US4975375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Biocatalyst immobilization with a reversibly swelling and shrinking polymer
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-09-05
•
Granted: 1990-12-04
•
Expires: 2009-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A biocatalyst such as an enzyme or microbe is immobilized in a polymer gel having a phase transition temperature such that it is capable of reversibly swelling and shrinking by a change in temperature. By lowering the temperature, the polymer gel is caused to swell and a biocatalyst is absorbed therein and by raising the temperature, the polymer gel is caused to shrink and immobilize the biocatalyst. The biocatalyst may then be released by cooling the polymer to cause it to swell. Only a portion of the polymer gel may be subjected to temperature change to immobilize the biocatalyst only in a desired portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiro Haruta
- 👤 Hirohide Munakata
- 👤 Satoshi Yuasa
- 👤 Yoko Yoshinaga
- 👤 Yukuo Nishimura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:16
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/001; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/18; C12M25/00; C12M25/14; C12N; C12N11/00; C12N11/02; C12N11/04; C12N11/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S530/00; Y10S530/81; Y10S530/812; Y10S530/815; Y10S530/817
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for immobilizing a biocatalyst, which comprises: (a) reducing the temperature of a three dimensional reticular polymer gel, said polymer gel having a specific phase transition temperature at which said polymer gel reversibly swells and shrinks, below said specific phase transition temperature to cause said polymer gel to swell; (b) thereafter contacting said polymer gel in said swollen state with a liquid medium containing a biocatalyst to allow said biocatalyst to absorb into said polymer gel; and (c) thereafter heating at least a portion of said polymer gel to said phase transition temperature or higher thereby shrinking said portion of said polymer gel to immobilize said absorbed biocatalyst at said portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for immobilizing a biocatalyst, which comprises: (a) reducing the temperature of a three dimensional reticular polymer gel, said polymer gel having a specific phase transition temperature at which said polymer gel reversibly swells and shrinks, below said specific phase transition temperature to cause said polymer gel to swell; (b) thereafter contacting said polymer gel in said swollen state with a liquid medium containing a biocatalyst to allow said biocatalyst to absorb into said polymer gel; and (c) thereafter heating at least a portion of said polymer gel to said phase transition temperature or higher thereby shrinking said portion of said polymer gel to immobilize said absorbed biocatalyst at said portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the phase transition temperature of the polymer gel in water is lower than the deactivation temperature of the biocatalyst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the biocatalyst is an enzyme or a microbe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said biocatalyst is immobilized at a predetermined pattern of the polymer gel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the polymer gel has a phase transition temperature between 0° C. and 80° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is composed mainly of water.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for immobilizing a biocatalyst, which comprises: (a) heating at least a portion of a three-dimensional reticular polymer gel to convert said portion to a shrunken state; said polymer gel having a phase transition temperature at which said polymer gel reversibly swells and shrinks; (b) contacting said polymer gel with a liquid medium containing a biocatalyst (c) allowing said biocatalyst to absorb into a non-heated portion of said polymer gel; and (d) heating said non-heated portion of said polymer gel to said phase transition temperature or higher thereby shrinking said non-heated portion to immobilize the biocatalyst at said non-heated portion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for immobilizing a biocatalyst, which comprises: (a) heating at least a portion of a three-dimensional reticular polymer gel to convert said portion to a shrunken state; said polymer gel having a phase transition temperature at which said polymer gel reversibly swells and shrinks; (b) contacting said polymer gel with a liquid medium containing a biocatalyst (c) allowing said biocatalyst to absorb into a non-heated portion of said polymer gel; and (d) heating said non-heated portion of said polymer gel to said phase transition temperature or higher thereby shrinking said non-heated portion to immobilize the biocatalyst at said non-heated portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein during the contacting step the polymer gel is immersed in the liquid medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the phase transition temperature of the polymer gel in water is lower than the deactivation temperature of the biocatalyst.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the biocatalyst is an enzyme or a microbe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said biocatalyst is immobilized at a predetermined portion of said polymer gel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the polymer gel has a phase transition temperature between 0° C. and 80° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the liquid medium is composed mainly of water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein the biocatalyst is immobilized by the polymer gel in a desired pattern.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for immobilizing and releasing a biocatalyst, which comprises: (a) contacting a three-dimensional reticular polymer gel in a swelled state with a liquid medium containing a biocatalyst; said polymer gel having a phase transition temperature at which said polymer gel reversibly swells and shrinks; (b) allowing said biocatalyst to absorb into said polymer gel; (c) heating at least a portion of said polymer gel to said phase transition temperature or higher thereby shrinking said portion of said polymer gel to immobilize the biocatalyst at said portion; and (d) cooling said portion of the polymer gel to a temperature lower than the phase transition temperature to release the biocatalyst from said portion.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for immobilizing and releasing a biocatalyst, which comprises: (a) contacting a three-dimensional reticular polymer gel in a swelled state with a liquid medium containing a biocatalyst; said polymer gel having a phase transition temperature at which said polymer gel reversibly swells and shrinks; (b) allowing said biocatalyst to absorb into said polymer gel; (c) heating at least a portion of said polymer gel to said phase transition temperature or higher thereby shrinking said portion of said polymer gel to immobilize the biocatalyst at said portion; and (d) cooling said portion of the polymer gel to a temperature lower than the phase transition temperature to release the biocatalyst from said portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein during the contacting step the polymer gel is immersed in the liquid medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the phase transition temperature of the polymer gel in water is lower than the deactivation temperature of the biocatalyst.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the biocatalyst is an enzyme or a microbe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said biocatalyst is immobilized at a predetermined portion of said polymer gel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the polymer gel has a phase transition temperature between 0° C. and 80° C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the liquid medium is composed mainly of water.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the biocatalyst is immobilized by the polymer gel in a desired pattern.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-03 | 1994-06-04 | 1994-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-03 | 1998-06-04 | 1998-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-03 | 2002-06-04 | 2002-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |