Methods for selectively reacting ligands immobilized within a temperature-sensitive polymer gel
AssigneeGenetec Systems Corporation
InventorsAllan S. Hoffman, Nobuo Monji
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for delivering substances into, removing substances from, or reacting substances with a selected environment utilizing polymer gels or coatings characterized by a critical solution temperature (CST) are disclosed. The CST as well as the pore structure, pore size, pore distribution, and absorbing capacity of the gel may be selectively controlled. The substances may be physically or chemically immobilized within the polymer gels. In addition, a method for altering the surface wettability of CST polymers is also disclosed.
Claims53
A method for separating a desired substance from a solution, comprising:
- introducing a polymer gel, that is characterized by a critical solution temperature and having immobilized therein a binding component that is the binding partner of said desired substance, into a solution containing said desired substance;
- and
- adjusting the temperature of the polymer gel/solution through the polymer's critical solution temperature to allow said binding component to bind said substance and form an immobilized complex thereby immobilizing said substance from the solution.
The method of claim 11 wherein said binding component is an antibody and said substance is an antigen.
A method for separating a desired substance from a solution, comprising:
- introducing a polymer gel, that is characterized by a critical solution temperature and having a pore structure selected to absorb said desired substance within the gel on the basis of size, into a solution containing said desired substance;
- and
- adjusting the temperature of the polymer gel/solution through the polymer's critical solution temperature thereby causing said gel to absorb the desired substance and separate it from the solution.
A method for delivering a substance into a selected environment, comprising:
- incorporating a desired substance into a polymer gel, characterized by a critical solution temperature having immobilized therein a binding component that is a binding partner of said desired substance, by binding said substance to said binding component thereby forming an immobilized complex;
- and
- introducing said polymer gel/substance into a selected environment containing one or more agents capable of releasing said substance from said immobilized complex, thereby delivering said substance into the environment.
A method for selectively delivering a desired substance into an environment comprising:
- incorporating a desired substance into a polymer gel characterized by a critical solution temperature and having a pore structure selected to absorb said desired substance within the gel on the basis of size;
- introducing the polymer gel/substance into a selected environment;
- and
- adjusting the temperature of the polymer gel/substance through the polymer's critical solution temperature to selectively deliver the desired substance into the environment.
A method for selectively controlling a reaction within a particular environment containing a reactable substance, comprising:
- introducing into the environment a polymer gel characterized by a critical solution temperature having immobilized therein a chemically or biochemically active component, said component being reactive with said substance when exposed to said substance;
- and
- selectively adjusting the temperature of said polymer gel through the polymer's critical solution temperature such that said component is selectively exposed to said reactable substance within the environment, thereby providing control over said reaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.