Why do we use a nitrocellulose membrane in western blot

Nitrocellulose membranes are a popular matrix used in protein blotting because of

1. Their high protein-binding affinity
2. Compatibility with a variety of detection methods (chemiluminescence, chromogenic, and fluorescence), and
3. The ability to immobilize proteins, glycoproteins, or nucleic acids.

Protein immobilization is thought to occur by hydrophobic interactions, and high salt and low methanol concentrations help improve protein immobilization to the membrane during electrophoretic transfer, especially for proteins with higher molecular weights. Nitrocellulose membranes are not optimal for electrophoretic transfer of nucleic acids, as the high salt concentrations that are required for efficient binding will effectively elute some or all of the charged nucleic acid fragments.

Yes we can use different membrane instead if that make us meet the such requirements…