Systems and methods for interior energy-activation from an exterior source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10363541-B2
Application number	US-201715587601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2017
Priority date	Mar 11, 2008
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the energy modulation agent.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for modifying a hydrophobic polymer surface, comprising:
disposing in contact with the hydrophobic polymer surface a liquid composition comprising monomeric precursors to a hydrophilic polymer and one or more energy modulation agents, wherein the one or more energy modulation agents are resistant to chemical interaction with the liquid composition and hydrophobic polymer surface; and
applying energy from at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or an electron beam into the liquid composition, wherein the applied energy interacts with the one or more energy modulation agents and internally generates light inside the liquid composition, thereby causing the monomeric precursors to polymerize and react with the hydrophobic polymer surface, thereby grafting the hydrophilic polymer onto the hydrophobic polymer surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer surface is formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acids, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and blends thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid)s, polyacrylamides, and poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate).

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid)s, polyacrylamides, and poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy modulation agents comprise a polymer coated energy modulation agent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy modulation agents comprise a silica coated energy modulation agent.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy modulation agents comprise a zeolite-encased energy modulation agent.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy modulation agents comprise at least one of a telluride, a selenide, or an oxide semiconductor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy modulation agents comprise at least one of Y 2 O 3 ; ZnSe; Mn, Er ZnSe; Mn; Mn, Yb ZnSe; Mn, Y 2 O 3 :Tb 3+ ; Y 2 O 3 :Tb 3+ , Er3 + ; CdSe, Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ , Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ ; BaFBr:Tb 3+ ; or YF 3 :Tb 3+ .

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying energy comprises: applying 10 to 150 keV x-rays.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying energy comprises: applying said energy from a directed or focused energy source.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying energy comprises: applying said energy from a directed or focused energy source.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy modulation agents comprises luminescent particles distributed throughout the liquid composition.

Assignees

• Immunolight Llc

Inventors

• Bourke Jr Frederic A

Classifications

• A61P7/08

  Plasma substitutes; Perfusion solutions; Dialytics or haemodialytics; Drugs for electrolytic or acid-base disorders, e.g. hypovolemic shock (artificial tears A61P27/04) · CPC title

• A61P35/00

  Antineoplastic agents · CPC title

• A61P31/18

  for HIV · CPC title

• A61P31/04

  Antibacterial agents · CPC title

• A61L2/088

  using photocatalysts or photosensitisers · CPC title