Micro/Nano Scale (Non Electroninc)

Latest Innovations

Improving Bonding Properties of Surgical Glues for Cartilage Repair Using Liquid Crystal Matrices

 

This technology offers an improved approach to repairing damaged articular cartilage using traditional bonding adhesives or surgical glues. The technique removes...

 

This technology offers an improved approach to repairing damaged articular cartilage using traditional bonding adhesives or surgical glues. The technique removes synovial fluid, which inhibits the bonding of surgical glues, from the cartilage surface. A poly(hydroxy substituted amino acid) composite is mixed with the synovial fluid, forming a liquid crystalline matrix on the cartilage surface. This matrix can be easily removed, taking the synovial fluid with it and leaving behind a clean surface so that surgical glue can bond properly. By allowing surgical glues to bond properly to cartilage surfaces, this technology greatly improves the techniques used to repair articular cartilage damaged due to trauma or congenital abnormalities. Effective cartilage repair can relieve joint pain, restore joint function, and postpone or even eliminate the development of osteoarthritis.

This technology is a new method for enhancing the performance of surgical glue/adhesive during repair of articular cartilage.

Found in joints throughout the human body, articular cartilage is essential for proper joint function. Once damaged (through trauma or congenital abnormalities), articular cartilage has a limited capacity to repair itself. Proper repair usually requires reconstructive orthopedic surgery. Surgical methods can include transplantation or allografts, implantation of artificial prosthetic devices, and neocartilage formation utilizing isolated chondrocytes in an organic support matrix or scaffold.

However, these surgical methods have a key limitation: the adhesive or glue used in bonding and stabilizing the transplant, implant, or scaffold on the cartilage surface is negatively affected by the synovial fluid that provides lubrication and nutrition to joint tissues.

This technology creates a liquid crystalline matrix that can be easily removed, taking the synovial fluid with it and leaving behind a clean (i.e., fluid free) cartilage surface. Thus, the efficacy of the surgical adhesives/glues is enhanced rather than inhibited.

A solid or aqueous composition of poly(hydroxy substituted amino acid) is mixed with synovial fluid in the joint. This mixture forms a liquid crystalline (or mesomorphic) matrix on the surface of the cartilage.

For example, when aqueous polythreonine comes in contact with the synovial fluid in the joint, a gelatinous matrix forms that is birefringent (i.e., a liquid crystalline matrix). Other suitable polymers include polyserine, polytyrosine, poly(hydroxyproline), and poly-5-hydroxy lysine. Polymers of L-amino acids are preferred.

The polymer-synovial matrix can be easily removed from the cartilage surface, taking the synovial fluid with it and leaving behind a clean cartilage surface so that the surgical glue/adhesive can bond properly.

Although developed specifically for cartilage surfaces, it is expected that the technology also could be used to modify the surfaces of other joint-associated tissues, including bones, ligaments, and tendons.

Applications

  • Repair of articular cartilage in diarthrodial joints (e.g., knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, wrist, finger)
  • Modification of the surfaces of other joint-associated tissues (e.g., bones, ligaments, tendons) 

Benefits

  • Using standard polymeric composites, this technology enables surgical glues/adhesives to bond properly during cartilage repair procedures 
  • Enhances surgical glue performance: This technology removes synovial fluid from the cartilage surface, allowing surgical glues/adhesives to bond properly 
  • Improves cartilage repair: By enhancing glue performance, this technology provides an overall improvement to the articular cartilage repair process 
  • Simple: This technology is easy to implement during standard reconstructive orthopedic surgery 
  • Low cost: The poly(hydroxy substituted amino acid) needed to create the liquid crystalline matrix on the cartilage surface is inexpensive

A Method to Produce Janus Particles in Large Quantity

This innovation provides a simple and generalizeable method to synthesize Janus colloidal particles in large quantity. Janus particles offer unique opportunities in...

This innovation provides a simple and generalizeable method to synthesize Janus colloidal particles in large quantity. Janus particles offer unique opportunities in particle engineering for building particular structures; offering insight into the movement of particles and serving as a basis for new materials and sensors. Earlier methods to produce Janus particles of colloidal size (=1m in dimension) have been severely limited in the amount of product, but this method has overcome limitations on yield.

At the liquid-liquid interface of emulsified molten wax and water, untreated particles adsorb and are frozen in place when the wax solidifies. The exposed surfaces of the immobilized particles are modified chemically.

The wax is then dissolved and the inner surfaces are modified chemically. Janus particles, which have different chemical properties at different locations, could be used as potential building blocks for new 3D self-assembled structures. However, this purpose in particular requires a method to produce large quantities of material.

This invention offers tremendous control over the Janus Balance, the ratio of the two treated areas on each particle. The invention includes a number of ways to control this Janus Balance, giving the developer one more parameter to use in optimizing the end product.

Applications

  • Drug delivery: within the context of functional, biologically active molecules with polar moieties
  • Coatings: improved stability, color development, and viscosity control by choosing the right particle treatments and "Janus Balance" of the treatments
  • Nanoencapsulation: a wider range of functions in which the behavior of the particles can be determined by the surface composition
  • Stabilization of emulsions and foams
  • Cosmetic formulations

Benefits

  • High yield: The process is solution-based with an approximate 50% yield, allowing hundreds of grams of particles to be made per batch. This is several orders of magnitude larger than with traditional methods 
  • Manufacturability: The process uses mature, readily available technologies to synthesize the particles 
  • Low cost: Mechanical mixing and large quantities make the process inexpensive 

Versatility: The process and particles can be applied to a wide variety of applications

To learn more about an application for this method, click here. 

Janus Particle Application

A printable product including a substrate including fibers. The substrate has a first side and a second side. At least one of the first side and the second side of the...

A printable product including a substrate including fibers. The substrate has a first side and a second side. At least one of the first side and the second side of the substrate includes a surface layer that does not substantially contain inorganic particles and forms an outermost surface layer of the substrate, which surface layer includes hemicellulose. A method for manufacturing a printable product and to a surface treating agent for treating a substrate including fibers.

This is a potential application for the method to synthesize Janus particles. To learn more about this method, click here. 

Autonomous Self-Regulating Microfluidic System

 

This technology enables the fabrication of microfluidic devices that automatically maintain homeostasis via an organic feedback system. Originally developed to...

 

This technology enables the fabrication of microfluidic devices that automatically maintain homeostasis via an organic feedback system. Originally developed to create self-regulating pH systems, this technology can be used to create medical/biological devices that self-govern temperature, light, molecular, and other fluid parameters.

Most microfluidic devices designed to maintain homeostasis use feedback systems based on electronics or other non-biologically compatible actuation methods. To overcome the limitations of those devices, this technology uses a responsive polymeric material hydrogel as the control system. According to its chemistry, the hydrogel expands when exposed to a given condition (e.g., high pH) and constricts in the opposite condition (e.g., low pH). As the hydrogel expands and contracts, it deforms a 30 m polydimethylsiloxane membrane that regulates the feedback stream. The hydrogel's chemistry is selected according to the fluid parameter of interest. In this way, the microfluidic device operates without electronics or external power, allowing it to be used in medical and biological applications. Construction of the device, which involves compression micromolding, layered manufacturing, and in situ liquid phase polymerization, can be completed in one day and is less expensive than other manufacturing techniques for microfluidic systems.

Advantages

These new technologies enable the fabrication of innovative microfluidic devices that address many of the limitations associated with conventional systems:

  • Unlike silicon-based devices, the new device is easy to incorporate into medical and biological applications.
  • Unlike devices made from a single material (e.g., elastomer-only devices), the new device is capable of performing complex functions.
  • Unlike all other devices, the new self-regulating device functions autonomously without electronics or an external power source.
  • Unlike traditional microfabrication methods, this technology uses inexpensive methods to produce increased functionality.
  • Unlike devices that use expensive microchips in the channels, the new microfluidic device uses surface chemistry to expand its functionality.

In summary, the technology enables the economical, simple, and rapid fabrication of more functionally complex microfluidic devices than are available today.

Applications

  • Clinical medicine: Artificial lung, responsive drug (e.g., insulin) delivery, feedback control devices
  • Bioproduction: Protein production, assisted reproduction, filtration
  • Research: Incubation/maturation, infection, fertilization, chemical or other treatment of biological objects, reaction kinetics, high surface area sensing substrates, feedback control, drug candidate solubility
  • Bioanalysis: DNA analysis, sequence determination of proteins

Benefits

This technology dramatically expands the capabilities of microfluidic devices. It enables the economical, simple, and rapid fabrication of more functionally complex systems than are available today.

  • Simple: This technology greatly simplifies the fabrication process for microfluidic devices.
  • Less expensive: This technology uses less expensive materials and fabrication methods than those conventionally used to manufacture microfluidic devices.
  • Fast: This technology enables microfluidic devices to be constructed in minutes, as compared to days or weeks with more traditional fabrication methods.

Better devices: Microfluidic devices made using this technology have enhanced capabilities compared to those made with traditional fabrication methods:

  • Greater functionality
  • Autonomous operation; no external power supply or electronics are needed
  • Flexible design that is useful for medical and biological applications

Chirally active Carbon Nanoparticles for Enantioselective Separation of Racemic Mixtures

 

 

Dr. Dipanjan Pan from the University of Illinois has...

 

 

Dr. Dipanjan Pan from the University of Illinois has developed compounds featuring carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), which enantioselectively absorb chiral molecules. This allows for the separation of racemic mixtures. These CNPs are inexpensive to produce and result in better or comparable enantiomeric excess in relation to similar adsorbents. These chiral CNPs are biodegradable, allowing for simple removal by enzyme after separation is complete. This technology is very useful for separating racemic mixtures when a specific enantiomer is targeted. 

Benefits
• This technology is a cost effective means of chiral resolution which does not suffer from the toxicity and reactivity issues that other chiral nanoparticles do.
• The chiral CNPs are biodegradable.
• Chiral CNPs are less toxic and less reactive than current chiral nanoparticle technologies

 
 

Shape Memory Polymer Reusable Dry Adhesive

Dr. Seok Kim from the University of IL has developed a removable and reusable dry adhesive for wall hanging applications. This invention uses a shape memory polymer and...

Dr. Seok Kim from the University of IL has developed a removable and reusable dry adhesive for wall hanging applications. This invention uses a shape memory polymer and internal heating coil to change the SMP's adhesion characteristics. In 10 seconds it can change states, thus altering its adhesion characteristics. It can be attached to accessories, like a hook, that are attached to walls in order to hang objects on. Due to the SMP's surface, the adhesive does not pick up debris or degrade over time. This adhesive leaves no residue.

Optical Fibers with Low Thermo-optic Coefficient

Dr. Dragic from the University of Illinois has developed an optical fiber for high-powered fiber laser applications.  This fiber is specifically designed with the thermal...

Dr. Dragic from the University of Illinois has developed an optical fiber for high-powered fiber laser applications.  This fiber is specifically designed with the thermal mode instability problem in mind.  This fiber remains single-moded at normal operating temperatures, which enhances beam quality and power efficiency of the laser. 

 By doping the fiber core with a specific composition of rare-earth fibers, the refractive index of the core increases more slowly with increasing temperature, when compared to the refractive index of the cladding.  This effect allows the optical fiber to maintain single-mode transmission at high temperatures.

 

Benefit

Improves energy efficiency of high-power fiber lasers. 

 

Process for Removing and Incorporating Heteroatoms into Small Pore Zeotype Materials

Dr. Flaherty from the University of Illinois has a developed a method for significantly removing aluminum from standard zeolite crystals and incorporating other...

Dr. Flaherty from the University of Illinois has a developed a method for significantly removing aluminum from standard zeolite crystals and incorporating other catalytically active heteroatoms. Other post-synthesis modification methods produce a product with lower densities of active metal atoms, provide lower yields, are more time consuming, or require expensive structure directing agents. The result is an inexpensive method for synthesizing known zeolite structures with compositions of matter that have not yet been reported, or reducing the resources required to synthesize known materials.

Primary Application: Adsorbent Materials

                       

Antibacterial Polymeric Coatings

Antibacterial Polymeric Coatings mimic the properties of cicada wings which allows them to induce bacterial necrosis mechanically by tearing the cell membrane. These...

Antibacterial Polymeric Coatings mimic the properties of cicada wings which allows them to induce bacterial necrosis mechanically by tearing the cell membrane. These polymer coatings are a broad-spectrum approach to limiting bio-fouling. Unlike conventional coatings these polymer coatings do not require the use of toxic chemicals or antibiotics which makes them ideal for use as coatings in medical device implants.