# US 10,306,883 B2 · Use of porous polymer materials for storage of biological samples > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,306,883 B2 - Document ID: US10306883B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/151,689 - Filed: 2014-01-09 - Published: 2014-05-08 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-11 - Assignees: University of Tasmania - Applicants: University of Tasmania - Inventors: Emily Frances Hilder; Wei Boon Hon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306883B2 ## CPC - A01N 1/16: Physical preservation processes - A01N 1/128: Chemically defined matrices for immobilising, holding or storing living parts, e.g. alginate gels; Chemically altering living parts, e.g. by cross-linking - B01J 20/267: {Cross-linked polymers} - B01J 20/28033: {Membrane, sheet, cloth, pad, lamellar or mat} - B01J 20/28042: {Shaped bodies; Monolithic structures} - B01J 20/28054: {characterised by their surface properties or porosity} - B01J 20/28078: {Pore diameter} - B01J 20/321: {consisting of a polymer obtained by reactions involving only carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds} - B01J 20/327: {Polymers obtained by reactions involving only carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds} - B01J 20/3272: {Polymers obtained by reactions otherwise than involving only carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds} - B01L 3/508: {Rigid containers without fluid transport within} - C12M 45/22: {Means for packing or storing viable microorganisms (casings for storing cell samples A61B10/0096, preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/10)} - B01L 2200/0678: Facilitating or initiating evaporation - B01L 2300/069: Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid - B01L 2300/0822: Slides - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract The present invention generally relates to the use of porous polymer materials as a medium for the storage of biological samples. The present invention also relates to a method of drying and storage of biological samples on the porous polymer materials. The biological samples include blood and blood plasma samples. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of storing a whole blood sample for future analysis comprising applying the whole blood sample directly to a porous polymer monolith material medium and drying the whole blood sample such that the whole blood sample at least partially solidifies and adsorbs or adheres to the porous polymer monolith material; wherein the porous polymer monolith material medium is formed by a step-growth polymerization process, wherein the medium additionally comprises one or more supporting layers comprising a porous polymer matrix material, wherein the porous polymer matrix material of each of the one or more support layers is selected from a polyether, polyester, polycarbonate, polyanhydride, polythiophene polymer, and an epoxy resin, wherein the medium allows storage of the whole blood sample for at least one day, wherein the whole blood sample is applied directly to the medium, with the proviso that the porous polymer monolith material is polymerized onto or sits on the one or more supporting layers comprising the porous polymer matrix material without one or more intervening layers of functionality formed by photoinitiated grafting. ### Claim 2 A method of storing a whole blood sample for future analysis comprising: applying one or more whole blood samples directly to one or more regions of a porous polymer monolith material medium; partially drying the one or more whole blood samples applied to the medium such that the whole blood sample adsorbs or adheres to the porous polymer monolith material; optionally separating any one or more regions of the medium having the one or more whole blood sample applied thereto from regions without the one or more whole blood sample applied thereto; and optionally further drying the one or more whole blood samples applied to the one or more regions of the medium; wherein the porous polymer monolith material medium is formed by a step-growth polymerization process, wherein the medium additionally comprises one or more supporting layers comprising a porous polymer matrix material, wherein the porous polymer matrix material of each of the one or more support layers is selected from a polyether, polyester, polycarbonate, polyanhydride, polythiophene polymer, and an epoxy resin, wherein the medium allows storage of the whole blood sample for at least one day, wherein the whole blood sample is applied directly to the medium, with the proviso that the porous polymer monolith material is polymerized onto or sits on the one or more supporting layers comprising the porous polymer matrix material without one or more intervening layers of functionality formed by photoinitiated grafting. ### Claim 3 A method of analysis of a whole blood sample comprising detecting and identifying an analyte from the whole blood sample, wherein the whole blood sample was directly applied to a porous polymer monolith material medium such that the whole blood sample adsorbs or adheres to the porous polymer monolith material and stored for at least one day prior to detecting and identifying the analyte; wherein the porous polymer monolith material medium is formed by a step-growth polymerization process, wherein the medium additionally comprises one or more supporting layers comprising a porous polymer matrix material, wherein the porous polymer matrix material of each of the one or more support layers is selected from a polyether, polyester, polycarbonate, polyanhydride, polythiophene polymer, and an epoxy resin, wherein the medium allows storage of the whole blood sample for at least one day, wherein the whole blood sample is applied directly to the medium, with the proviso that the porous polymer monolith material is polymerized onto or sits on the one or more supporting layers comprising the porous polymer matrix material without one or more intervening layers of functionality formed by photoinitiated grafting. ### Claim 4 A method for storing and subsequent analysis of a whole blood sample comprising one or more analytes selected from pharmaceutical agents, peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides, DNA, RNA, oligosaccharides and lipids, the method comprising: applying the whole blood sample comprising the one or more analytes directly to a porous polymer monolith material medium, wherein the porous polymer monolith material medium is formed by a step-growth polymerization process, wherein the medium additionally comprises one or more supporting layers comprising a porous polymer matrix material, wherein the porous polymer matrix material of each of the one or more support layers is selected from a polyether, polyester, polycarbonate, polyanhydride, polythiophene polymer, and an epoxy resin, wherein the medium allows storage of the whole blood sample for at least one day, wherein the whole blood sample is applied directly to the medium, with the proviso that the porous polymer monolith material is polymerized onto or sits on the one or more supporting layers comprising the porous polymer matrix material without one or more intervening layers of functionality formed by photoinitiated grafting; drying the whole blood sample applied to the medium such that the whole blood sample adsorbs or adheres to the porous polymer monolith material; storing the whole blood sample in the medium for at least one day; retrieving and optionally pre-treating the stored whole blood sample; and analyzing the retrieved and optionally pre-treated whole blood sample for the presence of one or more analytes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the porous polymer monolith material medium has an integral body with a pore size and a specific surface area adapted to facilitate the drying and storage of the biological fluid sample, wherein the pore size of the porous polymer monolith material is in the range of 5 to 10,000 nm and the specific surface area of the porous polymer monolith material when measured by nitrogen adsorption using BET isotherm is in the range of 0.5 to 1000 m2/g. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the porous polymer monolith material medium has an integral body with a pore size and a specific surface area adapted to facilitate the drying and storage of the biological fluid sample, wherein the pore size of the porous polymer monolith material is in the range of 5 to 10,000 nm and the specific surface area of the porous polymer monolith material when measured by nitrogen adsorption using BET isotherm is in the range of 0.5 to 1000 m2/g. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the porous polymer monolith material medium has an integral body with a pore size and a specific surface area adapted to facilitate the drying and storage of the biological fluid sample, wherein the pore size of the porous polymer monolith material is in the range of 5 to 10,000 nm and the specific surface area of the porous polymer monolith material when measured by nitrogen adsorption using BET isotherm is in the range of 0.5 to 1000 m2/g. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the porous polymer monolith material medium has an integral body with a pore size and a specific surface area adapted to facilitate the drying and storage of the biological fluid sample, wherein the pore size of the porous polymer monolith material is in the range of 5 to 10,000 nm and the specific surface area of the porous polymer monolith material when measured by nitrogen adsorption using BET isotherm is in the range of 0.5 to 1000 m2/g. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the porous polymer monolith material is incorporated with chemical functionality selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic groups and groups with ion exchange properties to facilitate pre-analysis of analytes in the whole blood sample or in situ elimination of undesirable components in the whole blood sample on the medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the porous polymer monolith material is incorporated with chemical functionality selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic groups and groups with ion exchange properties to facilitate pre-analysis of analytes in the whole blood sample or in situ elimination of undesirable components in the whole blood sample on the medium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the porous polymer monolith material is incorporated with chemical functionality selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic groups and groups with ion exchange properties to facilitate pre-analysis of analytes in the whole blood sample or in situ elimination of undesirable components in the whole blood sample on the medium. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the porous polymer monolith material is incorporated with chemical functionality selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic groups and groups with ion exchange properties to facilitate pre-analysis of analytes in the whole blood sample or in situ elimination of undesirable components in the whole blood sample on the medium. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step-growth polymerization process for the porous polymer monolith material comprises the polymerization of one or more monomers having one or more functional groups selected from: hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, anhydride, acyl halide, alkyl halide, acid anhydride, acrylate, methacrylate, aldehyde, amide, amine, guanidine, malimide, thiol, sulfonate, sulfonic acid, sulfonyl ester, carbodiimide, ester, cyano, epoxide, proline, disulfide, imidazole, imide, imine, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, nitro, azide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the step-growth polymerization process for the porous polymer monolith material comprises the polymerization of one or more monomers having one or more functional groups selected from: hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, anhydride, acyl halide, alkyl halide, acid anhydride, acrylate, methacrylate, aldehyde, amide, amine, guanidine, malimide, thiol, sulfonate, sulfonic acid, sulfonyl ester, carbodiimide, ester, cyano, epoxide, proline, disulfide, imidazole, imide, imine, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, nitro, azide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the step-growth polymerization process for the porous polymer monolith material comprises the polymerization of one or more monomers having one or more functional groups selected from: hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, anhydride, acyl halide, alkyl halide, acid anhydride, acrylate, methacrylate, aldehyde, amide, amine, guanidine, malimide, thiol, sulfonate, sulfonic acid, sulfonyl ester, carbodiimide, ester, cyano, epoxide, proline, disulfide, imidazole, imide, imine, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, nitro, azide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the step-growth polymerization process for the porous polymer monolith material comprises the polymerization of one or more monomers having one or more functional groups selected from: hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, anhydride, acyl halide, alkyl halide, acid anhydride, acrylate, methacrylate, aldehyde, amide, amine, guanidine, malimide, thiol, sulfonate, sulfonic acid, sulfonyl ester, carbodiimide, ester, cyano, epoxide, proline, disulfide, imidazole, imide, imine, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, nitro, azide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the acrylic acid monomer is a methacrylate monomer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the acrylic acid monomer is a methacrylate monomer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the acrylic acid monomer is a methacrylate monomer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the acrylic acid monomer is a methacrylate monomer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the methacrylate monomer is selected from hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA). ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the methacrylate monomer is selected from hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA). ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the methacrylate monomer is selected from hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA). ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the methacrylate monomer is selected from hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA).