Claims
- 1. A method for forming microreactor devices, comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate having a porous bulk, and removing discrete portions of said substrate to form at least one well in said substrate, wherein said well provides access to said porous bulk.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, metal foams, porous ceramics, aerogels and hydrogels.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said substrate includes a non-porous surface layer.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said removing step removes said non-porous surface layer but allows bulk portions of said substrate exposed by said removing step to remain substantially porous.
- 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of placing a surface modification agent into at least one of said wells.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said surface modification agent comprises sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).
- 7. The method of claim 5, wherein said surface modification agent changes chemical binding characteristics of at least a portion of said porous bulk.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said removing step comprises laser ablation.
- 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of applying an index matching fluid to said substrate prior to said removing step, wherein at least a portion of said well is a sub-surface channel or chamber.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said removing step is performed under computer control.
- 11. A microreactor device, comprising:
a substrate having a porous bulk, and at least one well or channel formed in said substrate.
- 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said device comprises a plurality of wells, wherein at least two of said plurality of wells having different structural properties.
- 13. The device of claim 11, wherein said substrate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, metal foams, porous ceramics, aerogels and hydrogels.
- 14. The device of claim 11, wherein said substrate provides a non-porous surface layer.
- 15. The device of claim 11, wherein said at least one well include at least one hydrophilic region.
- 16. The device of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of said well is a sub-surface channel or chamber.
- 17. The device of claim 11, wherein said at least one well includes a surface modification agent which changes chemical binding characteristics of at least a portion of said porous bulk.
- 18. The device of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of one of said wells includes a non-porous portion.
- 19. The device of claim 11, further comprising at least a pair of electrically conductive electrodes disposed in said well or said channel.
- 20. The device of claim 19, wherein an electrical field generated through application of a potential difference across said pair of electrodes propels a fluid through said substrate.
- 21. A whole cell sensing device, comprising:
a substrate having a porous bulk; at least one well formed in said substrate, and at least one whole cell disposed in said well.
- 22. The whole cell sensor of claim 21, further comprising a non-porous and substantially rigid support, wherein said substrate is disposed on said rigid support.
- 23. The whole cell sensor of claim 22, further comprising an optically transparent cover plate disposed on said substrate.
- 24. A method for transporting fluids, comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate having a porous bulk, and flowing at least one fluid through at least a portion of said substrate.
- 25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one well or channel is formed in said substrate.
- 26. The method of claim 24, where said flowing step is under influence of an electrical field.
- 27. An artificial organ or functional tissue, comprising:
a substrate having a porous bulk and at least one functionalized surface formed from said porous bulk, cellular material disposed in or on said functionalized surface, and structure for supplying nutrients to and removing metabolic products from said cellular material.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/312,678 entitled METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN OF MICROANALYTICAL DEVICES filed Aug. 15, 2001, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60312678 |
Aug 2001 |
US |