Liquid crystal-infused slippery anti-fouling surfaces
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsDavid Lynn, Harshit Agarwal
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Abstract
The present invention provides liquid crystal (LC)-infused materials and methods for detecting compounds or impurities in liquid samples using such materials. These slippery materials comprise a lubricating liquid, preferably a thermotropic liquid crystal, and a solid substrate able to immobilize or host the lubricating liquid. The portion of the substrate coated by the lubricating fluid forms a slippery surface able to allow droplets of various materials to slide off the slippery surface in a manner dependent on the chemical composition of the droplet, which can be used to detect the presence of analytes, impurities and other molecules within the droplet.
Claims21
A liquid crystal-infused material comprising:
- a) a lubricating liquid, wherein the lubricating liquid is a thermotropic liquid crystal immiscible or substantially immiscible with aqueous fluids;
- b) a solid substrate able to immobilize or host the lubricating liquid, wherein the lubricating liquid wets and coats at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the substrate is a nanoporous or microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, and wherein the lubricating fluid at least partially fills the pores of the substrate;
- wherein the portion of the substrate coated by the lubricating fluid forms a slippery surface able to allow droplets of various materials to move across the slippery surface.
A method for detecting an analyte, substance, or impurity in a sample liquid comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a sensor having a first surface area comprising:
- i) a lubricating liquid, wherein the lubricating liquid is a thermotropic liquid crystal immiscible or substantially immiscible with aqueous fluids;
- ii) a solid substrate able to immobilize or host the lubricating liquid, wherein the lubricating liquid wets and coats at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the substrate is a nanoporous or microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, and wherein the lubricating fluid at least partially fills the pores of the substrate, and wherein the portion of the substrate coated by the lubricating fluid forms a slippery surface able to allow droplets of liquids to move across the slippery surface in a manner dependent on the chemical composition of the droplet;
- b) providing said sample liquid to said first surface area;
- c) comparing the mobility of the sample liquid on said first surface area to a control sample or known standard of said sample liquid, wherein a change in the mobility of said sample liquid to said first surface area indicates an analyte, substance, or impurity in said sample liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.