Polymer Particle Fluorescent Loading via Non-Aqueous Swelling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polymer magnetic particles containing fluorescent molecules face challenges in achieving a high presence ratio of fluorescent molecules within the polymer layer, which affects their dispersibility and fluorescence luminance detectability.

Innovation Solution

The method involves swelling the polymer layer in a non-aqueous solvent to absorb fluorescent molecules, adding water to prevent dry-up, and evaporating the solvent to introduce a high amount of fluorescent molecules, such as rare earth metal chelate complexes, into the polymer layer, ensuring high dispersibility and fluorescence luminance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If fluorescent molecules are introduced into the polymer layer using conventional methods, then the polymer layer can contain some fluorescent molecules, but the presence ratio is low and fluorescence luminance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepresence ratio of fluorescent moleculesVSAvoiddifficulty of introducing fluorescent molecules

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer layer is pre-swollen with a non-aqueous solvent before introducing fluorescent molecules. This preliminary swelling action expands the polymer matrix and creates pathways for fluorescent molecule penetration, significantly enhancing the uptake capacity and presence ratio of fluorescent molecules in the polymer layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A non-aqueous solvent is used as an intermediary carrier to dissolve and transport fluorescent molecules into the polymer layer. The solvent acts as a medium that facilitates the incorporation of fluorescent molecules, enabling high loading amounts while maintaining uniform distribution within the polymer matrix.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If a non-aqueous solvent is used to swell the polymer layer and introduce fluorescent molecules, then high presence ratio is achieved, but the polymer particles may dry-up and lose dispersibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of fluorescent moleculesVSAvoiddispersibility of polymer particles

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Water is added to the reaction system before evaporating the non-aqueous solvent. This beforehand cushioning with water prevents the polymer particles from drying up during solvent removal, maintaining their dispersibility and preventing aggregation while preserving the high fluorescent molecule loading achieved during the swelling process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The method utilizes phase transition of the non-aqueous solvent from liquid to vapor through evaporation. By controlling this phase transition and adding water beforehand, the system removes the swelling solvent while preventing particle collapse, thereby maintaining particle dispersibility after high fluorescent molecule incorporation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach results in polymer magnetic particles with a high presence ratio of fluorescent molecules, maintaining high dispersibility and providing stable, high-luminance fluorescence suitable for biosensing applications.

Implementation Method 1

swelling a coating polymer layer of polymer magnetic particles in a non-aqueous solvent dissolving therein fluorescent molecules and absorbing the fluorescent molecules inside the swelled coating polymer layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSwelling:

Implementation Method 2

adding water to the non-aqueous solvent in which the polymer magnetic particles absorbing the fluorescent molecules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydration:

Implementation Method 3

removing the non-aqueous solvent by evaporation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

absorbing the fluorescent molecules inside the swelled coating polymer layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9494580B2Polymer particle containing fluorescent molecule and method for producing the same

Publication Date: 2016.11.15 TOKYO INST OF TECH

AI summary

Polymer particles are provided which contain fluorescent molecules with high presence ratio in a polymer layer thereof and a method for preparing thereof. Polymer particles are swelled in a non-aqueous solution excluding exclusively water preferably promotes selling of the polymer layer and transfer of the fluorescent molecules to the polymer layer could not protected by water molecules such that much more fluorescent molecule may be introduced into inside of the polymer layer. Furthermore, since the water is added to the reaction system prior to evaporation removal of the non-aqueous solvent, dry-up of the polymer particles is prevented by the water remained in the reaction system and the polymer particles including fluorescent molecules with high presence ratio of the fluorescent molecules preferably keep high dispersibility using the above described procedures.