Membranes

• US 20030036085A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Isaac Rothman, Richard F. Salinaro, Thomas C. Gsell
• Original Assignee: Isaac Rothman, Richard F. Salinaro, Thomas C. Gsell
• Inventors: Salinaro, Richard F, Gsell, Thomas C, Rothman, Isaac
• Application Number:
  US10/204,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036085A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/02 characterised by their properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/10 Supported membranes; Membrane supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/106 Membranes in the pores of a support, e.g. polymerized in the pores or voids
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/56 Polyamides, e.g. polyester-amides

Abstract

Disclosed are smooth surfaced porous membranes having one or more advantages such as low autofluorescence, thermal-cyclability, especially under humid conditions, and three-dimensional binding capacity. The membrane can be free-standing or, preferably in combination with a support as in a composite membrane. The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous polymer layer disposed on a support. The present invention further provides devices such as microarray devices comprising the composite for the analysis of biomaterials such as nucleic acids.

Claims

1. A composite comprising a polymer layer disposed on a support, wherein the polymer layer is porous and has at least one of (a) a surface roughness average (Ra) of less than about 800 nm, (b) a root mean square surface roughness (Rq) of less than about 1000 nm, (c) an average maximum height of the surface profile (Rz) of less than about 10 μ

m, and (d) a maximum height of the surface profile (Rt) of less than about 15 μ

m.

4. The composite of any of claims 1-3, wherein the polymer layer comprises a polyamide.

5. The composite of any of claims 1-3, wherein the polymer layer comprises a porous hydrophilic polymer layer.

6. The composite of any of claims 1-3, wherein the polymer layer comprises a porous charged polymer layer.

7. The composite of any of claims 1-3, wherein the polymer layer comprises a polar polymer layer.

8. The composite of any of claims 1-7, having an autofluorescence of less than about 5000 units in the wavelength range of 400-700 nm.

9. The composite of claim 8, having an autofluorescence of less than about 5000 units in the wavelength range of 420-490 nm.

10. The composite of any of claims 1-7, having an autofluorescence of less than about 2000 units in the wavelength range of 640-700 nm.

11. The composite of claim 10, having an autofluorescence of less than about 2000 units in the wavelength range of 400-700 nm.

12. The composite of claim 11, having an autofluorescence of less than about 1000 units.

13. The composite of any of claims 1-12, having an autofluorescence less than that of the support.

14. The composite of claim 13, having an autofluorescence about 10 times less than that of the support.

15. The composite of claim 13 or 14, having an autofluorescence about 5 times less than that of the support.

16. The composite of any of claims 1-15, wherein the polymer or polyamide layer has a thickness of less than about 150 μ

m.

17. The composite of claim 16, wherein the polymer or polyamide layer has a thickness of from about 10 μ

m to about 100 μ

m.

18. The composite of any of claims 1-17, wherein the polymer or polyamide layer has affinity for a biomaterial.

19. The composite of claim 18, wherein the biomaterial includes nucleic acid.

20. The composite of claim 4, wherein the polyamide layer comprises a nylon.

21. The composite of claim 20, wherein the nylon is nylon 66.

22. The composite of any of claims 1-3 and 8-19, wherein the porous polymer layer comprises a polysulfone.

23. The composite of any of claims 1-3 and 8-19, wherein the porous polymer layer comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

24. The composite of any of claims 1-23, wherein the support is non-porous.

25. The composite of claim 24, wherein the support comprises glass, ceramic, metal, or a support polymer.

26. The composite of claim 25, wherein the support polymer comprises polycarbonate, acrylic resin, polystyrene, or polyolefin.

27. The composite of any of claims 1-26, which is substantially free of an adhesion promoter.

28. The composite of claim 24 or 25, wherein the support is glass.

29. The composite of claim 28, which includes an adhesion promoter.

30. The composite of claim 29, wherein the adhesion promoter is a silane.

31. The composite of claim 6, wherein the charged polymer layer includes a positively charged polymer.

32. The composite of claim 6, wherein the charged polymer layer includes a positively charged coating and a neutral polymer.

33. The composite of claim 31 or 32, which includes quaternary ammonium groups.

35. A method for identifying or measuring the amount of a biomaterial present in a sample comprising (a) providing a composite or porous membrane of any of claims 1-34;

(b) contacting the sample with the composite to obtain a biomaterial bound composite;

(c) contacting the biomaterial bound composite with a binding agent that is capable of binding with the biomaterial; and

(d) determining whether binding has occurred.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the biomaterial includes nucleic acid.

37. The method of claim 35 or 36, wherein the binding agent includes a nucleic acid and a label.

38. A kit for identifying or measuring the amount of a biomaterial present in a sample comprising (a) a composite or porous membrane of any of claims 1-34 and (b) a biomaterial probe.

39. A device for identifying or measuring the amount of a biomaterial present in a sample comprising a composite or porous membrane of any of claims 1-34;

an arrangement for contacting the sample with the composite;

an arrangement for contacting the composite with a biomaterial probe; and

an arrangement for determining whether binding has occurred between the biomaterial and the probe.

2. A composite comprising a polymer layer disposed on a support, the composite having low autofluorescence.

3. A composite comprising a polymer layer disposed on a support, the composite being thermal-cyclable.

34. A porous membrane comprising a smooth planar hydrophilic polymer surface, a smooth planar charged polymer surface, or a smooth planar polar polymer surface, the porous membrane having at least one of (a) a surface roughness average (Ra) of less than about 800 nm, (b) a root mean square surface roughness (Rq) of less than about 1000 nm, (c) an average maximum height of the surface profile (Rz) of less than about 10 μ

m, and (d) a maximum height of the surface profile (Rt) of less than about 15 μ

m.

40. A method for preparing a composite having low autofluorescence comprising a porous polymer layer disposed on a support, the method comprising (a) providing a support;

(b) providing a composition comprising a solvent and a polymer;

(c) spin-coating the support with the composition from (b);

(d) removing the solvent; and

(e) recovering the composite.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the polymer is a hydrophilic polymer or a charged polymer.

42. The method of claim 40 or 41, wherein the porous polymer layer comprises a polyamide.

44. The composite prepared by the method of any of claims 40-43.

43. A method for preparing a composite having low autofluorescence comprising a porous polymer layer disposed on a support, the method comprising (a) providing a support;

(b) providing a composition comprising a solvent and a plurality of polymers at least one of which is a charged, hydrophilic, or polar polymer;

(c) spin-coating the support with the composition from (b);

(d) removing the solvent;

(e) selectively removing one or more polymers so as to leave behind the charged, hydrophilic, or polar polymer; and

(f) recovering the composite.