US 7,067,104 B2Granted

Shaped microcomponent via reactive conversion of biologically-derived microtemplates

AssigneeThe Ohio State University

InventorKenneth H. Sandhage

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Abstract

The present invention is focused on a revolutionary, low-cost (highly-scaleable) approach for the mass production of three-dimensional microcomponents: the biological reproduction of naturally-derived, biocatalytically-derived, and/or genetically-tailored three-dimensional microtemplates (e.g., frustules of diatoms, microskeletons of radiolarians, shells of mollusks) with desired dimensional features, followed by reactive conversion of such microtemplates into microcomponents with desired compositions that differ from the starting microtemplate and with dimensional features that are similar to those of the starting microtemplate. Because the shapes of such microcomponents may be tailored through genetic engineering of the shapes of the microtemplates, such microcomposites are considered to be Genetically-Engineered Materials (GEMs).

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method for the production of a shaped microcomponent, comprising:

a) providing at least one biologically-derived silica microtemplate having an original chemical composition and an original dimensional feature, wherein the at least one biologically-derived silica microtemplate is a frustule of a diatom species;
and
b) subjecting said at least one biologically-derived silica microtemplate to at least one chemical reaction so as to at least partially convert said at least one biologically-derived silica microtemplate into a shaped microcomponent comprising a solid oxide, wherein the at least one chemical reaction is selected from the group consisting of additive reaction, metathetic reaction, oxidation-reduction reaction, or combinations thereof;
and
wherein at least a portion of the shaped microcomponent has a different chemical composition than the biologically-derived silica microtemplate, but substantially the same dimensional feature as the biologically-derived silica microtemplate.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/158,582Filed 30 May 2002 · us provisional application
Priority: 30 May 2001
Published: US 2003/0099763 A129 May 2003
Granted: 27 Jun 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G01N 33/54346
The carrier being characterised by its particulate form: nanoparticles
B81C 1/00
Manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate
B81C 99/0085
Manufacture of substrate-free structures: using moulds and master templates, e.g. for hot-embossing
G01N 33/54353
With an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals: with ligand attached to the carrier via a chemical coupling agent