WO2010120977A1 - Matériaux frittés poreux meulés et applications associées - Google Patents

Matériaux frittés poreux meulés et applications associées Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010120977A1
WO2010120977A1 PCT/US2010/031158 US2010031158W WO2010120977A1 WO 2010120977 A1 WO2010120977 A1 WO 2010120977A1 US 2010031158 W US2010031158 W US 2010031158W WO 2010120977 A1 WO2010120977 A1 WO 2010120977A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
composition
ground
sintered
porous
polymeric
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2010/031158
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Tripp Augustus Avett
Chan Yuen Cushing
Kevin Sporrer
Guoqiang Mao
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Porex Technologies Corp
Original Assignee
Porex Technologies Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Porex Technologies Corp filed Critical Porex Technologies Corp
Publication of WO2010120977A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010120977A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D39/00—Filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D39/14—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material
    • B01D39/16—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of organic material, e.g. synthetic fibres
    • B01D39/1638—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of organic material, e.g. synthetic fibres the material being particulate
    • B01D39/1653—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of organic material, e.g. synthetic fibres the material being particulate of synthetic origin
    • B01D39/1661—Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of organic material, e.g. synthetic fibres the material being particulate of synthetic origin sintered or bonded
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/281—Sorbents specially adapted for preparative, analytical or investigative chromatography
    • B01J20/286—Phases chemically bonded to a substrate, e.g. to silica or to polymers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/02—Burettes; Pipettes
    • B01L3/0275—Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2220/00—Aspects relating to sorbent materials
    • B01J2220/40—Aspects relating to the composition of sorbent or filter aid materials
    • B01J2220/49—Materials comprising an indicator, e.g. colour indicator, pH-indicator
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2220/00—Aspects relating to sorbent materials
    • B01J2220/50—Aspects relating to the use of sorbent or filter aid materials
    • B01J2220/64—In a syringe, pipette, e.g. tip or in a tube, e.g. test-tube or u-shape tube
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/12—Specific details about manufacturing devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/06—Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
    • B01L2300/0681—Filter

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to sintered polymeric materials and, in particular, to ground sintered porous polymeric materials.
  • Porous polymeric media has been widely used in filtration and fluid barrier applications.
  • Current filtration devices for example, often comprise a housing with a polymeric filtration medium disposed in the fluid passageway through the housing. As fluid enters the housing, it passes through the filtration medium to remove compositions from the fluid stream.
  • Fluids refer to gases and liquids. The efficacy of a filtration device depends on several factors including the ability of the filtration medium to maintain a sufficient seal with the housing to prevent fluid from bypassing the filtration medium. Fluid bypass causes significant problems, especially when the filtration medium also serves as a barrier to selected fluids such as aqueous solutions. Fluid bypassing the barrier can contaminate downstream apparatus and processes leading to inconvenience, contamination, corrosion and costly repairs of equipment.
  • Pipette devices for example, often comprise a barrier medium which allows the passage of fluids such as gasses but prevents the passage of liquids which can contaminate the pipettor. Contamination of a pipettor by fluids bypassing the barrier medium often requires destruction or decontamination of the pipettor due to the potential for subsequent contamination of other solutions, leading to pipetting inefficiencies.
  • Porous polymeric media have also been widely used in separation applications including solid phase extraction.
  • solid phase extraction applications a solution comprising an analyte is flowed through a bed of porous polymeric media wherein the analyte is extracted from the solution by attachment to the polymeric media.
  • the analyte can be subsequently eluted from the polymeric media to complete the separation process.
  • impurities in the solution are associated with the polymeric media with the analyte remaining in solution.
  • Sintered porous polymeric media has proven suitable for filtration, barrier, and solid phase extraction applications.
  • a disadvantage of sintered porous polymeric media is the difficulty and expense of producing complicated shapes often necessary to fit custom housings to prevent fluid bypass.
  • molds can be constructed to produce required complicated shapes. Production of complex-shaped molds, nevertheless, is often cost prohibitive.
  • shapes such as spheres cannot be effectively produced by molding techniques.
  • Sintered porous polymeric materials have been ground into complicated shapes as an alternative to the molding process. Grinding sintered porous polymeric materials demonstrates significant disadvantages as heat and frictional forces imparted by the grinding process smear surfaces of the sintered porous polymeric material. Smearing surfaces of the sintered porous polymeric material damages and occludes the pore structure of the material leading to adverse effects on fluid flow through the material and the filtration and separation properties of the material. Polymeric material as a result of surface smearing, for example, can partially or fully occlude pore openings thereby degrading the pore structure and porosity of the ground sintered material.
  • the present invention provides ground sintered porous polymeric materials free or substantially free of the degradative effects following the grinding process.
  • Ground sintered porous polymeric materials of the present invention can demonstrate unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores of the material are open or not occluded. This property of the ground sintered porous polymeric materials of the present invention having unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores of the material are open and not occluded results in certain airflow characteristics.
  • the airflow properties of the ground sintered porous polymeric materials are at least 50% of the airflow of a similar cylindrically shaped sample with the same diameter which has not undergone grinding. Ground porous sintered materials of this invention maintain their omnidirectional open porous structure after the grinding process.
  • Ground sintered porous polymeric materials can display any desired shape, including a spherical shape or an elliptical shape. Moreover, ground sintered porous polymeric materials of the present invention are operable to be used in filtration, barrier, and separation applications.
  • the present invention provides an article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent (wt %) to about 50 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 wt % to about 99 wt %.
  • the ground sintered porous polymeric material comprises polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 5 wt % to about 45 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 55 wt % to about 95 wt %.
  • the ground sintered porous polymeric material comprises polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 10 wt % to about 40 wt % or about 20 wt % to about 30 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % or about 70 wt % to about 80 wt %, respectively.
  • the polymeric component comprises polypropylene in an amount up to about 100 wt % and does not comprise polyethylene.
  • the article displays unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores are open or not occluded as a result of the grinding process.
  • the article has a spherical shape or an elliptical shape.
  • the article has one or more concave surface profiles.
  • an article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene, is a pipette tip filter.
  • the present invention provides an article comprising a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • a functional component as used herein, comprises one or more compositions operable to impart one or more specific properties or functions to the ground porous sintered composite material.
  • the specific property or function imparted by the functional component is different from any properties imparted by the polymeric component.
  • the polymeric component of a ground porous sintered composite material is incapable of imparting any properties consistent with the functional component.
  • a functional component comprises an absorbent material operable to render the ground porous sintered composite material self-sealing when contacted with a liquid.
  • a liquid comprises aqueous and/or organic liquids.
  • Absorbent materials according to some embodiments, rapidly swell when contacted with aqueous or organic liquids.
  • an absorbent material comprises a super-absorbent material, including, but not limited to, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyacrylic acid sodium salts, gums or mixtures thereof.
  • the self-sealing functionality imparted by a functional component comprising one or more absorbent materials can enable an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to serve a liquid barrier medium, such as a pipette tip filter for preventing contamination of a pipettor.
  • a functional component comprises a color change indicator.
  • a color change indicator is operable to at least partially change the color of the ground porous sintered composite material when contacted with an aqueous and/or organic liquid.
  • the color change indicator changes the composite material from a first color to a second color when contacted with an aqueous and/or organic liquid.
  • the color change indicator changes the sintered porous matrix from colorless or white to colored. The color change of the ground porous sintered composite material, according to embodiments of the present invention, depends on the identity of the color change indicator selected.
  • a functional component comprising a color change indicator can enable an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to indicate to a user when the article has been contacted with aqueous and/or organic liquids.
  • a functional component of a ground porous sintered composite material comprises an absorbent material and a color change indicator.
  • the color change indicator can indicate to a user that an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material has been contacted by an aqueous and/or organic liquid and has sealed as a result of the contact.
  • a functional component comprises a separation composition such as an ion exchange medium, a normal phase separation medium, or a reverse phase separation medium.
  • a functional component comprising a separation composition can enable an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to serve in chromatographic and separation applications, including solid phase extraction applications.
  • a functional component comprises inorganic absorbent and/or adsorbent composition including carbon, activated carbon, carbon black, controlled porous glass, a metal such as iron or stainless steel, an oxide such as aluminum oxide, boron oxide or metal oxide, silica, quartz, glass bubbles, glass fibers, molecular sieves, zeolites, other inorganic species, or mixtures thereof.
  • a modified silica comprises an alkyl bonded silica comprising a C 4 , Cg, C12, C 18 , or C20 alkyl group.
  • a functional component comprising inorganic absorbent and/or adsorbent media can allow an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to serve in separation applications described herein.
  • the functional component comprises antimicrobial and/or antiviral materials including, but not limited to, silver ions, silver compounds, trichlorosan, or mixtures thereof.
  • a functional component comprising antimicrobial and/or antiviral materials can render an article comprising the ground porous sintered material suitable for use in antimicrobial and/or antiviral applications.
  • the functional component comprises electrically conductive, thermally conductive, or magnetic compositions.
  • a functional component comprising electrically and/or thermally conductive compositions can enable an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material suitable for use in applications wherein heat transfer or dissipation of static charge is desirable.
  • a functional component of a ground sintered porous composite material comprises compositions operable to support and/or enhance cellular growth, such as cell growth substrate compositions.
  • a functional component operable support and/or enhance cellular growth can permit an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to serve as a substrate in cellular growth or cell culture applications.
  • an article comprising a ground porous sintered composite material displays unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores are open or not occluded.
  • an article comprising a ground porous sintered composite material can have any desired shape.
  • an article comprising a ground porous sintered composite material has a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape, a frustroconical shape or an elliptical shape.
  • the article has a concave surface profiles.
  • the present invention provides a housing comprising at least one filter disposed therein.
  • the at least one filter disposed in the housing comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent (wt %) to about 50 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 wt % to about 99 wt %.
  • filter comprises a ground sintered porous polymeric material comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 5 wt % to about 45 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 55 wt % to about 95 wt %.
  • the filter comprises a ground sintered porous polymeric material comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 10 wt % to about 40 wt % or about 20 wt % to about 30 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % or about 70 wt % to about 80 wt %, respectively.
  • the polymeric component comprises polypropylene in an amount up to about 100 wt % and does not comprise polyethylene.
  • the at least one filter disposed in the housing comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component as provided herein.
  • the functional component of the ground porous sintered composite material can comprise any of the same described herein.
  • Housings suitable for use in some embodiments of the present invention comprise a vacuum filtration housing, a chromatographic column, a funnel, a tube, a syringe, a syringe tip filter, a catheter, a duct, or a pipette tip.
  • a pipette tip comprises a hollow, tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end.
  • the first open end and second open end are in facing opposition to one another.
  • the hollow, tubular member is tapered at one end producing a conical shape.
  • a filter comprising a ground sintered porous material of the present invention is disposed in the hollow, tubular member and spaced apart from the first open end thereby defining a sample collection chamber between the filter and the first open end.
  • the filter has a spherical shape.
  • the second open end of the hollow, tubular member is adapted to be secured to a suitable suction device such as a pipettor, volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • a suitable suction device such as a pipettor, volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • a pipette tip comprises a hollow tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end, a first filter disposed in the hollow, tubular member and a second filter disposed in the hollow, tubular member.
  • the first and second open ends are in facing opposition to one another.
  • the hollow, tubular member is tapered at one end producing a conical shape.
  • the first and second filters are spaced apart to define a chamber between the first and second filters.
  • a solid phase extraction medium is optionally disposed in the chamber between the first and second filters.
  • a solid phase extraction medium in some embodiments, comprises an ion exchange medium, a normal phase separation medium, or a reverse phase separation medium.
  • the first and/or second filters have a spherical shape.
  • At least one of the first and second filters comprises a ground sintered porous material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 weight percent to about 99 weight percent.
  • the polymeric component comprises polypropylene in an amount up to about 100 weight percent and does not comprise polyethylene. The relative amounts of polyethylene in combination with polypropylene, or polypropylene alone are provided above. .
  • At least one of the first and second filters comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component as provided herein.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component as provided herein.
  • the relative amounts of polyethylene in combination with polypropylene, or polypropylene alone in the polymeric component are provided above.
  • the functional component of the ground porous sintered composite material can comprise any of the same described herein.
  • first and second filters may be selected independently of one another.
  • the first filter comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polyethylene-polypropylene polymeric component
  • the second filter comprises a ground sintered porous composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • Embodiments of the present invention contemplate any combination of constructions of the first and second filters.
  • the second open end of the hollow, tubular member is adapted to be secured to a suitable suction device such as a pipettor, volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • a suitable suction device such as a pipettor, volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • the present invention provides a solid phase extraction apparatus comprising a hollow, tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end, and a solid phase extraction medium disposed in the hollow, tubular member between the first and second ends, the solid phase extraction medium comprising a plurality of spheres.
  • at least one of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 weight percent to about 99 weight percent.
  • the relative amounts of polyethylene in combination with polypropylene, or polypropylene alone in the polymeric component are provided above.
  • the polymeric component comprises polypropylene in an amount up to about 100 weight percent and does not comprise polyethylene.
  • each of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene as described herein.
  • At least one of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component as described herein.
  • each of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • the solid phase extraction medium comprises at least one sphere comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polyethylene-polypropylene polymeric component and at least one sphere comprising a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • a solid phase extraction apparatus in some embodiments, further comprises one or more frits for supporting and/or containing the plurality of spheres.
  • ground porous sintered materials in some embodiments of the present invention, are operable to serve as substrate for the growth of cells.
  • Ground porous sintered materials provide high surface area that cells can attach to.
  • the relatively large pore size (greater than 50 microns) allows nutrients to penetrate into the porous matrix and reach cells inside porous matrix.
  • the modified porous surface chemistry provides a cell friendly environment and promotes cell proliferation on the porous surface.
  • the spherical shape facilitates movement of the ground sintered porous media in the cell culture medium and provides better cell growth rate.
  • a method of making a spherical article comprises providing a mixture comprising polyethylene particles in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent and polypropylene particles in an amount ranging from about 50 weight percent to about 99 weight percent, sintering the mixture of polyethylene particles and polypropylene particles to form a unitary porous sintered composition, and grinding at least a portion the unitary porous sintered composition into the spherical article.
  • the spherical article has all or substantially most of the pores open and unsmeared on the surface.
  • the present invention provides an article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent (wt %) to about 50 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 wt % to about 99 wt %.
  • the mixture comprises polyethylene particles in an amount ranging from about 5 wt % to about 45 wt % and polypropylene particles in an amount ranging from about 55 wt % to about 95 wt %.
  • the mixture comprises polyethylene particles in an amount ranging from about 10 wt % to about 40 wt % or about 20 wt % to about 30 wt % and polypropylene particles in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % or about 70 wt % to about 80 wt %, respectively.
  • the mixture comprises polypropylene particles in an amount up to about 100 wt % and does not comprise polyethylene.
  • a method of making a spherical article comprises providing a mixture comprising polymeric particles and particles of a functional component, sintering the mixture of the polymeric particles and the particles of the functional component to form a unitary porous sintered composite composition, and grinding at least a portion of the unitary porous sintered composite composition into the spherical article.
  • grinding the unitary porous sintered composition does not smear surfaces and/or occlude pores of the resulting spherical article.
  • Ground sintered porous polymeric spherical materials of the present invention demonstrate unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores of the material are open or not occluded.
  • any desired article shape can be produced according to methods of the present invention. In one embodiment, for example, an elliptical, a cylindrical article or frustroconical article is produced.
  • a method of performing a separation comprises providing a pipette tip comprising a hollow, tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end, a first filter and a second filter disposed in the hollow, tubular member wherein the first and second filters are spaced apart, and a solid phase extraction medium disposed in the hollow, tubular member between the first and second filters.
  • the first and second filters can comprise any ground porous sintered material of the present invention, and optionally one or more functional component.
  • at least one of the first and second filters is spherical in shape.
  • a suction device is coupled to the pipette tip, and the pipette tip contacts a solution comprising an analyte.
  • the solution is drawn into the pipette tip and flowed over the solid phase extraction medium at least once before expulsion of the solution into a container.
  • the solution is drawn into the pipette tip and flowed over the solid phase extraction medium a plurality of times.
  • flowing the solution over the solid phase extraction medium associates or binds the analyte to the solid phase extraction medium.
  • flowing the solution over the solid phase extraction medium associates or binds impurities or other non-analyte species to the solid phase extraction medium.
  • flowing the solution over the solid phase extraction medium associates or binds both analyte and non-analyte species.
  • the solid phase extraction medium can bind to the analyte in many ways including but not limited to molecular sieve (size fitness); partition (hydrophobic or hydrophilic); affinity binding (ligand/receptor, antibody/antigen, complimentary nucleic acid); and ion exchange interaction.
  • the binding mechanism can be non-covalent or covalent interaction.
  • the binding may be passive adsorption of the analyte, ligand, nucleic acid or antibody to the plastic surface.
  • the porous surface of the solid phase extraction medium may be functionalized to provide binding sites for an analyte, ligand, nucleic acid or antibody.
  • the solid phase extraction medium or the ground sintered porous materials may be functionalized by plasma treatment using techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Creation of functional groups, for example hydroxyl groups, can be used as sites for bifunctional coupling reagents to bind to the functional group and to a ligand. Following the binding of the ligand, analytes that bind to the ligand may be isolated from a mixture such as a solution, suspension or cell culture fluid,
  • the analyte is eluted from the solid phase extraction medium by exposure to a second solution.
  • the analyte is selectively eluted from the solid phase extraction medium.
  • a method of performing a separation comprises providing a solid phase extraction apparatus comprising a hollow, tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end, and a solid phase extraction medium disposed in the hollow, tubular member between the first and second ends, the solid phase extraction medium comprising a plurality of spheres.
  • at least one of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • each of the spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • the solid phase extraction medium is contacted with a solution comprising an analyte.
  • a solution comprising an analyte.
  • Contacting the solid phase extraction medium with the analyte solution associates or binds the analyte to the solid phase extraction medium.
  • contacting the solid phase extraction medium with the analyte solution associates or binds impurities or other non-analyte species to the solid phase extraction medium.
  • contacting the solid phase extraction medium with the analyte solution associates or binds both analyte and non-analyte species.
  • the analyte is eluted from the solid phase extraction medium by exposure to a second solution, using techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as ionic strength, polarity, salt, hydrophobicity, etc.
  • the analyte and non-analyte species are bound to the solid phase extraction medium, the analyte is selectively eluted from the solid phase extraction medium.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a pipette tip comprising a filter, the filter comprising a ground porous sintered material according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a pipette tip comprising first and second filters disposed therein with a solid phase extraction medium, the first and second filters comprising ground porous sintered materials according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a solid phase extraction apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a pipette tip comprising a filter, the filter comprising two ground porous sintered materials according to one embodiment of the present invention, a spherical particle as in Figure 1 and a second smaller spherical particle located near the end of the pipette tip.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a pipette tip comprising a filter, the filter comprising a ground porous sintered material according to one embodiment of the present invention as a spherical particle located near the end of the pipette tip.
  • the present invention provides ground sintered porous polymeric materials free or substantially free of the degradative effects imparted by the grinding process.
  • Ground sintered porous polymeric materials of the present invention demonstrate unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores of the material are open or not occluded.
  • Articles comprising ground sintered porous polymeric materials can display any desired shape, including a spherical shape or an elliptical shape.
  • Ground porous sintered materials of this invention maintain their omnidirectional open porous structure after the grinding process.
  • ground sintered porous polymeric materials of the present invention are operable to be used in filtration, barrier and separation applications.
  • the present invention provides an article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent (wt %) to about 50 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 wt % to about 99 wt %.
  • the ground sintered porous polymeric material comprises polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 5 wt % to about 45 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 55 wt % to about 95 wt %.
  • the ground sintered porous polymeric material comprises polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 10 wt % to about 40 wt % or about 20 wt % to about 30 wt % and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % or about 70 wt % to about 80 wt %, respectively.
  • polyethylene is present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 10 wt % or from about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %.
  • the polymeric component comprises polypropylene in an amount up to about 100 wt % and does not comprise polyethylene.
  • the polymeric component of the ground porous sintered material comprises a plurality of polyethylene particles sintered with a plurality of polypropylene particles.
  • the amounts of polyethylene and polypropylene particles provided in a mixture for sintering, in some embodiments, are consistent with the weight percentages described herein for polyethylene and polypropylene.
  • Other polymeric materials could be made into a spherical shape using the method of the present invention. These polymeric materials include PVDF, Nylon, polyester and polystyrene or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, for cell culture based applications, polystyrene may be a preferred polymeric material..
  • the polymeric component comprises sintered particles of a copolymer comprising polyethylene and polypropylene.
  • a copolymer comprising polyethylene and polypropylene is a block copolymer.
  • a copolymer comprising polyethylene and polypropylene is an alternating copolymer.
  • a copolymer comprising polyethylene and polypropylene is a random copolymer.
  • the amounts of polyethylene and polypropylene in a copolymer are consistent with the weight percentages for polyethylene and polypropylene described herein.
  • Polyethylene suitable for use in the polymeric component of a ground porous sintered material in one embodiment, comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE).
  • HDPE high density polyethylene
  • High density polyethylene refers to polyethylene having a density ranging from about 0.92 g/cm 3 to about 0.97 g/cm 3 .
  • high density polyethylene has a degree of crystallinity ranging from about 50 to about 90.
  • polyethylene comprises ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).
  • Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene refers to polyethylene having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000.
  • an article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene displays unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores are open or not occluded as a result of the grinding process.
  • a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene in some embodiments, has an average pore size ranging from about 1 ⁇ m to about 300 ⁇ m or from about 10 ⁇ m to about 250 ⁇ m.
  • a ground porous sintered polymeric material has an average pore size ranging from about 15 ⁇ m to about 50 ⁇ m, from about 25 ⁇ m to about 150 ⁇ m, from about 50 ⁇ m to about 100 ⁇ m or from about 100 ⁇ m to about 250 ⁇ m.
  • a ground sintered porous polymeric material has an average pore size ranging from about 10 ⁇ m to about 50 ⁇ m or from about 15 ⁇ m to about 30 ⁇ m.
  • a ground sintered porous polymeric material has an average pore size less than about 1 ⁇ m or greater than about 300 ⁇ m. Similar pore size ranges apply when polypropylene is used alone in the absence of polyethylene.
  • a ground porous sintered polymeric material comprising a polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene in some embodiments, has a porosity ranging from about 10% to about 90%. In other embodiments, a ground porous sintered polymeric material has a porosity ranging from about 20% to about 80% or from about 30% to about 70%. In a further embodiment, a ground porous sintered polymeric material has a porosity ranging from about 40% to about 60%. Similar porosity ranges apply when polypropylene is used alone in the absence of polyethylene.
  • An article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene can have any desired shape. In one embodiment, the article has a spherical shape.
  • a spherical article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene in some embodiments, has diameter ranging from about 500 ⁇ m to about 5 mm. In another embodiment, a spherical article has a diameter ranging from about 750 ⁇ m to about 4 mm or from about 1 mm to about 3 mm. In some embodiments, a spherical article has a diameter ranging from about 3 mm to about 5 mm or from about 2 mm to about 3 mm. In a further embodiment, a spherical article has a diameter less than about 500 ⁇ m or greater than about 5 mm. In one embodiment, a spherical article has a diameter ranging from about 5 mm to about 5 cm or from about 10 mm to about 2 cm. Similar diameters apply when polypropylene is used alone in the absence of polyethylene.
  • an article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene has an elliptical shape or a cylindrical shape. In another embodiment an article has one or more concave surface profiles. In another embodiment an article has a frustroconical shape.
  • a method of making a spherical article comprises providing a mixture comprising polyethylene particles in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent and polypropylene particles in an amount ranging from about 50 weight percent to about 99 weight percent, sintering the mixture of polyethylene particles and polypropylene particles to form a unitary porous sintered composition, and grinding at least a portion of the of the unitary porous sintered composition into the spherical article.
  • the amounts of polyethylene particles and polypropylene particles in the mixture are consistent with any of the weight percents recited herein for polyethylene and polypropylene.
  • Polyethylene and polypropylene particles in some embodiments, have average sizes ranging from about 1 ⁇ m to about 1 mm. In another embodiment, polyethylene and polypropylene particles have average sizes ranging from about 10 ⁇ m to about 900 ⁇ m, from about 50 ⁇ m to about 500 ⁇ m, or from about 100 ⁇ m to about 400 ⁇ m. In a further embodiment, polyethylene and polypropylene particles have average sizes ranging from about 200 ⁇ m to about 300 ⁇ m. In some embodiments, polyethylene and polypropylene particles have average sizes less than about 1 ⁇ m or greater than about 1 mm. Sizes of polyethylene and polypropylene particles, in some embodiments, are selected independently.
  • polyethylene and polypropylene particles are sintered at a temperature ranging from about 300 0 F to about 36O 0 F. In one embodiments, polyethylene and polypropylene particles are sintered at a temperature ranging from about 32O 0 F to about 34O 0 F. These sintering temperatures may be employed when polypropylene is used in the absence of polyethylene.
  • Polyethylene and polypropylene particles are sintered for a time period ranging from about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes. In other embodiments, polyethylene and polypropylene particles are sintered for a time period ranging from about 1 minute to about 15 minutes or from about 5 minutes to about 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the sintering process comprises heating, soaking, and/or cooking cycles. Moreover, in some embodiments, sintering of polyethylene and polypropylene particles is administered under ambient pressure (1 atm). In other embodiments sintering of polyethylene and polypropylene particles is administered under pressures greater than ambient pressure.
  • the polyethylene and polypropylene particles are sintered to form a unitary porous sintered composition.
  • the unitary porous sintered composition in some embodiments, has a pore structure and porosity consistent with ground porous sintered materials described herein.
  • the sintered unitary porous composition can have any desired shape. In one embodiment, the porous unitary composition is cylindrical or rod shaped.
  • At least a portion of the unitary porous sintered composition can be ground into the spherical article according to methods known to one of skill in the art.
  • the grinding process described in the US 7,090,565 can be used in the present invention.
  • Glebar Company Inc., Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, US provides commercially available grinding services and machines to perform grinding.
  • a unitary porous sintered composition can be ground into a plurality of spherical articles.
  • a sintered porous rod is ground into a plurality of spherical articles.
  • the unitary porous sintered composition has a diameter equal to or substantially equal to the diameter of the spherical article.
  • grinding the porous unitary sintered composition does not result in smeared surfaces of the spherical article.
  • the spherical article displays a pore structure wherein all or substantially all of the pores are open and not occluded as a result of the grinding process.
  • particles comprising a polyethylene-polypropylene copolymer are provided as an alternative to a mixture of discrete polyethylene particles and discrete polypropylene particles.
  • Particles comprising a polyethylene-polypropylene copolymer in some embodiments, can have average sizes consistent with the polyethylene and polypropylene particles described hereinabove.
  • the present invention provides an article comprising a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • an article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component displays unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores are open or not occluded as a result of the grinding process.
  • ground porous sintered composite materials of the present invention comprise a polymeric component.
  • the polymeric component comprises a single polymeric species.
  • the polymeric component comprises a plurality of polymeric species.
  • Polymeric species suitable for use in the polymeric component of a ground porous sintered composite material comprise polyolefms, polyamides, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, polyesters, polycarbonates, poly(phenylene oxide), poly(phenylene sulfide), polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethersulfones, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitriles, polyether imides, polyetheretherketones, polysulfones, or copolymers or mixtures thereof.
  • the polymeric component preferably has a melting temperature above about 130° C, or above about 150 C 0 .
  • a polyolef ⁇ n comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, and/or copolymers thereof.
  • Polyethylene in one embodiment, comprises HDPE. In another embodiment, polyethylene comprises UHMWPE.
  • the polymeric component comprises polyethylene and polypropylene.
  • the polymeric component can comprise polyethylene and polypropylene in amounts consistent with those provided herein above.
  • the polymeric component comprises a copolymer comprising polyethylene and polypropylene as described herein.
  • a copolymer comprising polyethylene and polypropylene in one embodiment, is a block copolymer.
  • a copolymer comprising polyethylene and polypropylene is an alternating copolymer.
  • a copolymer comprising polyethylene and polypropylene is a random copolymer.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprises a functional component.
  • a functional component comprises an absorbent material operable to render the ground sintered composite material self- sealing when contacted with aqueous and/or organic liquids.
  • Absorbent materials rapidly swell when contacted with aqueous or organic liquids. The swelling of the absorbent material can seal the pores of the ground porous sintered composite material thereby inhibiting or preventing fluid flow through the composite material.
  • an absorbent material comprises a super-absorbent material.
  • Super-absorbent materials can comprise hydrolyzed starch acrylonitrile graft copolymer, neutralized starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer, saponified acrylic acid ester-vinyl acetate copolymer, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile copolymer, acrylamide copolymer, modified cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol, neutralized self-crosslinking polyacrylic acid, crosslinked polyacrylate salts, neutralized crosslinked isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymers, and salts and mixtures thereof.
  • Super-absorbent materials in some embodiments, comprise those disclosed by United States Patent Nos.
  • the self-sealing functionality imparted by a functional component comprising one or more absorbent materials can enable an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to serve a liquid barrier medium, such as a pipette tip filter for preventing contamination of a pipettor.
  • a functional component comprises a color change indicator.
  • a color change indicator is operable to at least partially change the color of the ground porous sintered composite material when contacted with an aqueous and/or organic liquid.
  • the color change indicator changes the composite material from a first color to a second color when contacted with an aqueous and/or organic liquid.
  • the color change indicator changes the composite material from colorless or white to colored.
  • the color change of the ground porous sintered composite material depends on the identity of the color change indicator selected.
  • a functional component comprising a color change indicator can enable an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to indicate to a user when the article has been contacted with aqueous and/or organic liquids.
  • a color change indicator comprises an inorganic or organic dye, including food grade dyes, azo compounds, or azo dyes.
  • color change indicators do not comprise inorganic salts, including transition metal salts. Additionally, in some embodiments, a color change indicator does not comprise a conjugate or complex that changes color upon the binding of an analyte.
  • Color change indicators comprising food grade dyes are operable to be used with biological samples due to the non-toxic nature of the food dyes.
  • a color change indicator comprises FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, Solvent Red 24, Solvent Red 26, Solvent Red 164, Solvent Yellow 124, Solvent Blue 35, or combinations thereof.
  • Color change indicators demonstrate a pH dependency on the color produced. As a result, color change indicators, in some embodiments, indicate not only liquid contact with the barrier composition but the relative pH of the contacting liquid as well.
  • Color change indicators demonstrating a pH dependency comprise methyl violet, eosin yellow, malachite green, thymol blue, methyl yellow, bromophenol blue, congo red, methyl orange, bromocresol green, methyl red, litmus, bromocresol purple, bromophenol red, bromothymol blue, phenol red, neutral red, naphtholphthalein, cresol red, phenolphthalein, thymolphthalein, alkali blue, Alizarin Yellow R, indigo carmine, epsilon blue, or combinations thereof.
  • a functional component comprises a separation composition such as an ion exchange medium, a normal phase separation medium, or a reverse phase separation medium.
  • a functional component comprising a separation composition can enable an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to serve in chromatographic and separation applications, including solid phase extraction applications.
  • a separation composition comprises silica powder, silica gel, chopped glass fiber, controlled porous glass, glass beads, ground glass fiber, glass bubbles, kaolin, alumina, other inorganic oxides, ceramic, or mixtures thereof.
  • a separation composition comprises particles having one or a plurality of spacers as set forth in
  • Spacers useful in the this embodiment of the invention include, but are not limited to, silanes, functionalized silanes (functional groups such as aldehyde, amino, epoxy, halides, etc.), diamines, alcohols, esters, glycols (such as polyethylene glycol), anhydrides, dialdehydes, terminal difunctionalized polyurethanes, diones, macromer, difunctional and multifunctional polymers with end groups, including, but not limited to, amino, carboxylic acid, ester, aldehyde, or mixtures thereof.
  • a reverse phase separation medium comprises alkyl or aryl bonded silicas.
  • an alkyl bonded silica comprises a C 4 , C 8 , Ci 2 , Ci 8 , or C 2 o alkyl group.
  • a normal phase separation medium comprises polar functionalized bonded silicas.
  • a separation medium composition comprises cationic exchange resins or anionic exchange resins.
  • a separation composition in some embodiments, comprises receptor ligands, antibodies, DNA fragments, RNA fragments, other biological species or mixtures thereof.
  • a separation composition comprises size exclusion species. Many of these biological compositions can be attached to porous spherical materials through passive adsorption or covalent binding.
  • a functional component comprises inorganic absorbent and/or adsorbent media including carbon, activated carbon, carbon black, controlled porous glass, aluminum oxide, silica, quartz, glass bubbles, glass fibers, glass bead, molecular sieves, zeolites, other inorganic species, or mixtures thereof.
  • a functional component comprising inorganic absorbent and/or adsorbent media can allow an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to serve in separation applications.
  • a functional component comprises antimicrobial and/or antiviral materials.
  • a functional component comprising antimicrobial and/or antiviral materials can render an article comprising the ground porous sintered material suitable for use in antimicrobial and/or antiviral applications.
  • antiviral or antimicrobial agents comprise phenolic and chlorinated phenolic compounds, resorcinol and its derivatives, bisphenolic compounds, benzoic esters, halogenated carbanilides, polymeric antimicrobial agents, thazolines, trichloromethylthioimides, natural antimicrobial agents, metal salts, broad-spectrum antibiotics, or mixtures thereof.
  • antiviral or antimicrobial agents comprise 2,4,4'- trichloro-2'-hydroxy-diphenyl ether, 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-l-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea, poly(iminoimidocarbonyl iminohexamethylene hydrochloride), silver ions, or salts or mixtures thereof.
  • antimicrobial and/or antiviral materials comprise those set forth in United States Patent 6,551,608.
  • a functional component comprises electrically conductive, thermally conductive, or magnetic compositions.
  • a functional component comprising electrically and/or thermally conductive compositions can enable an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material suitable for use in applications wherein heat transfer or dissipation of static charge is desirable.
  • an electrically and/or thermally conductive composition comprises a carbonaceous material.
  • a carbonaceous material in some embodiments, comprises carbon black, graphite, amorphous carbon, active carbon, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, or mixtures thereof.
  • carbon nanotubes comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT), or mixtures thereof.
  • SWNT single-walled carbon nanotubes
  • MWNT multi-walled carbon nanotubes
  • Carbon nanotubes for use embodiments of the present invention can have any desired length including lengths greater than 1 ⁇ m.
  • a functional component of a ground sintered porous composite material comprises one or more compositions operable to support and/or enhance cellular growth.
  • a functional component operable to support and/or enhance cellular growth can permit an article comprising the ground porous sintered composite material to serve as a substrate in cellular growth or cell culture applications.
  • a functional component of a ground sintered porous composite material comprises a plurality of functional compositions.
  • a functional component comprises an absorbent material and a color change indicator.
  • the functional component can seal the ground sintered porous composite material when contacted with an aqueous and/or organic liquid while providing an indication to a user that the ground sintered porous composite material has contacted the aqueous and/or organic liquid.
  • functional components comprising any combination of functional compositions.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprises a plurality of particles of the polymeric component sintered with a plurality of particles of the functional component. Any of the foregoing functional component compositions can be provided in particulate form for sintering with particles of the polymeric component.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprises a functional component in an amount up to about 60 weight percent.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprises a functional component in an amount ranging from about 5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent or from about 10 weight percent to about 40 weight percent.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprises a functional component in an amount ranging from about 15 weight percent to about 30 weight percent.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprises a functional component in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent. In a further embodiment, a ground porous sintered composite material comprises a functional component in an amount less than about 1 weight percent or greater than about 60 weight percent.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component in some embodiments, has an average pore size ranging from about 1 ⁇ m to about 300 ⁇ m or from about 10 ⁇ m to about 250 ⁇ m. In another embodiment, a ground porous sintered composite material has an average pore size ranging from about 25 ⁇ m to about 150 ⁇ m or from about 50 ⁇ m to about 100 ⁇ m. In some embodiments, a ground sintered porous composite material has an average pore size ranging from about 10 ⁇ m to about 50 ⁇ m or from about 15 ⁇ m to about 30 ⁇ m. In a further embodiment, a ground sintered porous composite material has an average pore size less than about 1 ⁇ m or greater than about 300 ⁇ m.
  • a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component in some embodiments, has a porosity ranging from about 10% to about 90%. In other embodiments, a ground porous sintered composite material has a porosity ranging from about 20% to about 80% or from about 30% to about 70%. In a further embodiment, a ground porous sintered polymeric material has a porosity ranging from about 40% to about 60%.
  • An article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component, as described herein, can have any desired shape.
  • the article has a spherical shape.
  • a spherical article comprising a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component in some embodiments, has a diameter ranging from about 500 ⁇ m to about 5 mm.
  • a spherical article has a diameter ranging from about 750 ⁇ m to about 4 mm or from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.
  • a spherical article has a diameter ranging from about 3 mm to about 5 mm or from about 2 mm to about 3 mm.
  • a spherical article has a diameter less than about 500 ⁇ m or greater than about 5 mm. In one embodiment, a spherical article has a diameter ranging from about 5 mm to about 5 cm or from about 10 mm to about 2 cm. In some embodiments, an article comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component has an elliptical shape. In another embodiment an article has one or more concave surface profiles.
  • the present invention provides methods of making articles comprising a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component.
  • a method of making a spherical article comprises providing a mixture comprising particles of a polymeric component, sintering the mixture of polymeric particles to form a unitary porous sintered composition, and grinding at least a portion of the unitary porous sintered composition into the spherical article.
  • the present invention provides methods of making articles comprising a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • a method of making a spherical article comprises providing a mixture comprising particles of a polymeric component and particles of a functional component, sintering the mixture of polymeric particles and the functional component particles to form a unitary porous sintered composition, and grinding at least a portion of the unitary porous sintered composition into the spherical article.
  • the amount of functional particles provided to form the mixture is consistent with any of the weight percents herein recited for the functional component.
  • Polymeric and functional component particles in some embodiments, have average sizes ranging from about 1 ⁇ m to about 1 mm.
  • polymeric and functional component particles have average sizes ranging from about 10 ⁇ m to about 900 ⁇ m, from about 50 ⁇ m to about 500 ⁇ m, or from about 100 ⁇ m to about 400 ⁇ m. In a further embodiment, polymeric and functional component particles have average sizes ranging from about 200 ⁇ m to about 300 ⁇ m. In some embodiments, polymeric and functional component particles have average sizes less than about 1 ⁇ m or greater than about 1 mm. Sizes of polymeric and functional component particles, in some embodiments, are selected independently.
  • Polymeric and functional component particles are sintered at a temperature ranging from about 200 0 F to about 700 0 F. In some embodiments, polymeric and functional component particles are sintered at a temperature ranging from about 300 0 F to about 500 0 F.
  • the sintering temperature is dependent upon and selected according to the identity of the polymeric and/or functional component particles.
  • Polymeric and functional component particles in some embodiments, are sintered for a time period ranging from about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes. In other embodiments, polymeric and functional component particles are sintered for a time period ranging from about 1 minute to about 15 minutes or from about 5 minutes to about 10 minutes.
  • the sintering process comprises heating, soaking, and/or cooking cycles.
  • sintering of polymeric and functional component particles is administered under ambient pressure (1 atm). In other embodiments sintering of polymeric and functional component particles is administered under pressures greater than ambient pressure.
  • the polymeric and functional component particles are sintered to form a unitary porous sintered composition.
  • the unitary porous sintered composition in some embodiments, has a pore structure and porosity consistent with ground porous sintered materials described herein.
  • the sintered unitary porous composition can have any desired shape. In one embodiment, the porous unitary sintered composition is cylindrical or rod shaped.
  • At least a portion of the unitary porous sintered composition can be ground into the spherical article according to methods known to one of skill in the art.
  • a unitary porous sintered composition can be ground into a plurality of spherical articles.
  • a sintered porous rod is ground into a plurality of spherical articles.
  • grinding the porous unitary sintered composition does not result in smeared surfaces of the ground spherical article.
  • the spherical article displays a pore structure wherein all or substantially all of the pores are open and not occluded as a result of the grinding process.
  • This property of the ground sintered porous polymeric materials of the present invention having unsmeared surfaces wherein all or substantially all of the pores of the material are open or not occluded results in certain airflow characteristics.
  • the airflow properties of the ground sintered porous polymeric materials are at least 50% of the airflow of a similar cylindrical shaped sample with the same diameter without grinding.
  • the airflow properties of the ground sintered porous polymeric materials are at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 99% of the airflow of a similar cylindrical shaped sample with the same diameter without grinding. Similar airflow properties are obtained when polymeric components and functional components are combined, sintered and ground in to the ground sintered porous materials of the present invention.
  • an organic cooling media can be selected to prevent premature sealing or color change of the ground porous sintered composite material.
  • a cooling media comprising solutions of glycerol, ethylene glycol, small molecular weight polyethylene glycol, or mixtures thereof are used in the grinding process when an aqueous sensitive functional component is present.
  • an aqueous cooling media can be used when a functional component sensitive to organic solutions is present.
  • the present invention provides a housing comprising at least one filter disposed therein.
  • the at least one filter disposed in the housing comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 weight percent to about 99 weight percent.
  • the relative proportions of polyethylene and polypropylene disclosed elsewhere in the application may be used to make the ground porous sintered material.
  • the polymeric component comprises polypropylene in an amount up to about 100 weight percent and does not comprise polyethylene.
  • the at least one filter disposed in the housing comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component as provided herein.
  • the functional component of the ground porous sintered composite material can comprise any of the same described herein.
  • Housings suitable for use in some embodiments of the present invention comprise a vacuum filtration housing, a chromatographic column, a funnel, a tube, a syringe, a syringe tip filter, a catheter, a duct, or a pipette tip.
  • a housing comprises a pipette tip comprising a hollow, tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end.
  • the first open end and second open end are in facing opposition to one another.
  • the hollow, tubular member is tapered at one end producing a conical shape.
  • a filter is disposed in the hollow, tubular member and spaced apart from the first open end thereby defining a sample collection chamber between the filter and the first open end.
  • the filter has a spherical shape.
  • the filter has an elliptical, cylindrical or frustroconical shape.
  • the filter of the pipette tip can comprise any of the ground porous sintered materials described herein.
  • the second open end of the hollow, tubular member is adapted to be secured to a suitable suction device such as a pipettor, volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • a suitable suction device such as a pipettor, volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • the sample collection chamber has a volume ranging from about 0.1 ⁇ l to about 10 ml, from about 0.1 ⁇ l to about 5 ml, from about 0.1 ⁇ l to about 1 ml or from about 0.5 ⁇ l to about 800 ⁇ l. In other embodiments, the sample collection chamber has a volume ranging from about 10 ⁇ l to about 500 ⁇ l, from about 50 ⁇ l to about 250 ⁇ l, or from about 100 ⁇ l to about 200 ⁇ l. In another embodiment, the sample collection chamber has a volume ranging from about 0.5 ⁇ l to about 10 ⁇ l or from about 1 ⁇ l to about 5 ⁇ l. In a further embodiment, a sample collection chamber has a volume less than about 0.1 ⁇ l or greater than about 1 ml.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a filter comprising a ground porous sintered material of the present invention disposed in a pipette tip housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the pipette tip (100) comprises a tapering, hollow tubular member (102) constructed of an inert material such as glass or plastic and is open at a first end (104) and a second end (106), the first (104) and second (106) ends are in facing opposition.
  • a filter (108) comprising any of the ground porous sintered materials described herein is disposed in the tubular member (102) to define a liquid sample chamber (110) between the filter (108) and first end (104).
  • the filtration medium (108) is additionally spaced from the second end (106) of the tubular member (102) to define a chamber (111) between the filter (108) and second end (106).
  • the second end (106) of the tubular member (102) is releasably secured to a suitable suction device (112) as known to one of skill in the art.
  • a suitable suction device for drawing a predetermined volume of liquid in the chamber (110) can be used, such as a volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • the filtration medium (108), in some embodiments, is force or pressure fitted securely into tubular member (102), under a sufficient pressure so that it is securely held and frictionally sealed against the inner wall of tubular member (102) although not attached to the inner wall by any adhesive or other extraneous material.
  • Figure 4 illustrates Figure 1 but further comprises a second smaller filter (409) comprising a ground porous sintered material of the present invention disposed in a pipette tip housing according to an embodiment of the present invention and located at or near the opening at the first end of the pipette tip.
  • the pipette tip (400) comprises a tapering, hollow tubular member (402) constructed of an inert material such as glass or plastic and is open at a first end (404) and a second end (406), the first (404) and second (406) ends are in facing opposition.
  • a first filter (408) comprising any of the ground porous sintered materials described herein is disposed in the tubular member (402) to define a liquid sample chamber (410) between the filter (408) and first end (404).
  • the filtration medium (408) is additionally spaced from the second end (406) of the tubular member (402) to define a chamber (411) between the first filter (408) and the second end (406).
  • the second end (406) of the tubular member (402) is releasably secured to a suitable suction device (412) as known to one of skill in the art.
  • a suitable suction device for drawing a predetermined volume of liquid in the chamber (410) can be used, such as a volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • the first and second filtration media (408, 409, respectively) are force or pressure fitted securely into tubular member (402), under a sufficient pressure so that it is securely held and frictionally sealed against the inner wall of tubular member (402) although not attached to the inner wall by any adhesive or other extraneous material.
  • Figure 5 illustrates Figure 1 but comprises a smaller filter (509) comprising a ground porous sintered material of the present invention disposed in a pipette tip housing according to an embodiment of the present invention and located at or near the opening at the first end of the pipette tip.
  • the pipette tip (500) comprises a tapering, hollow tubular member (502) constructed of an inert material such as glass or plastic and is open at a first end (504) and a second end (506), the first (504) and second (506) ends are in facing opposition.
  • the filtration medium (509) is additionally spaced from the second end (506) of the tubular member (502) to define a chamber (511) between the filter (509) and the second end (506).
  • the second end (506) of the tubular member (502) is releasably secured to a suitable suction device (512) as known to one of skill in the art.
  • a suitable suction device for drawing a predetermined volume of liquid in the chamber (511) can be used, such as a volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • the filtration medium (509), in some embodiments, is force or pressure fitted securely into tubular member (502), under a sufficient pressure so that it is securely held and frictionally sealed against the inner wall of tubular member (502) although not attached to the inner wall by any adhesive or other extraneous material.
  • a pipette tip comprises a hollow tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end, a first filter disposed in the hollow, tubular member and a second filter disposed in the hollow, tubular member.
  • the first and second open ends are in facing opposition to one another.
  • the hollow, tubular member is tapered at one end producing a conical shape.
  • the first and second filters are spaced apart to define a chamber between the first and second filters.
  • a solid phase extraction medium is disposed between the first and second filters.
  • a solid phase extraction medium in some embodiments, comprises an ion exchange medium, a normal phase separation medium, or a reverse phase separation medium.
  • the first and/or second filters have a spherical shape.
  • At least one of the first and second filters comprises a ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • at least one of the first and second filters comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 weight percent to about 99 weight percent, or any other ranges disclosed herein.
  • the polymeric component comprises polypropylene in an amount up to about 100 weight percent and does not comprise polyethylene.
  • At least one of the first and second filters comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component as provided herein.
  • the functional component of the ground porous sintered composite material can comprise any of the same described herein.
  • first and second filters are selected independently of one another.
  • the first filter comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polyethylene-polypropylene polymeric component
  • the second filter comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • the first and second filter can have different diameters, pore sizes, and/or porosities.
  • the second open end of the hollow, tubular member is adapted to be secured to a suitable suction device such as a pipettor, volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a pipette tip comprising first and second filters disposed therein with a solid phase extraction medium.
  • the pipette tip (200) comprises a tapering, hollow tubular member (202) constructed of an inert material such as glass or plastic and is open at a first end (204) and a second end (206), the first (204) and second (206) ends in facing opposition.
  • a first filter (208) is disposed proximate the first end (204) and a second filter (210) is disposed proximate the second end (206) thereby defining a chamber (212) between the first (208) and second (210) filters.
  • a solid phase extraction medium (214) is disposed in the chamber (212) between the first (208) and second (210) filters.
  • the second end (206) of the tubular member (202) is releasably secured to a suitable suction device (216) as known to one of skill in the art. Any suitable suction device for drawing a predetermined volume of liquid in the liquid in the chamber (212) can be used, such as a volumetric pipettor, suction pump, elastic bulb, bellows, etc.
  • the present invention provides a solid phase extraction apparatus comprising a hollow, tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end, and a solid phase extraction medium disposed in the hollow, tubular member between the first and second ends, the solid phase extraction medium comprising a plurality of spheres, wherein at least one of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • At least one of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene in an amount ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent and polypropylene in an amount ranging from about 50 weight percent to about 99 weight percent, or any other ranges disclosed herein.
  • the polymeric component comprises polypropylene in an amount up to about 100 weight percent and does not comprise polyethylene.
  • each of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material comprising a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising polyethylene and polypropylene as described herein.
  • At least one of the plurality spheres comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component as described herein.
  • each of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • the solid phase extraction medium comprises at least one sphere comprising a ground porous sintered material comprising a polyethylene-polypropylene polymeric component and at least one sphere comprising a ground porous sintered composite material comprising a polymeric component and a functional component.
  • a solid phase extraction apparatus in some embodiments, further comprises one or more frits for supporting and/or containing the plurality of spheres.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a solid phase extraction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the solid phase extraction apparatus (300) comprises a hollow, tubular member (302) and a solid phase extraction medium comprising a plurality of spheres (304) disposed in the hollow, tubular member wherein at least one of the plurality of spheres (304) comprises a ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • the solid phase extraction apparatus further comprises a plurality of frits (306) for supporting and/or containing the solid phase extraction medium. In some embodiments, at least one of the frits (306) comprises a ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • a method of performing a separation comprises providing a pipette tip comprising a hollow, tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end, a first filter and a second filter disposed in the hollow, tubular member wherein the first and second filters are spaced apart, and a solid phase extraction medium disposed in the hollow, tubular member between the first and second filters.
  • the first and second filters can comprise any ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • at least one of the first and second filters is spherical in shape.
  • a suction device is coupled to the pipette tip, and the pipette tip contacts a solution comprising an analyte.
  • the solution is drawn into the pipette tip and flowed over the solid phase extraction medium at least once before expulsion of the solution into a container. In some embodiments, the solution is drawn into the pipette tip and flowed over the solid phase extraction medium a plurality of times. In some embodiments, flowing the solution over the solid phase extraction medium associates or binds the analyte to the solid phase extraction medium. In other embodiments, flowing the solution over the solid phase extraction medium associates or binds impurities or other non-analyte species to the solid phase extraction medium. In a further embodiment, flowing the solution over the solid phase extraction medium associates or binds both analyte and non-analyte species.
  • the analyte is eluted from the solid phase extraction medium by exposure to a second solution.
  • the analyte is selectively eluted from the solid phase extraction medium.
  • a method of performing a separation comprises providing a solid phase extraction apparatus comprising a hollow, tubular member comprising a first open end and a second open end, and a solid phase extraction medium disposed in the hollow, tubular member between the first and second ends, the solid phase extraction medium comprising a plurality of spheres.
  • at least one of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • each of the plurality of spheres comprises a ground porous sintered material of the present invention.
  • the solid phase extraction medium is contacted with a solution comprising an analyte.
  • a solution comprising an analyte.
  • Contacting the solid phase extraction medium with the analyte solution associates or binds the analyte to the solid phase extraction medium.
  • contacting the solid phase extraction medium with the analyte solution associates or binds impurities or other non-analyte species to the solid phase extraction medium.
  • contacting the solid phase extraction medium with the analyte solution associates or binds both analyte and non-analyte species.
  • the spheres had an average pore size of 120 microns and a porosity of 40%.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Porous Articles, And Recovery And Treatment Of Waste Products (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des matériaux polymères frittés poreux meulés qui peuvent présenter une résistance aux effets de dégradation tels que les traînées de surface et l'occlusion des pores qu'entraînent les procédés de meulage. Les matériaux polymères frittés poreux meulés peuvent présenter n'importe quelle forme, y compris des sphères.
PCT/US2010/031158 2009-04-16 2010-04-15 Matériaux frittés poreux meulés et applications associées Ceased WO2010120977A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16976209P 2009-04-16 2009-04-16
US61/169,762 2009-04-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010120977A1 true WO2010120977A1 (fr) 2010-10-21

Family

ID=42224338

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2010/031158 Ceased WO2010120977A1 (fr) 2009-04-16 2010-04-15 Matériaux frittés poreux meulés et applications associées

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010120977A1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012173812A1 (fr) * 2011-06-15 2012-12-20 Porex Corporation Milieux de barrière aux liquides, en matière plastique, poreux et frittés, et applications de ceux-ci
EP2447699A3 (fr) * 2010-11-01 2013-01-23 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Appareil pour poinçonner et extraction d'une tache de fluide biologique sec d'une phase solide et procédés correspondants
US10076756B2 (en) 2013-12-26 2018-09-18 Dionex Corporation Ion exchange foams to remove ions from samples
KR20180109934A (ko) * 2016-02-19 2018-10-08 바스프 에스이 폴리아미드 및 첨가제를 포함하는 폴리아미드 조성물
US10118173B2 (en) 2014-10-09 2018-11-06 Illumina, Inc. Method and device for separating immiscible liquids to effectively isolate at least one of the liquids
US10495614B2 (en) 2014-12-30 2019-12-03 Dionex Corporation Vial cap and method for removing matrix components from a liquid sample
US10625213B2 (en) * 2015-04-17 2020-04-21 Arkema Inc. Production system for composite porous solid articles
WO2021203232A1 (fr) * 2020-04-07 2021-10-14 Corning Incorporated Structure poreuse telle que pour des filtres, et sa fabrication
US11192997B2 (en) 2014-03-07 2021-12-07 Ticona Llc Sintered polymeric particles for porous structures

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB856735A (en) * 1956-10-04 1960-12-21 Montedison Spa Porous and cellular materials
US3749685A (en) * 1972-01-26 1973-07-31 Philip Morris Inc Microporous vinyl chloride polymers and process for producing
WO2004039874A1 (fr) * 2002-10-29 2004-05-13 Porvair Filtration Group Limited Procede
EP1437376A1 (fr) * 2001-08-02 2004-07-14 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation Agglomere produit par frittage, particules de resine et procede de production de cet agglomere
WO2005018803A1 (fr) * 2003-08-20 2005-03-03 Wivenhoe Technology Ltd Matrice d'immobilisation pour peptides et proteines

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB856735A (en) * 1956-10-04 1960-12-21 Montedison Spa Porous and cellular materials
US3749685A (en) * 1972-01-26 1973-07-31 Philip Morris Inc Microporous vinyl chloride polymers and process for producing
EP1437376A1 (fr) * 2001-08-02 2004-07-14 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation Agglomere produit par frittage, particules de resine et procede de production de cet agglomere
WO2004039874A1 (fr) * 2002-10-29 2004-05-13 Porvair Filtration Group Limited Procede
WO2005018803A1 (fr) * 2003-08-20 2005-03-03 Wivenhoe Technology Ltd Matrice d'immobilisation pour peptides et proteines

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2447699A3 (fr) * 2010-11-01 2013-01-23 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Appareil pour poinçonner et extraction d'une tache de fluide biologique sec d'une phase solide et procédés correspondants
US9005543B2 (en) 2010-11-01 2015-04-14 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Apparatus for punching and solid phase extraction of dried biological fluid spot and related methods
US8690981B2 (en) 2011-06-15 2014-04-08 Porex Corporation Sintered porous plastic liquid barrier media and applications thereof
US9370731B2 (en) 2011-06-15 2016-06-21 Porex Corporation Sintered porous plastic liquid barrier media and applications thereof
WO2012173812A1 (fr) * 2011-06-15 2012-12-20 Porex Corporation Milieux de barrière aux liquides, en matière plastique, poreux et frittés, et applications de ceux-ci
US10076756B2 (en) 2013-12-26 2018-09-18 Dionex Corporation Ion exchange foams to remove ions from samples
US11879047B2 (en) 2014-03-07 2024-01-23 Ticona Llc Sintered polymeric particles for porous structures
US11192997B2 (en) 2014-03-07 2021-12-07 Ticona Llc Sintered polymeric particles for porous structures
US10898899B2 (en) 2014-10-09 2021-01-26 Illumina, Inc. Method and device for separating immiscible liquids to effectively isolate at least one of the liquids
US10118173B2 (en) 2014-10-09 2018-11-06 Illumina, Inc. Method and device for separating immiscible liquids to effectively isolate at least one of the liquids
US10495614B2 (en) 2014-12-30 2019-12-03 Dionex Corporation Vial cap and method for removing matrix components from a liquid sample
US10921298B2 (en) 2014-12-30 2021-02-16 Dionex Corporation Vial cap and method for removing matrix components from a liquid sample
US12038422B2 (en) 2014-12-30 2024-07-16 Dionex Corporation Vial cap and method for removing matrix components from a liquid sample
US10625213B2 (en) * 2015-04-17 2020-04-21 Arkema Inc. Production system for composite porous solid articles
KR20180109934A (ko) * 2016-02-19 2018-10-08 바스프 에스이 폴리아미드 및 첨가제를 포함하는 폴리아미드 조성물
KR102667488B1 (ko) 2016-02-19 2024-05-22 바스프 에스이 폴리아미드 및 첨가제를 포함하는 폴리아미드 조성물
WO2021203232A1 (fr) * 2020-04-07 2021-10-14 Corning Incorporated Structure poreuse telle que pour des filtres, et sa fabrication

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2010120977A1 (fr) Matériaux frittés poreux meulés et applications associées
CN101528824B (zh) 烧结高分子材料及其应用
US6451260B1 (en) Method for producing microporous elements, the microporous elements thus produced and uses thereof
Sereshti et al. Nanosorbent-based solid phase microextraction techniques for the monitoring of emerging organic contaminants in water and wastewater samples
US8187534B2 (en) Porous barrier media comprising color change indicators
CA2730312C (fr) Dispositifs et procedes pour la purification, l'isolation, le dessalage ou un echange tampon/solvant de substances
AU642884B2 (en) Modular fluid sample preparation assembly
EP0958035B1 (fr) Procede de production d'elements microporeux, elements microporeux produits selon ce procede et leurs utilisations
EP1694420B1 (fr) Procede de concentration et de purification de composes biologiques
WO2010093998A2 (fr) Système et procédés destinés à purifier des substances biologiques
US20130231460A1 (en) Method and device for concentrating target compounds
WO2005114145A2 (fr) Dispositifs et procedes d'immobilisation d'analytes d'interet
US20120076708A1 (en) Porous sealing material
CN101903296A (zh) 复合聚合物过滤介质
US20180036994A1 (en) Membrane-Coated Sintered Porous Media for Sample Collection
EP1820552B1 (fr) Support poreux
ES2238979T3 (es) Procedimiento para atrapar y confinar microorganismos en aire usando polimeros solubles en agua.
Sanyal et al. Advanced adsorbent mediated extraction techniques for the separation of antibiotics from food, biological, and environmental matrices
EP1335960A2 (fr) Supports auto-etanche comprenant des materiaux tres absorbants
Mandal et al. Comparison of nanodiamond coated quartz filter with commercial electropositive filters: Zeta potential and dye retention study
JP3644707B2 (ja) 血液検査用容器
KR20220170081A (ko) 고흡수성 폴리머를 이용한 핵산검출장치 및 핵산검출방법
JP6064402B2 (ja) 抗体単量体の分離用分離剤及び分離方法
JP2001002042A (ja) 容器及びこれを用いた吸着用器具
GB2294260A (en) Porous material comprising glass spheres

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 10715628

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 10715628

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1