Porous polymer monoliths, processes for preparation and use thereof

• US 9,475,914 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Tasmania
• Original Assignee: University of Tasmania
• Inventors: Bayliss, Mark A. J, Haddad, Paul Raymond, Hilder, Emily Frances, Candish, Esme
• Primary Examiner(s): Visone, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US13/520,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20120276576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,119 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/261 obtained by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds per se C08F
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/264 derived from different types of monomers, e.g. linear or branched copolymers, block copolymers, graft copolymers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/267 Cross-linked polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28042 Shaped bodies; Monolithic structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28057 Surface area, e.g. B.E.T specific surface area
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28083 being in the range 2-50 nm, i.e. mesopores
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28085 being more than 50 nm, i.e. macropores
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/285 based on polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/82 Shaped bodies, e.g. monoliths, plugs, tubes, continuous beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 39/20 obtained by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 41/14 obtained by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/04 Acids; Metal salts or ammonium salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 265/04 on to polymers of esters
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2207/10 Medical applications, e.g. biocompatible scaffolds
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2333/06 of esters containing only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, the oxygen atom being present only as part of the carboxyl radical
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2333/14 of esters containing halogen, nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atoms in addition to the carboxy oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/142 Compounds containing oxygen but no halogen atom
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/066 containing -OH groups
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2813 Producing thin layers of samples on a substrate, e.g. smearing, spinning-on G01N1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2826 Collecting by adsorption or absorption

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to porous polymer monoliths. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of porous polymer monoliths, storage mediums formed from porous polymer monoliths and use thereof in the drying and storage of body fluids including blood and blood plasma samples.

Claims

1. A method of storing whole blood for analysis comprising:

applying a whole blood sample directly to a formed porous polymer monolith medium, said porous polymer monolith comprising an integral body with a pore size and/or specific surface area adapted to facilitate the drying and storage of body fluids;

wherein the pore size of the porous polymer monolith is in the range of 50 to 5,000 nm and the specific surface area of the porous polymer matrix when measured by nitrogen adsorption using BET isotherm is in the range of 0.5 to 1000 m²/g;

drying the whole blood sample such that the whole blood sample at least partially solidifies and adsorbs or adheres to the formed porous polymer monolith medium; and

storing the sample adsorbed or adhered to the formed porous polymer monolith medium.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drying of the whole blood sample is enhanced by application of at least one of elevated temperature and forced convection.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the elevated temperature is 90°

C. or above.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying and detecting an analyte from the stored whole blood sample adsorbed or adhered to the formed porous polymer monolith medium.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the stored whole blood sample is analysed without pre-treatment or removal of the whole blood sample adsorbed or adhered to the formed porous polymer monolith medium.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formed porous polymer monolith medium is formed from one or more acrylic acid monomers optionally functionalised with a group selected from sulphonyl, phosphonyl, carboxyl, amino and nitro.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the acrylic acid monomers are optionally functionalised methacrylates selected from at least one of hydroxyethylmethacrylate, methacrylic acid, ethylene glycol dimethacrylic acid, or combinations thereof.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the formed porous polymer monolith medium is obtained from a polymerization mixture comprising 10 to 40 vol % of a monovinyl monomer, 10 to 40 vol % of a polyvinyl monomer, 20 to 80 vol % porogens, and 1 vol % initiator.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formed porous polymer monolith medium comprises a copolymer of a polyvinyl monomer and a monovinyl monomer.

2. A method of storing whole blood for analysis comprising:

applying one or more whole blood samples directly to one or more regions of a formed porous polymer monolith medium, said porous polymer monolith comprising an integral body with a pore size and/or specific surface area adapted to facilitate the drying and storage of body fluids;

wherein the pore size of the porous polymer monolith is in the range of 50 to 5,000 nm and the specific surface area of the porous polymer matrix when measured by nitrogen adsorption using BET isotherm is in the range of 0.5 to 1000 m²/g;

partially drying the one or more whole blood samples applied to the formed porous polymer monolith medium;

separating any one or more regions of the formed porous polymer monolith medium having the one or more whole blood samples applied thereto, from one or more regions of the formed porous polymer monolith medium without sample applied thereto;

further drying the one or more whole blood samples applied to the one or more regions of the formed porous polymer monolith medium; and

storing the one or more whole blood samples applied to the one or more regions of the formed porous polymer monolith medium.