Electrospraying apparatus and method for coating particles
AssigneeRegents of the University of Minnesota
InventorsDavid Y. H. Pui, Da-Ren Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrospraying apparatus and/or method is used to coat particles. For example, a flow including at least one liquid suspension may be provided through at least one opening at a spray dispenser end. The flow includes at least particles and a coating material. A spray of microdroplets suspending at least the particles is established forward of the spray dispenser end by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the spray dispenser end and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom. The particles are coated with at least a portion of the coating material as the microdroplet evaporates. For example, the suspension may include biological material particles.
Claims17
A method of coating particles, the method comprising:
- providing at least one opening at a spray dispenser end;
- providing a flow comprising at least one liquid suspension through the at least one opening, wherein the flow comprising the at least one liquid suspension comprises at least particles and a coating material;
- establishing from at least the one liquid suspension a spray of microdroplets suspending at least the particles forward of the spray dispenser end by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the spray dispenser end and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom, wherein the particles are coated with at least a portion of the coating material as the microdroplet evaporates.
A method for coating particles, the method comprising:
- providing a first flow of a suspension comprising at least particles, wherein the particles have a nominal diameter of about 2 nanometers to about 1 micron;
- providing a second flow of a solution comprising a coating material;
- and
- establishing a spray of substantially dispersed coated particles comprising separated particles of the first flow encapsulated by coating material of the second flow, the substantially dispersed coated particles having an electrical charge applied thereto such that a space charge effect resulting from repulsion of the electrically charged substantially dispersed coated particles is used to prevent agglomeration of the one or more substantially dispersed coated particles of the spray.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.