Scalable, massively parallel process for making micro-scale functional particles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10985383-B2
Application number	US-201715842135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2017
Priority date	Oct 24, 2014
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A method of fabrication produces one or more functional microparticles using a parallel pore working piece. In one embodiment, the method forms a particle that includes a segment for the oxidation of a biofuel (such as glucose) and the reduction of oxygen. The particle may be synthesized in a structure with defined and parallel, uniform, thin pores that completely penetrate the structure. Further, the functional microparticle may be configured to reside in a human or animal body or cell such that it may be self-contained fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, a separator membrane, and a magnetic component. In other embodiments, the functional microparticles may deliver energy or therapeutic materials in the body.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprised of a functional microparticle with at least one dimension less than fifty microns in length and containing a magnetizable material segment, wherein the microparticle carries a therapeutic payload formed as a tube positioned to surround the magnetizable segment, wherein the tube comprises an electrically insulating material, wherein the apparatus further comprises an anode segment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the functional microparticle is a fuel cell that generates electrical current.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein some component of the fuel cell incorporates a sheathing layer or a separate solid segment of polypyrrole.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the functional microparticle generates radio frequency wave electromagnetic radiation whose frequency changes in response to exposure to an applied magnetic field.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the functional microparticle is a spin-torque nano-oscillator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the functional microparticle carries a therapeutic payload.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the functional microparticle delivers light energy.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the functional microparticle is a self-contained fuel cell having the anode, a cathode, a separator membrane, and a magnetic component.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the fuel cell includes segments for oxidation of glucose and reduction of oxygen.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the functional microparticle carries drugs, proteins, nucleic acids, or optically active molecules.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetizable segment is stacked directly beneath the anode segment and the tube surrounds the magnetizable and anode segments.

Assignees

• Weinberg Medical Physics Inc

Inventors

• Weinberg Irving N
• Mair Lamar Odell

Classifications

• H01M8/22

  Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/02 Primary

  Details (electrodes H01M4/86 - H01M4/98) · CPC title

• Y02B90/10

  Applications of fuel cells in buildings · CPC title

• H01M4/8853

  Electrodeposition · CPC title