Stable Polymeric Nanoparticle Compositions and Methods Related Thereto
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsT. Alan Hatton, Lev E. Bromberg, Mikhil Ranka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are compositions comprising composite nanoparticles and a reporter molecule for use in detecting the presence of an analyte in a substrate. The composite nanoparticles comprise a solid core and a polyampholyte covalently bonded to the solid core. Reporter molecules are releasable from the composite nanoparticles upon exposure to the analyte. Analytes may include petroleum or other hydrophobic media.
Claims28
A composite nanoparticle, comprising a core;
- and an ionic polymer.
4-7. (canceled)
9-12. (canceled)
14-29. (canceled)
32-36. (canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
An aqueous mixture, comprising a plurality of composite nanoparticles;
- wherein the composite nanoparticles comprise a core, and an ionic polymer.
43-45. (canceled)
(canceled)
A method of detecting the presence of, the concentration of, or the location of an analyte in a substrate, comprising the steps of:
- contacting the substrate and a composition, wherein the composition comprises a plurality of reporter molecules at a first concentration, and a plurality of composite nanoparticles;
- wherein the composite nanoparticles comprise a core, and an ionic polymer;
- after a period of time, recovering a subset of the composite nanoparticles;
- and
- determining the concentration of the reporter molecules in the subset of composite nanoparticles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.