초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a systematic process for the creation of functionally organized, spatially patterned assemblies polymer-microparticle composites including the AC electric field-mediated assembly of patterned, self supporting organic (polymeric) films and organic (polymeric)--micropa

The present invention relates to a systematic process for the creation of functionally organized, spatially patterned assemblies polymer-microparticle composites including the AC electric field-mediated assembly of patterned, self supporting organic (polymeric) films and organic (polymeric)--microparticle composite films of tailored composition and morphology; the present invention further relates to the incorporation of said assemblies into other structures. The present invention. also relates to the application of such functional assemblies in materials science and biology. Additional areas of application include sensors, catalysts, membranes, micro-reactors, smart materials. Miniaturized format for generation of multifunctional thin films. Provides a simple set-up to synthesize thin films of tailored composition and morphology:

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of forming an immobilized planar array of particles, comprising the steps of: providing a first electrode positioned in a first plane, and a second electrode positioned in a second plane different from the first plane, providing a polymerization mixture comprising a

What is claimed is: 1. A method of forming an immobilized planar array of particles, comprising the steps of: providing a first electrode positioned in a first plane, and a second electrode positioned in a second plane different from the first plane, providing a polymerization mixture comprising a monomer and an initiator in an electrolyte solution wherein said polymerization mixture is located between the first and the second electrode; providing a plurality of particles suspended in said solution; generating an AC electric field with the electrodes such that the planar arrays of particles are formed, and polymerizing the polymerization mixture to form a polymeric film in which the particles are embedded and thereby immobilized. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a light-sensitive electrode, and wherein the method further comprises the step of illuminating said first electrode with a predetermined light pattern, such that the illumination in combination with the generating of the AC field results in formation of an assembly of particles in a designated area of the first electrode, said designated area being defined by the illumination pattern. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is an electrode having a surface and an interior, the surface or interior having been modified to produce spatial modulations in properties of the first electrode, said properties affecting the local distribution of the electric field at an interface between said first electrode and said electrolyte solution, such that the generation of the AC electric field results in formation of an assembly of particles in a designated area of the first electrode, said designated area being defined by the spatial modulations in the properties of the first electrode. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymerization mixture comprises a monomer, a cross-linker and an initiator. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymerization mixture comprises a hydrophilic monomer, a crosslinker and an initiator dissolved in an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution comprising an aqueous solution and wherein the polymeric film comprises a hydrogel. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymerization mixture has an ionic concentration of about 1 mM or less. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymerization mixture is a viscosity of about 100 cp or less. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric film comprises a cross-linked alkylacrylamide or hydroxyalkylmethacrylate hydrogel. 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the initiator is a heat-activated initiator, and the polymerization step comprises heating the mixture to initiate the polymerization while maintaining the interfacial electric field. 10. The method of claim 4, wherein the initiator is photoactivatable initiator, and the polymerization step comprises irradiating the mixture to initiate the polymerization. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric film comprises a polyacrylamide gel and the polymerization mixture further comprises preformed polymers, such that the polymerization of said mixture forms a porous polyacrylamide gel. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second electrode each comprises a planar electrode, said electrodes being parallel to each other and separated by a gap, with the polymerization mixture and the particles located in said gap, and wherein the field is generated by applying an AC voltage between the electrodes. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is an ITO electrode. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said particles are beads having biomolecules attached to their surfaces. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the beads comprise different bead types, said bead types being distinguishable by the biomolecules attached thereto, and wherein the beads of each type are further distinguishable by a unique chemical or physical characteristic that identifies said bead type. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the beads are encoded with a chemical label, said chemical label comprising fluorophore dyes. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the array comprises subarrays that are spatially separated from each other, and the polymeric film comprises a patterned polymeric film. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise magnetic particles. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise liposomes. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise inorganic particles. 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a planar electrode having a surface and an interior, the surface or interior having been modified to produce spatial modulations affecting the local distribution of the AC electric field at the interface. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first electrode comprises a silicon electrode. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more areas of the surface or the interior of the first electrode exhibits lower impedance than other said areas, and wherein the particles are assembled in the areas of low impedance. 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the spatial modulation of the properties of the first electrode is carried out by modifying the surface or interior of the first electrode by spatially modulated oxide growth, surface charge patterning or surface profiling. 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a light-sensitive electrode, the method further comprising the step of illuminating said first electrode with a predetermined light pattern, such that the illumination in combination with the AC field generation results in assembly of the particles.