Process for making a porous substrate of glass powder formed through flame spray pyrolysis

Abstract

Inorganic porous substrates and methods of making inorganic porous substrates utilizing nanoparticles deposited onto a base substrate are described. The inorganic porous substrates are useful for biological applications, for example, biomolecule attachment such as DNA, RNA, protein and the like. The inorganic porous substrates are also useful for cell growth applications.

1 . A method of depositing nanoparticles onto a base substrate to form an inorganic porous substrate, the method comprising: providing a solution comprising glass precursors and a solvent; atomizing the solution to form aerosol droplets; passing the aerosol droplets through a flame under conditions sufficient to generate oxide nanoparticles; and depositing the oxide nanoparticles onto a base substrate to form the inorganic porous substrate. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising masking a portion of the base substrate such that a pattern of inorganic porous substrate is formed on the base substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the pattern of inorganic porous substrate is a 96 well or 384 well pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is selected from methanol, ethanol, propanol, alcohols, methoxy-alcohols, alkoxy-alcohols, hydrocarbon solvents, ketones, ethers, methyl-ethyl ether and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising heating the base substrate at a temperature of 400° C. to 800° C. during deposition. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing a charge on the base substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising heating the base substrate at a temperature of 700° C. or more such that the oxide nanoparticles are simultaneously deposited and sintered onto the base substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sintering the inorganic porous substrate at a temperature of 700° C. or more. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , comprising sintering the inorganic porous substrate at a temperature of 750° C. or more. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , comprising sintering the inorganic porous substrate at a temperature of 800° C. or more. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a coated inorganic porous substrate, the method comprising: providing a solution comprising glass precursors and a solvent; atomizing the solution to form aerosol droplets; passing the aerosol droplets through a flame under conditions sufficient to generate oxide nanoparticles; depositing the oxide nanoparticles onto a base substrate to form the inorganic porous substrate; and coating the inorganic porous substrate with a material selected from a silane, a polymer and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising: providing a solution comprising glass precursors and a solvent; atomizing the solution to form aerosol droplets; passing the aerosol droplets through a flame under conditions sufficient to generate oxide nanoparticles; depositing the oxide nanoparticles onto a base substrate to form an inorganic porous substrate; coating the inorganic porous substrate with a material selected from a silane, a polymer and combinations thereof; and depositing a biomolecule onto the coated inorganic porous substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the depositing a biomolecule onto the coated porous substrate comprises printing of the biomolecule. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the printing of the biomolecule is selected from pin printing, quill printing and reservoir printing. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the biomolecule is selected from DNA, RNA, protein and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the biomolecule comprises a G-protein coupled receptor.