Polymer matrixes having nanoscale channels and uses

• US 20060201883A1
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vanderbilt University
• Original Assignee: Vanderbilt University
• Inventors: Wright, David W., Hofmeister, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/545,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201883A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/649
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/34 Size selective separation, e.g. size exclusion chromatography, gel filtration, permeation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/10 Filtering material manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/1676 of synthetic origin
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/26 Synthetic macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/265 modified or post-treated polymers polymer carriers or substrates subjected to further impregnating or coating B01J20/3208
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28026 Particles within, immobilised, dispersed, entrapped in or on a matrix, e.g. a resin
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28095 Shape or type of pores, voids, channels, ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0896 Nanoscaled
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/185 using a liquid as fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/06 Crystallising dishes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/54 using spatial temperature gradients
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/202 comprising elimination of a solid or a liquid ingredient
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00071 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 2201/034 Moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 : Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 : including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

Disclosed herein are polymer matrixes having nanoscale channels dispersed therein and to methods for preparing such matrixes. Also disclosed are uses of such polymer matrixes, such as for separating and analyzing materials. Still further, disclosed are devices that include such polymer matrixes.

Claims

1. A method of making a polymer matrix having nanoscale channels comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a first and a second polymeric component each having a melting temperature,;

b. mixing the first and second polymeric components under conditions sufficient to provide a substantially homogeneous polymer mixture;

c. solidifying one or both of the polymeric components to provide a pre-matrix wherein the second polymeric component is at least partially crystalline; and

d. removing at least a portion of the second polymeric component from the pre-matrix, thereby providing a polymer matrix having nanoscale channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition of step b comprises heating the first and second polymeric components to a temperature greater than the melting temperature of the polymeric component having the highest melting temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first polymeric component is polyethylene oxide and the second polymeric component is poly(methyl)methacrylate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second polymeric components are present as a block copolymer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the solidification step is by nucleation and growth of spherulites.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solidification step is by directional solidification.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing step comprises contacting the pre-matrix with a solvent suitable to dissolve the second polymeric component, wherein the solvent does not substantially dissolve the first polymeric component.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing step is by exposing the pre-matrix to electromagnetic radiation, followed by contacting the pre-matrix with a solvent suitable to dissolve the second polymeric component, wherein the solvent does not substantially dissolve the first polymeric component.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanoscale channel has a diameter of less than about 750 nanometers.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a functionalizing material is passed through the polymer matrix after step d so as to provide a functionalized polymer matrix.

11. A device for separating materials, comprising the polymer matrix having nanoscale channels of claim 1 and a support form.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the support form comprises one or more of silicon, silicon nitride, silicone, glass, quartz, platinum, stainless steel, copper, aluminum or plastic.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising a detector.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the detector comprises one or more of an optoelectronic detector, UV detector, refractive index detector, fluorescence detector, conductivity detector, electrochemical detector, FTIR detector, thermal conductivity detector, flame ionization detector, photoionization detector, mass spectroscopy detector or colorimetric detector.

15. A method for separating materials, the method comprising:

a. providing a sample comprising materials having differing sizes;

b. contacting the sample with the polymer matrix having nanoscale channels of claim 1;

and

c. separating the desired materials.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising directing a least a portion of the separated materials through a detector.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the materials comprise one or more of DNA, RNA, nucleotides, nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, sugars, lipids, bioactive molecules that affect fungal growth, viruses, toxins, cellular organelles, or blood and cell receptors or ligands.