Self-decontaminating, self-deodorizing textiles and surfaces and methods of making and using the same
AssigneeBrandeis University
InventorsChristopher J. Doona, Florence E. Feeherry, Irving R. Epstein, Kenneth Kustin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article comprising a substrate having a stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer functionalized to or associated with a surface. The stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer is at least partially hydrated by an aqueous disinfectant solution comprising a disinfectant. The disinfectant is formed-prior to hydrating the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer. At least a portion of the disinfectant is taken up, stored, or released as an aqueous solution or a gaseous vapor upon interaction with a stimulus.
Claims28
An article comprising:
- a substrate having a stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer functionalized to a surface, the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer being at least partially hydrated by a pre-made aqueous disinfectant solution comprising a disinfectant, wherein the pre-made aqueous disinfectant solution is formed prior to hydrating the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer, and wherein at least a portion of the pre-made aqueous disinfectant solution is taken up by, stored in, or released from the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer as an aqueous solution or a gaseous vapor based upon one or more stimulus changes, wherein functionalization of the surface of the substrate with the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer includes covalently bonding the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer to the substrate.
A method of using a stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer functionalized to a surface of a substrate that is at least partially hydrated by a pre-made aqueous disinfectant solution comprising a disinfectant, the method comprising providing a stimulus change to the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer, thereby controllably taking up, storing, or releasing at least a portion of the pre-made aqueous disinfectant solution, wherein functionalization of the surface of the substrate with the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer includes covalently bonding the stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymer to the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.