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US 12,102,973 B2Granted
Three-dimensional polymer networks with channels situated therein
AssigneeSafeguard Biosystems Holdings Ltd.
InventorsHolger Klapproth, Sonja Bednar
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Abstract
The disclosure provides three-dimensional crosslinked polymer networks comprising one or more channels extending from the surface and/or near the surface of the network into the interior of the network, arrays comprising the networks, processes for making the networks, and uses of the networks and arrays.
Claims21
A three-dimensional network having a surface and an interior, said three-dimensional network:
- (a) is composed of a water-swellable polymer of crosslinked water-soluble polymer chains;
- (b) is crosslinked to the surface of a substrate;
- (c) comprises multiple pluralities of channels, wherein:
- (i) each plurality of channels comprises channels that converge at a point in the interior of the network such that the lateral distance between the channels decreases from the surface of the network toward the point in the interior;
- and
- (ii) each plurality of channels converges at a different point in the three-dimensional network;
- and
- (d) comprises probe molecules covalently attached to the polymer chains.
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A process for making a three-dimensional network, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a mixture comprising (i) an aqueous salt solution which is optionally a monovalent cation salt solution, (ii) a water-soluble polymer, (iii) a cross-linker, and (iv) probe molecules to a substrate in a volume of 100 pl to 5 nl;
- (b) exposing the mixture to needle-shaped crystal forming conditions, thereby forming a mixture containing one or more needle-shaped salt crystals;
- (c) exposing the mixture containing the needle-shaped salt crystals to crosslinking conditions, thereby forming a crosslinked polymer network having probe molecules crosslinked thereto and containing needle-shaped salt crystals;
- and
- (d) contacting the crosslinked polymer network containing the needle-shaped salt crystals with a solvent in which the needle-shaped salt crystals are soluble, thereby dissolving the needle-shaped salt crystals and forming channels in place of the needle-shaped salt crystals.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.