green and red signal are seen, this indicates the presence of correctly folded aquaporin. However, if only red signal is seen, this indicates the presence of unfolded aquaporin. An absence of signal indicates that the aquaporin is not present, for example if exosome delamination has occurred. This strategy was tested in the development of alternative hydrogel layers as shown in Figure 2. The figure shows the effects of a PAA layer which is acidic and is not amenable for protein stability and a PEG layer which is neutrally charged and preserves the hydrogen binding network of proteins. In this initial test, it is evident how the fluorescent dye labeling indicates the presence of aquaporins despite the GFP losing some of its signal due to the PAA layer (Figure 2, Panel A). The figure also highlights that when interacting with a PEG layer, the GFP signal is preserved and not completely lost (Figure 2, Panel B, Panel C). The approach outlined in this example was used to test the functionality of aquaporin proteins in the following examples. Example 3 - Development of PEG hydrogel Based on the findings above, which showed that the acidic nature of the PAA hydrogel appeared to denature aquaporin, it was required to develop a hydrogel that was compatible with aquaporin. Based on their findings that low pH hydrogel solutions were detrimental to the formation of an aquaporin containing membrane, the present inventors then selected glycol (PEG)-based hydrogels, which are pH neutral (Figure 3). In this experiment PAA was again added to the formulation to increase the viscosity. However, the PAA was neutralized with sodium hydroxide to increase the pH (~7) and thus avoid the problems associated with acidity. Polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA) was selected as the monomer and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) as the crosslinker for the PEG-hydrogel polymerization. Irgacure 2959 was used as the UV-activated initiator. Water and methanol were used as solvents. During initial development of the PEG-hydrogel, the PEGMA and PEGDA were cured for 90 min in the UV box. A knife was used to apply a wet film thickness of 30 pm on the surface of 10 kDa PSF membrane. Different concentrations of PAA (thickener), PEGMA (monomer), and PEGDA (crosslinker) were used to create membranes with a hydrogel coating. These membranes were tested for salt rejection. It was found that increasing the amount of PAA or PEGMA increased the salt rejection. Permeability was also measured, in three different ways: crossflow pure water permeability, dead-end pure water permeability, and water flux during the salt rejection test. All three tests showed the same general trends, demonstrating that membranes could be made consistently (data not shown). Having formed a membrane, an airbrush was used to apply the biomimetic solution (2 mL, at a concentration of 1.25 mg / mL, per 160 cm2 of surface area) to the membrane surface. Fluorescence imaging validated that aquaporin maintained its correct folding when the aquaporin vesicles were directly sprayed onto the membrane surface. This spraying technique provided precise control over the vesicle quantity deposited on the membrane. Additionally, the efficiency of the spray method was evident as it minimized solution usage, resulting in reduced waste. In order to assess whether the aquaporin would remain stable if positioned between the PSF support and the hydrogel, double-labelled vesicles (as described in example 2) were spray-coated on a PSF support and then coated with the PEG hydrogel (Figure 4). Membranes were then fluorescently imaged to determine if aquaporin was correctly folded (Figure 5). Panel B of Figure 5 shows the colocalization of the green and red signals as a composite yellow signal. This shows the presence and functionality of aquaporins using this coating approach. It was found that aquaporin remains correctly folded when sandwiched between the PSF support and the hydrogel. Figure 6 presents the results of an experiment demonstrating that spraying vesicles, whether aquaporin or CTRL, enhances flux compared to membranes without vesicles ("12% PEG with MBA"). However, the data from the coated membranes exhibited variability without a clear trend, and none of the membranes exhibited salt rejection. Increasing the PEGMA / PEDGA concentrations was also attempted but this did not appear to increase the salt rejection of the membranes (data not shown). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) appeared to show that the PEG coating was not able to create a dense layer that covered the pores (data not shown). Therefore, while this method allowed for aquaporin proteins to be incorporated into a membrane without undergoing denaturation, the resulting membrane did not exhibit the necessary level of salt rejection to function as a suitable biomimetic membrane. Example 4 - Development of epoxy-amine hydrogel Examples 1-3 have shown that the PAA and PEG hydrogels did not yield promising results for biomimetic membranes. The PAA hydrogel was unsuitable since its acidic chemistry posed challenges post-aquaporin deposition. PEG hydrogels, while stabilizing aquaporin, lacked salt rejection, indicating the need for additional coatings. It was also determined that the free radical polymerization used to make the PAA and PEG hydrogels proved sensitive to high vesicle concentrations, disrupting the polymerization process, and resulting in incomplete and variable coatings. Therefore, the present inventors decided that an alternative chemistry that could stabilize aquaporin while also rejecting salt was required. It was hypothesized that epoxy-amine coatings could be suitable, and Figure 7 illustrates the reaction chemistry of the epoxy coating. Epoxy crosslinking can occur in water and is initiated / accelerated by heat rather than UV light. Use of heat is a safer and cheaper process than use of UV. Furthermore, epoxy chemistry does not rely on free radical polymerisation. In this approach, aqueous solutions of polyethylene imine (PEI), poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) were mixed just before application, and the mixture was coated across the PSF membrane using a wire rod. Subsequently, the coating was cured in a convection oven for 15 minutes, with epoxy crosslinking accelerated through heat rather than UV energy. The epoxy chemistry used to make the biomimetic membranes was a solution of -6-10% (w / w) PEI (epoxy curing agent) and a solution of -10-40% (w / w) PEGDGE (epoxy resin), for example 10% (w / w) PEI and 20-30% (w / w) PEGDGE. Initially, the impact on permeability and salt rejection of coating membranes with varying amounts of PEI and PEGDGE and then curing was investigated (Figure 8). The curing time was 10-15 minutes at a temperature of 45-55°C. The salt rejection and water permeability were inversely related, suggesting that the coating does not have defects, and that the flux and rejection are related to the degree of crosslinking. Based on this data and repeated experiments, the coating solution used going forward was 10% PEI and 20%-30% PEGDGE. It was also found that oven temperature had a significant impact on membrane performance since heat drives the reaction forward. However, to keep the aquaporin from drying out and unfolding, the cure temperature for the epoxy reaction was lowered. Higher temperatures and longer cure times increase rejection and lower water flux. It was found that curing at 35°C and 45°C showed that 15 minutes of curing was always better for salt rejection, with 45°C resulting in higher rejection than 35°C. The epoxy coating chemistry showed measurable salt rejection and high robustness, indicating that it is a suitable candidate for biomimetic coating. The present inventors determined that a highly suitable method for the addition of a biomolecule to the biomimetic epoxy membranes was to first spray the biomimetic solution on a PS membrane, and then immediately coat the membrane with a PEI / PEGDGE mixture. The epoxy resin is cured in the convection oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 45-55°C, and then immediately soaked in a water bath. Figure 9 illustrates the process. It was found that 10% PEI and 20 - 30% PEGDGE was particularly advantageous. There was a significant increase in permeability when spraying 2 mL of a 1.25 mg / ml solution of exosomes comprising aquaporin, compared to 2 mL of water or exosomes without aquaporin (CTRL vesicles) (Figure 10). The exosomes are made from the block copolymer poly(butadiene-b-methyloxazoline) (specifically (PB)12-(PMOXA)5-NH2). with a molecular weight of 800 g / mol and a polydispersity index of 1.14 (Polymer Source, Inc.) Since the block copolymer is amino end functionalised, the surface of the exosome vesicles is coated with amine groups, thus allowing crosslinking between the vesicles and the epoxy-amine coating. These membranes were cured in the oven at 45°C for 15 minutes. The coating was made and tested 8 times (8 separate membranes) to confirm the results. This membrane showed a clear difference when aquaporin was sprayed on the membrane surface, compared to the CTRL vesicles or when water was sprayed on the surface. The presence of aquaporin appeared to increase the permeability of the membrane without sacrificing salt rejection. In addition to the permeability and salt rejection data in Figure 10, it was desired to confirm that aquaporin was folded correctly when encased in the epoxy-amine layer. Figure 11 shows fluorescence imaging and subsequent pixel intensity and protein coverage measurements to qualify and quantify the nature of the biomimetic coating. Using the double labelled approach, as described in example 2, the fluorescence signal from both wavelengths could be quantified as well as the surface coverage with respect to each other. The present inventors have therefore found that epoxy hydrogel membranes consistently exhibited superior performance, with higher salt rejection and water flux in comparison to PAA and PEG hydrogels. The epoxy reaction appeared less sensitive to termination than free radical (UV) polymerization and demonstrated a simpler and more consistent incorporation of vesicles into an epoxy coating. Additionally, the amine groups on the surface of the vesicles can chemically bond with the epoxy, providing further stabilization in the epoxy coating. Development of a continuous process The curing process for epoxy coatings may involve using a convection oven, a process that takes 10-15 minutes. However, for this method the conditions must be tightly controlled due to the heat dependence of salt rejection and water permeability. Longer or hotter curing resulted in higher salt rejection but lower water permeability. Therefore, if continuous curing is desired, it cannot be achieved with a convection oven due to its inefficient heat transfer for moving substrates. The present inventors found that infrared (IR) lamps offered a solution, enabling rapid heat transfer directly to the membrane surface with precise control. This heat transfer rate increases with lamp proximity and wattage. By adjusting exposure time and lamp distance, the overall curing temperature can be fine-tuned. For initial experiments, a 1 kW shortwave IR lamp was chosen. Optimal curing was achieved with the lamp positioned 12 to 15 cm above the membrane for 4-5 minutes, producing coated membranes with performance comparable to oven-cured ones (data not shown). This demonstrated the effectiveness of IR lamp curing as a replacement for the convection oven, offering a 2-3 times faster curing process. Scaling up the process of forming a biomimetic membrane also requires a different approach for applying the layers of solution to the membrane support. To scale up this process, an air atomising spray nozzle was used, which combines liquid and compressed air at low pressures to form very fine droplets (model SF1010SS, EXAIR). This nozzle produced a flat, fan-shaped spray pattern. The liquid was fed into the nozzle using a siphon and the flow rate was precisely controlled with a needle valve, while a separate flow controller monitored the actual rate. Air pressure, another crucial factor, was regulated separately - higher pressure meant smaller droplets and faster flow. To ensure consistent and controllable coating, the nozzle was mounted onto the Memcast, allowing it to move over a stationary membrane sample at a set speed. Using this setup the flow rate, air pressure, nozzle speed, and the distance between the nozzle and the membrane could be varied, achieving optimal coating results. Biomimetic epoxy membranes were successfully fabricated using a novel spray coating system. This setup combined an air atomizer on the surface of the membranes, the wire coater, and an IR lamp. Experiments were conducted to determine the optimal spraying parameters for achieving the best membrane performance. The box above the bars in Figure 12 details the amount of solution sprayed per unit area, flow rate, nozzle speed, and IR lamp curing time. Notably, all membranes were sprayed at 30 psi air pressure on a lOkDa PSF support with a 12 pm wire rod used on the wire Coater to apply a 30% PEGDE and 10% PEI solution. The x-axis differentiates membranes sprayed with water, "CTRL" exosomes (lacking aquaporin), or exosomes containing "aquaporin" embedded within the epoxy layer. The results confirmed that the air-atomizing spray nozzles and IR lamps enabled the creation of membranes with higher permeabilities when aquaporin was incorporated. This suggests that aquaporin effectively facilitates water transport across the membrane. Example 5 - Comparison of the effect of heat treatment on biomimetic membrane assemblies with and without a cured epoxy top-coating layer The present inventors have previously hypothesised that the inclusion of a cured epoxy top-coating layer on a biomimetic membrane may be advantageous because it can provide suitable protection for the membrane mimetic structures, e.g. lipid vesicles or block copolymer-based vesicles, which comprise a delicate membrane protein such as an aquaporin. Therefore, in order to investigate the potential of the cured epoxy layer of the present invention to protect against the effects of heat treatment, a comparative experiment is conducted as described below. Materials and. Methods A support was prepared by quenching a 15% poly sulfone, 1% lithium bromide dope solution at 20°C on 100W polypropylene backing. The resultant membrane support was preserved in 0.05% sodium azide for 3-6 weeks. On the day of the experiment, the support was rinsed with deionized water for 1 hour in an overflow bath and then dried with an air knife at 40 psi for 2 minutes. At this point, the support was either taken directly to the wire coater (for coating with an epoxy resin formulation) or sprayed with biomimetic solution (a solution comprising aquaporin vesicles) using an air gun at 35 psi, then transferred to the wire coater. The aquaporin contained within the vesicles was double-labelled with a fluorescent dye tag and a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) tag. The loading used for the biomimetic solution was 62 mL per meter squared. The chosen thickness of the wire rod coater was 6 microns. The epoxy formulation was then prepared as follows: 0.8% Glycerol Glycidyl Ether and 5% polyethylene imine. After adding the reagents, the epoxy solution was vortexed for 30s and then dispensed at half an inch in front of the wire coater. The rod was moved at a speed of 4 m / min. After the support was fully coated, the membrane was then placed in a 45°C oven for 5 minutes then immediately placed into a deionized water overflow bath. Some of the samples prepared were not coated with the epoxy formulation, but instead transferred directly to the oven after the spray coating. Afterwards, they were either left dry until the fluorescence scanning or soaked in sterilized reverse osmosis filtered water for 5 minutes. All the coupons prepared in this protocol were kept hydrated in 10 mM 4-Morpholinepropanesulfonic acid sodium salt (NaMOPS) buffer, pH 7.5, until scanning. Florescence coupon scans were collected on a LICOR Odyssey M imager at 488nm Excitation / 530nm Emission, 520nm Excitation / 590nm Emission, 685nm Excitation / 720nm Emission and 785nm Excitation / 820nm Emission wavelength settings with a 20 pm pixel resolution. Coupon locations were determined by Hough circle detection algorithms using the 520nm Excitation / 590nm Emission or 785nm Excitation / 820nm Emission wavelengths. Baseline fluorescence for control coupons were then determined based on the fluorescent intensities seen at the locations of detected control coupons. These baseline values were then used to calculate the percent coverage of coupons coated with vesicles. Results The fluorescent samples were prepared with and without an epoxy layer and heated at 45°C for 5 min. to show how heat would impact the functionality of aquaporins in the presence and absence of the epoxy layer (Figure 13). The presence of aquaporin vesicles on the surface of the polysulfone membrane was determined by the fluorescence of the fluorescent dye tag. The functionality of the aquaporin within the vesicles was determined via the level of fluorescence of the GFP. For the samples that were not coated with an epoxy layer, the dye had nearly 100% coverage indicating the physical presence of the aquaporin, whereas the coverage of the GFP signal was much lower (average of 20%), indicating that in the absence of an epoxy layer, the aquaporin protein, although present, was largely denatured by the heat treatment. If the samples were immediately soaked in water after heating, the GFP coverage was slightly higher but on average still much lower than the dye coverage. In comparison, the samples which were also coated with an epoxy layer had much higher GFP coverage on average (-70-80%), indicating that the epoxy layer prevented the aquaporin from denaturing when exposed to heat. Example 6 - Comparison of the effect of UV treatment on biomimetic membrane assemblies with and without a cured epoxy top-coating layer In order to investigate the protective potential of the cured epoxy layer of the present invention to protect against the effects of exposure to UV light, a comparative experiment is conducted as described below. Materials and. Methods Supports coated with double-labelled aquaporin vesicles and with or without an epoxy layer were prepared as described in Example 5. After curing the epoxy layer, the sample was then treated with UV light (power of 8 mW / m2 and emission of 365 nm) for 10 minutes using a Boekel Scientific UV Crosslinker AH 234100. Control supports not coated with the epoxy formulation, were transferred directly to the UV lamp after the spray coating with double-labelled aquaporin vesicles. For all the coupons prepared in this protocol, they were kept hydrated in 10 mM 4-Morpholinepropanesulfonic acid sodium salt (NaMOPS) buffer, pH 7.5, until scanning. Fluorescence coupon scans were collected on a LICOR Odyssey M imager as described in Example 5. Results For the fluorescent samples that were prepared without a protective epoxy layer (Figures 14C and 14D), dye fluorescence was observed confirming that the aquaporin protein was present on the coupon samples. However, there was essentially no GFP fluorescence emitted by the samples, suggesting that the aquaporin, although present on the coupon surface, had been denatured by the UV light. In contrast, in respect of the equivalent samples which included an epoxy layer (Figures 14C and 14D), the GFP fluorescence was relatively unaffected by the UV treatment (with the dye fluorescence being similar to the samples without a protective epoxy layer). The presence of the GFP fluorescence indicates that the aquaporin retains activity and is thus not denatured. This experiment therefore demonstrates that the epoxy layer can shield the aquaporins from the effects of UV irradiation. Example 7 - Effect of Solubilising Epoxy Resin in Organic versus Aqueous Solvent The present inventors further hypothesized that, when making a biomimetic membrane assembly comprising a cured epoxy resin protective layer as described herein, solubilising the uncured epoxy resin in an aqueous solvent would confer advantages over solubilising the uncured epoxy resin in a non-aqueous solvent. A comparative experiment to test the hypothesis is therefore contemplated as described herein. Separate solutions of 10% w / v PEI and 20-30% w / v PEGDGE dissolved in water and separate solutions of 10% w / v PEI and 20-30% w / v PEGDGE dissolved in organic solvent are prepared. Subsequently, 2 mL of a 1.25 mg / ml solution of polymersomes comprising aquaporin is sprayed onto two identical PSF membranes to form two identical biomimetic membrane assemblies. The aquaporin protein is doublelabelled with a GFP tag and fluorescent dye as described in Example 2. One of the membrane assemblies is coated with a mixture of the epoxy resin and epoxy curing agent dissolved in water and the other membrane assembly is coated with a mixture of the epoxy resin and the epoxy curing agent dissolved in organic solvent. In more detail, the previously prepared solutions of PEI and PEGDGE (in aqueous or organic solvent) are mixed just before application and the mixture is coated across the polymersome layer using a wire rod. The two membrane assemblies are then placed in an oven at 45°C for 15 minutes to cure the epoxy coating. The surface coverage, integrity and correct folding of the aquaporin is then quantified by GFP and dye fluorescence imaging as described in Example 2 and compared between the membrane assembly coated with epoxy resin and epoxy curing agent dissolved in aqueous solvent and the membrane assembly coated with epoxy resin and epoxy curing agent dissolved in organic solvent. Differences in GFP and dye fluorescence between the two membrane assemblies indicate the impact of using aqueous or organic solvent to dissolve the epoxy resin. Example 8 - The effect of pH on biomimetic membrane assemblies with and without a cured epoxy top-coating layer. In order to investigate the protective potential of the cured epoxy layer of the present invention to protect against the effects of exposure to changes in pH, a comparative experiment is conducted as described below. Materials and. Methods Supports coated with double-labelled aquaporin vesicles and with or without an epoxy layer were prepared as described in Example 5. After curing the epoxy layer, the samples were then treated with neutral, acidic or basic solution (pH 7, pH 2 or pH 11) for 5 minutes. The samples which were not coated with epoxy were transferred directly to the different pH treatments. The acidic and basic solutions were made using hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. For all the coupons prepared in this protocol, they were kept hydrated in 10 mM 4-Morpholinepropanesulfonic acid sodium salt (NaMOPS) buffer, pH 7.5, until scanning. Fluorescence coupon scans were collected on a LICOR Odyssey M imager as described in Example 5. Results From Figure 15, some inferences can be made on the effect of acidic and basic solutions on biomimetic membranes with and without an epoxy layer. Consistent with the results from previous examples, coupons coated with aquaporin containing vesicles and an epoxy layer have a fluorescence coverage around 70-80% for the GFP signal at neutral pH. In both acidic and basic conditions, a drop in the GFP signal coverage is observed, but some of the fluorescence is still maintained. This suggests that the epoxy has a shielding effect for the aquaporins against acidic and basic solutions. This is confirmed by the control data in Figure 16, which show the effect of acidic and basic solutions on aquaporin vesicle coated polysulfone coupons without an epoxy coating. The GFP fluorescence of the coupons with no epoxy layer was essentially absent at pH 2 compared to the coupons with an epoxy layer. There was also a greater average reduction in GFP fluorescence at pH 11 in the absence of an epoxy layer, when compared to the coupons with an epoxy layer. Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein 5 incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, 10 it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments. Clauses 1. A method of manufacturing an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin, wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly; and wherein said method comprises the steps of: i) providing a biomolecule and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin; ii) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms the barrier between the biomolecule and the environment. 2. A method as described in clause 1, wherein said step (i) further includes providing an epoxy curing agent. 3. A method as described in clause 1 or 2, wherein the aqueous solution comprising the epoxy resin has a pH which is approximately neutral, e.g. from about pH 6 to about pH 8. 4. A method as described in any of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the biomolecule is comprised as part of a membrane mimetic structure. 5. A method as described in clause 4, wherein the membrane mimetic structure is a vesicle, e.g. a lipid vesicle or a proteopolymersome. 6. A method as described in clause 4 or clause 5, wherein in the context of step ii), the membrane mimetic structure is cross-linked to the cured epoxy resin. 7. A method as described in any preceding clause, wherein the biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide, a carbohydrate, a lipid and a nucleic acid. 8. A method as described in any preceding clause, wherein the biomolecule is a polypeptide. 9. A method as described in any preceding clause, wherein the biomolecule is selected from the group comprising of a membrane protein, an enzyme, or an ion channel, for example a membrane protein. 10. A method as described in any preceding clause, wherein the biomolecule is an aquaporin. 11. A method as described in any preceding clause, wherein said step (i) further includes providing a support, e.g. a porous support, and wherein in the context of said step (ii), said biomolecule and said cured epoxy resin are arranged on a surface of the support such that said biomolecule is located between the surface of the support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly. 12. A method as described in clause 11, wherein the support, e.g. the porous support, comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypiperazine, cellulose acetates, cellulose nitrates, and cellulose esters. 13. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the cured epoxy resin is a hydrogel. 14. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the epoxy resin in step (i) has at least 0.1 g / L solubility in water. 15. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the epoxy resin in step (i) is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE), poly(propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PPGDGE), diglycidyl glycerol ether, triglycidyl glycerol ether, 4,4'-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline),N,N-Diglycidyl-4-glycidyloxyaniline, or Triglycidyl Isocyanurate, 16. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the epoxy resin in step (i) comprises poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE). 17. The method of clause 16, wherein the PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 5000 Da, for example about 500 Da. 18. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of a Formula selected from the group consisting of Formula I-A wherein R is H, or Me and n is a positive integer value; or OH Formula I-C , or Formula I-D , or Formula I-E , or OH Formula I-F Formula I-G 19. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I, wherein n is a positive integer value: Formula I. 20. The method of any of clauses 2 to 19, wherein the epoxy curing agent is selected from the group consisting of amines, acids, acid anhydrides, phenols, alcohols and thiols. 21. The method of any of clauses 2 to 20, wherein the epoxy curing agent is an amine. 22. The method of any of clauses 2 to 21, wherein the epoxy curing agent is a polyethylenimine (PEI), for example a branched PEI. 23. The method of any of clauses 2 to 22, wherein the epoxy resin and the epoxy curing agent are mixed in a weight ratio of about 2 to 1. 24. The method of any of clauses 1 to 23, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises amine groups, for example secondary amine groups, tertiary amine groups or a combination of both secondary and tertiary amine groups. 25. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula II: Formula II. 26. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula III, wherein n is a positive integer value: Formula III. 27. The method of any preceding clause wherein said barrier is a protective barrier. 28. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the cured epoxy resin forms at least 80% of the barrier. 29. The method of any preceding clause, wherein said barrier consists essentially of said cured epoxy resin. 30. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the assembly is a membrane assembly, for example a filtration membrane assembly. 31. The method as described in any preceding clause, wherein the assembly is a filtration membrane assembly, comprising: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and an environment which is external to said filtration membrane assembly; wherein said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between a surface of the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly; and wherein said method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a porous support, a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein, and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin; (ii) applying the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein to a surface of the porous support; (iii) applying the aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin to the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein; (iv) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin. 32. The method of any preceding clause wherein the environment which is external to said assembly is a liquid environment, for example an aqueous environment. 33. The method as described in clause 32 wherein the liquid environment comprises one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of turbulence, optionally characterised by a Reynolds number of about 3500 to about 5000, a pressure of greater than about 100 kPa, temperatures of about 40°C or greater or of about 5°C or lower, a pH level of greater than about 8 or less than about 6, the presence of a non-aqueous solvent or a concentration of dissolved ions of greater than about 0.1M. 34. An assembly obtainable by the method of any of clauses 1 to 33. 35. An assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly. 36. An assembly as described in clause 35, wherein the epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin has at least 0.1 g / L solubility in water. 37. An assembly as described in clause 36 or clause 37, wherein the epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin is selected from the group consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE), poly (propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PPGDGE), diglycidyl glycerol ether, triglycidyl glycerol ether, 4,4'-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline),N,N-Diglycidyl-4-glycidyloxyaniline, or Triglycidyl Isocyanurate. 38. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 37, wherein the epoxy resin used to generate said cured epoxy resin comprises poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE). 39. An assembly as described in any one of clauses 35 to 38, wherein the PEGDGE has a weight average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 5000 Da, for example about 500 Da. 40. An assembly as described in clause 35, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of a Formula selected from the group consisting of: Formula I-A wherein R is H, or Me and n is a positive integer value; or OH Formula I-C Formula I-D , or Formula I-E , or OH Formula I-F , or Formula I-G 41. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 40, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I, wherein n is a positive integer. OH Formula I 42. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 41, wherein the biomolecule is comprised as part of a membrane mimetic structure. 43. An assembly as described in clause 42, wherein the membrane mimetic structure is a vesicle, e.g. a lipid vesicle or a proteopolymersome. 44. An assembly as described in clause 42 or clause 43, wherein the membrane mimetic structure is cross-linked to the cured epoxy resin. 45. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 44, wherein the biomolecule is functional. 46. An assembly as described in any preceding clause, wherein the biomolecule is as defined in any of clauses 7 to 10. 47. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 46, wherein the assembly further comprises a support, e.g. a porous support, comprising a surface onto which said biomolecule and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said biomolecule is located between the surface of the support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly. 48. An assembly as described in clause 47, wherein the support, e.g. the porous support, comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypiperazine, cellulose acetates, cellulose nitrates, and cellulose esters. 49. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 48, wherein the cured epoxy resin is a hydrogel. 50. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 49, wherein the pH of the cured epoxy resin is biocompatible, for example the pH of the cured epoxy resin is from about 6 to about 8. 51. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 50, wherein the epoxy resin used to make said cured epoxy resin is dissolved in an aqueous solvent. 52. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 51, wherein the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is selected from the group consisting of amines, acids, acid anhydrides, phenols, alcohols and thiols. 53. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 52, wherein the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is an amine. 54. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 53, wherein the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is a polyethylenimine (PEI), for example a branched PEI. 55. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 54, wherein the epoxy resin used to make said cured epoxy resin and the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin are mixed in a weight ratio of about 2 to 1. 56. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 55, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises amine groups, for example secondary amine groups, tertiary amine groups or a combination of both secondary and tertiary amine groups. 57. An assembly as described in any of clause 35 to 56, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula II: Formula II 58. An assembly as described in any of clause 35 to 57, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula III, wherein n is a positive integer value: Formula III 59. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 58, wherein said barrier is a protective barrier. 60. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 59, wherein said barrier consists essentially of said cured epoxy resin. 61. An assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 60 which is a membrane assembly, for example a filtration membrane assembly. 62. A membrane assembly, for example a filtration membrane assembly, comprising: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces an environment which is external to said membrane assembly; and wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and the environment which is external to said assembly. 63. A membrane assembly as described in clause 62, wherein the features of said membrane assembly are further defined as in any of clauses 35 to 61. 64. A membrane assembly as described in clause 62 or clause 63, wherein the membrane protein is an aquaporin. 65. An assembly or membrane assembly as described in any of clauses 35 to 64 wherein the environment which is external to said assembly is a liquid environment, for example an aqueous environment. 66. An assembly as described in clause 65, wherein the liquid environment comprises one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of turbulence optionally characterised by a Reynolds number of about 3500 to about 5000, a pressure of greater than about 100 kPa, temperatures of about 40°C or greater or of about 5°C or lower, a pH level of greater than about 8 or less than about 6, the presence of a non-aqueous solvent or a concentration of dissolved ions of greater than about 0.1M. 67. A method of protecting a biomolecule comprising the steps of: (i) providing said biomolecule and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin and (ii) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms a barrier between the biomolecule and an environment external to said biomolecule. 68. A method as described in clause 67, wherein the features of said method are further defined as in any of clauses 2 to 33. 69. Use of a cured epoxy resin as a barrier to protect a biomolecule from an environment external to said biomolecule. 70. A use as described in clause 69, wherein said assembly is further defined as in any of clauses 35 to 66.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin, wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly; and wherein said method comprises the steps of:i) providing a biomolecule and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin;ii) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms the barrier between the biomolecule and the environment.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (i) further includes providing an epoxy curing agent and said epoxy curing agent is used to cure the epoxy resin in step (ii).

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the aqueous solution comprising the epoxy resin has a pH which is approximately neutral, e.g. from about pH 6 to about pH 8.

4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the biomolecule is comprised as part of a membrane mimetic structure, for example a vesicle such as a lipid vesicle or a proteopolymersome.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein in the context of step ii), the membrane mimetic structure is cross-linked to the cured epoxy resin.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide, a carbohydrate, a lipid and a nucleic acid.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the biomolecule is an aquaporin.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said step (i) further includes providing a support, e.g. a porous support, and wherein in the context of said step (ii), said biomolecule and said cured epoxy resin are arranged on a surface of the support such that said biomolecule is located between the surface of the support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the support, e.g. the porous support, comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS),polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypiperazine, cellulose acetates, cellulose nitrates, and cellulose esters.

10. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the cured epoxy resin is a hydrogel.

11. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the epoxy resin in step (i) is selected from the group consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE), poly(propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PPGDGE), diglycidyl glycerol ether, triglycidyl glycerol ether, 4,4'-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline),N,N-Diglycidyl-4-glycidyloxyaniline, or Triglycidyl Isocyanurate,12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of a Formula selected from the group consisting ofFormula I-Awherein R is H, or Me and n is a positive integer value; orOHFormula I-D, orFormula I-E, orFormula I-F, orFormula I-G13. The method of any of claims 2 to 12, wherein the epoxy curing agent is selected from the group consisting of amines, acids, acid anhydrides, phenols, alcohols andthiols, for example wherein the epoxy curing agent is an amine, for example a polyethylenimine (PEI).

14. The method of any preceding claim wherein said barrier is a protective barrier.

15. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the cured epoxy resin forms at least 80% of the barrier.

16. The method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the assembly is a filtration membrane assembly, comprising: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin;wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and an environment which is external to said filtration membrane assembly;wherein said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between a surface of the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly; andwherein said method comprises the steps of:(i) providing a porous support, a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein, and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin;(ii) applying the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein to a surface of the porous support;(iii) applying the aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin to the membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein;(iv) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin.

17. An assembly comprising: (a) a biomolecule and (b) a cured epoxy resin; wherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said biomolecule and an environment which is external to said assembly.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the epoxy resin used to generate the cured epoxy resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE), poly(propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PPGDGE), diglycidyl glycerol ether, triglycidyl glycerol ether, 4,4'-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline),N,N-Diglycidyl-4-glycidyloxyaniline, or Triglycidyl Isocyanurate.

19. An assembly as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of a Formula selected from the group consisting of:Formula I-Awherein R is H, or Me and n is a positive integer value; orOHFormula I-CFormula I-DFormula I-F, orFormula I-G20. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula I, wherein n is a positiveinteger.OHFormula I21. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 20, wherein the biomolecule is comprised as part of a membrane mimetic structure, for example a vesicle such as a lipid vesicle or a proteopolymersome.

22. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the membrane mimetic structure is cross-linked to the cured epoxy resin.

23. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 22, wherein the biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide, a carbohydrate, a lipid and a nucleic acid, for example a polypeptide such as an aquaporin.

24. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 23, wherein the assembly further comprises a support, e.g. a porous support, comprising a surface onto which said biomolecule and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said biomolecule is located between the surface of the support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces the environment which is external to said membrane assembly.

25. An assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein the support, e.g. the porous support, comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypiperazine, cellulose acetates, cellulose nitrates, and cellulose esters.

26. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 25, wherein the cured epoxy resin is a hydrogel.

27. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 26, wherein the pH of the cured epoxy resin is biocompatible, for example the pH of the cured epoxy resin is from about 6 to about 8.

28. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 27, wherein the epoxy resin used to make said cured epoxy resin is dissolved in an aqueous solvent.

29. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 28, wherein the epoxy curing agent used to make said cured epoxy resin is selected from the group consisting of amines, acids, acid anhydrides, phenols, alcohols and thiols, for example wherein the epoxy curing agent is an amine, for example a polyethylenimine (PEI).

30. An assembly as claimed in any of claim 17 to 29, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula II:Formula II31. An assembly as claimed in any of claim 17 to 30, wherein the chemical structure of said cured epoxy resin comprises a moiety of Formula III, wherein n is a positive integer value:Formula III32. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 31, wherein said barrier is a protective barrier.

33. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 17 to 32, wherein said barrier consists essentially of said cured epoxy resin.

34. A membrane assembly, for example a filtration membrane assembly, comprising: (a) a porous support; (b) a membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and (c) a cured epoxy resin;wherein said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and said cured epoxy resin are arranged such that said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein is located between the porous support and a surface of the cured epoxy resin which faces an environment which is external to said membrane assembly; andwherein said cured epoxy resin forms a barrier between said membrane mimetic structure comprising a membrane protein and the environment which is external to said assembly.

35. A membrane assembly as claimed in claim 34, wherein the features of said membrane assembly are further defined as in any of claims 17 to 33.

36. A method of protecting a biomolecule comprising the steps of: (i) providing said biomolecule and an aqueous solution comprising an epoxy resin and (ii) curing the epoxy resin to generate a cured epoxy resin which forms a barrier between the biomolecule and an environment external to said biomolecule.

37. Use of a cured epoxy resin as a barrier to protect a biomolecule from an environment external to said biomolecule.73

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