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US 10,851,463 B2Granted
Membrane template synthesis of microtube engines
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsJoseph Wang, Wei Gao, Sirilak Sattayasamitsathit
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Abstract
Methods, structures, devices and systems are disclosed for fabrication of microtube engines using membrane template electrodeposition. Such nanomotors operate based on bubble-induced propulsion in biological fluids and salt-rich environments. In one aspect, fabricating microengines includes depositing a polymer layer on a membrane template, depositing a conductive metal layer on the polymer layer, and dissolving the membrane template to release the multilayer microtubes.
Claims20
A microstructure for binding and transporting a substance in a fluid environment, comprising:
- a microtube having a tube body that connects a large opening and a short opening at opposite ends of the microtube and that spatially reduces in size along a longitudinal direction from the large opening to the small opening,
- wherein the microtube includes a layered wall structure having a plurality of layers including a first layer and a second layer, wherein the second layer is an interior layer of the microtube;
- and
- a functionalization layer coupled to an external surface of the microtube, the functionalization layer including a terminal functional group providing a hydrophobic surface to the microstructure capable of adhere a substance in a fluid.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.