NOVELTY - A membrane-based apparatus comprises an article comprising a membrane having pores extending from a first surface through the membrane to a second surface; and a surfactant in contact with a surface of the membrane. The surfactant is capable of functioning as a super spreader when in contact with a solution, and the article is capable of wetting at least one of the surfaces in response to contact with a fluid.    USE - The apparatus is used in separation systems (for liquid water filtration), in electrochemical cells, or in medical devices. The medical devices can be vascular grafts, aortic grafts, arterial, venous, or vascular tubing, vascular stents, dialysis membranes, tubing or connectors, blood oxygenator tubing or membranes, ultrafiltration membranes, intra-aortic balloons, blood bags, catheters, sutures, soft or hard tissue prostheses, synthetic prostheses, prosthetic heart valves, tissue adhesives, cardiac pacemaker leads, artificial organs, endotracheal tubes, lenses for the eye such as contact or intraocular lenses, blood handling equipment, apheresis equipment, diagnostic and monitoring catheters and sensors, biosensors, dental devices, drug delivery systems, or bodily implants.    ADVANTAGE - The membrane-based article improves the visualization or imaging characteristics of a medical device implanted in a human body.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) an ion-exchange filter comprising the apparatus and an ionomer layer in ionic communication with the membrane;    (2) an electrochemical cell;    (3) a fuel cell;    (4) a medical device;    (5) a separator;    (6) a water treatment apparatus;    (7) a desalination apparatus; and    (8) a method comprising decreasing the electrical resistance of an ion exchange membrane comprising the article, separating components of a solution having components, disposing the article as an intervening layer between a relatively non-biocompatible material and a tissue, a cell, or a biologic fluid, or wetting the pores of the membrane with a biologic fluid to enhance visualization of a medical device to one or both of ultrasound imaging or to optical imaging.    The membrane further comprises a bioactive material comprising anticoagulant agent, an antithrombotic agent, a clotting agent, a platelet agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antibody, an antigen, an immunoglobulin, a defense agent, an enzyme, a hormone, a growth factor, a neurotransmitter, a cytokine, a regulatory agent, a transport agent, a fibrous agent, a viral agent, a protein, a structural protein, a membrane protein, a cell attachment protein, a viral protein, a peptide, a toxin, an antibiotic agent, an antibacterial agent, an antimicrobial agent, a saccharide, a carbohydrate, a fatty acid, a catalyst, a drug, a vitamin, a DNA segment, a RNA segment, a nucleic acid, a lectin, a ligand, or dye.