# US 12,758,197 B2 · Microstructure for actively sampling microbe and method for actively sampling microbe by using same

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- Number: US 12,758,197 B2
- Document ID: US12758197B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/287,335
- Filed: 2022-03-18
- Published: 2024-06-13
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-23
- Assignees: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
- Applicants: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
- Inventors: Suk Ho Park; Su Hyun Kwon; Deock Hee Yoon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758197B2

## CPC

- A61B 10/0045: {Devices for taking samples of body liquids}
- A61B 2010/0061: {Alimentary tract secretions, e.g. biliary, gastric, intestinal, pancreatic secretions}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention pertain to a microstructure for actively sampling microbes, which can easily sample and recover intestinal microbes, and a method of actively sampling microbes by using same. The microstructure for actively sampling microbes may comprise: a core including magnetic nanoparticles, a reaction initiator, and a polymer monomer; and a shell surrounding the core and including a fatty acid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A microstructure for actively sampling microbes comprising:
a core comprising magnetic nanoparticles, a reaction initiator, and a polymer monomer; and
a shell surrounding the core and comprising fatty acid.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles comprise at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Pt, Au, Cr, Co, Gd, Dy, and Mn.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the reaction initiator comprises ascorbic acid and ferric chloride.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the polymer monomer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), hexane-1,6-diol diacrylate (HDDA), ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETTA), and ethylene carbonate (EC).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid has a melting point of 40° C. to 50° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, and lignoceric acid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles, the reaction initiator, and the polymer monomer are present at a weight ratio of 0.05 to 0.15:0.90 to 1.00:0.75 to 0.85.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the microstructure has a diameter of 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the shell has a thickness of 10 nm to 100 nm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method of actively sampling microbes using the microstructure according to claim 1, comprising:
preparing a microstructure including a core containing magnetic nanoparticles, a reaction initiator, and a polymer monomer, and a shell surrounding the core and containing fatty acid;
administering the microstructure to a subject;
applying an external magnetic field to the microstructure to move the microstructure to a location for sampling microbes;
applying an external stimulus thereto;
melting the fatty acid of the microstructure;
adsorbing microbes to the microstructure;
discharging the microstructure containing the microbes adsorbed thereto to an outside of the subject; and
recovering the microstructure containing the microbes adsorbed thereto through an external magnetic field.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein, in the applying the external stimulus to the microstructure, the magnetic nanoparticles are heated.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the external stimulus is an alternating magnetic field (AMF).

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the melting the fatty acid comprises exposing the core of the microstructure to absorb water into an organ and thereby cause a radical polymerization reaction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein, in the adsorbing microbes to the microstructure, the microbes are adsorbed by a hydrogel formed by the radical polymerization reaction.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the microstructure containing the microbes adsorbed thereto contains the hydrogel, the adsorbed microbes, and the magnetic nanoparticles.