Structures with field responsive permeation control
First Claim
1. An electric-field responsive assembly useful with target molecules, comprising:
- a fluid source with target molecules therein;
a fluid reservoir spaced from the fluid source, the source, and the reservoir defining a fluid passageway therebetween;
a support being interposed in the passageway, the support permitting target molecules to diffuse therethrough; and
at least one monomolecular layer carried on a surface of the support, the one and any additional monomolecular layers together forming an active control structure, at least one layer of the active control structure is an admixture of molecular species, at least a majority of the molecular species having a large ground state dipole moment, each monomolecular layer having closely packed, dipolar molecules that are substantially aligned along their long axes, the active control structure having an average off permeability value for target molecules in the absence of an electric field or in the presence of an electric field below a threshold value, the active control structure having an on permeability value to target molecules when at least the electric field threshold value is applied thereacross, the on permeability value being enhanced with respect to the off permeability value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices are useful to capture or dispense target molecules and include an electric field-responsive valve unit. The valve unit includes an active control structure having at least one monomolecular layer and being up to about 10 nm thick. The active control structure is formed by a majority of molecular species with a dipolar moment greater than about 5 Debye, and operable in response to an electric field at a threshold value. A particularly preferred embodiment has the active control structure carried on a microporous membrane with pores in the nanometer range. Applications for inventive embodiments include drug delivery and target molecule capture during electrophoresis separations.
21 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electric-field responsive assembly useful with target molecules, comprising:
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a fluid source with target molecules therein; a fluid reservoir spaced from the fluid source, the source, and the reservoir defining a fluid passageway therebetween; a support being interposed in the passageway, the support permitting target molecules to diffuse therethrough; and at least one monomolecular layer carried on a surface of the support, the one and any additional monomolecular layers together forming an active control structure, at least one layer of the active control structure is an admixture of molecular species, at least a majority of the molecular species having a large ground state dipole moment, each monomolecular layer having closely packed, dipolar molecules that are substantially aligned along their long axes, the active control structure having an average off permeability value for target molecules in the absence of an electric field or in the presence of an electric field below a threshold value, the active control structure having an on permeability value to target molecules when at least the electric field threshold value is applied thereacross, the on permeability value being enhanced with respect to the off permeability value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electric-field responsive assembly useful with target molecules, comprising:
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a fluid source with target molecules therein; a fluid reservoir spaced from the fluid source, the source, and the reservoir defining a fluid passageway therebetween; a support being interposed in the passageway, the support permitting target molecules to diffuse therethrough, the fluid reservoir and support being a composite structure with the composite structure including a swellable polymer, at least one monomolecular layer carried on a surface of the support, the one and any additional monomolecular layers together forming an active control structure, each monomolecular layer having closely packed, dipolar molecules that aligned along their long axes, the active control structure having an average off permeability value for target molecules in the absence of an electric field or in the presence of an electric field below a threshold value, the active control structure having an on permeability value to target molecules when at least the electric field threshold value is applied thereacross, the on permeability value being enhanced with respect to the off permeability value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A molecular capturing or dispensing device, comprising:
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a field-responsive valve unit, the valve unit in fluid communication with a source of target molecules, the valve unit including an active control structure up to about 10 nm thick, the active control structure having at least one monomolecular layer formed by an amphiphilic composition, the amphiphilic composition having a majority of first molecular species with a dipolar moment greater than about 5 Debye, the active control structure being operable in response to an electric field at or about a selected threshold value; and an electrode assembly operably coupled to the valve unit for delivery of an electric field at or above the selected threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification