Methods of attaching a molecule-of-interest to a microtube

Abstract

A method of attaching a molecule-of-interest to a microtube, by co-electrospinning two polymeric solutions through co-axial capillaries, wherein a first polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a shell of the microtube and a second polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a coat over an internal surface of the shell, the first polymeric solution is selected solidifying faster than the second polymeric solution and a solvent of the second polymeric solution is selected incapable of dissolving the first polymeric solution and the second polymeric solution comprises the molecule-of-interest, thereby attaching the molecule-of-interest to the microtube. An electrospun microtube comprising an electrospun shell, an electrospun coat over an internal surface of the shell and a molecule-of-interest attached to the microtube.

1 . A microtube comprising:
 an electrospun shell,   an electrospun coat polymer over an internal surface of said shell and a molecule-of-interest attached to the microtube,   wherein said electrospun shell is formed of a first polymeric solution comprising a first solvent and said electrospun coat is formed of a second polymeric solution comprising a second solvent,   wherein said second solvent of said second polymeric solution is incapable of dissolving a polymer of said first polymeric solution,   wherein said first polymeric solution solidifies faster than said second polymeric solution,   wherein said second polymeric solution is capable of wetting said internal surface of said shell during or following solidification of said first polymeric solution,   wherein said molecule-of-interest is selected from the group consisting of: a polypeptide, a polynucleotide, a carbohydrate, a polysaccharide, a lipid, a drug molecule, and a small molecule, and   wherein said small molecule is selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide base, an amino acid, a nucleotide, an antibiotic, and a vitamin.   
     
     
         2 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer of said first polymeric solution and a polymer of said second polymeric solution are different. 
     
     
         3 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said electrospun shell comprises pores. 
     
     
         4 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said electrospun shell comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly (e-caprolactone) (PCL), polyamide, poly(siloxane), poly(silicone), poly(ethylene), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(2-hydroxy ethylmethacrylate), poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl acetate), polyacrylamide, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(methacrylic acid), polylactide, polyglycolide, poly(lactide-coglycolide), polyanhydride, polyorthoester, poly(carbonate), poly(acrylo nitrile), poly(ethylene oxide), polyaniline, polyvinyl carbazole, polystyrene, poly(vinyl phenol), polyhydroxy acid, poly(caprolactone), polyanhydride, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyurethane, collagen, albumin, alginate, chitosan, starch, and hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said electrospun coat comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl acetate), polyacrylamide, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(methacrylic acid), polylactide polyglycolide, poly(lactide-coglycolide), polyanhydride, polyorthoester, poly(carbonate), poly(ethylene oxide), polyaniline, polyvinyl carbazole, polystyrene, poly(vinyl phenol), polyhydroxy acid, alginate, starch, hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of electrospun shell and electrospun coat comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: collagen, albumin, alginate, chitosan, starch, and hyaluronic acid. elastin, tropoelastin, thrombin, fibronectin, poly(amino acids), poly(propylene fumarate), gelatin, pectin, fibrin, cellulose, oxidized cellulose, chitin, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), polycarbonate, and polypropylene, or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said first solvent of said first polymeric solution evaporates faster than said second solvent of said second polymeric solution, and wherein said second solvent of said second polymeric solution is capable of evaporating through said internal surface of said shell. 
     
     
         8 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of said shell is from about 100 nm to about 20 micrometer. 
     
     
         9 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein an internal diameter of the microtube is from about 50 nm to about 20 micrometer. 
     
     
         10 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said microtube is filled with a liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said molecule-of-interest is attached to said coat over said internal surface of said shell. 
     
     
         12 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said molecule-of-interest is attached to said shell of the microtube. 
     
     
         13 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said first polymeric solution further comprises polyethylene glycol (PEG). 
     
     
         14 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said shell prevents diffusion of the molecule-of-interest therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . A microfluidic device comprising a plurality of the microtubes of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first polymeric solution and second polymeric solution comprises a co-polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The microtube of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first polymeric solution and second polymeric solution comprises a blend of polymers. 
     
     
         18 . A method of attaching a molecule-of-interest to a microtube, the method comprising: co-electrospinning two polymeric solutions through co-axial capillaries, wherein a first polymeric solution of said two polymeric solutions is for forming a shell of the microtube and a second polymeric solution of said two polymeric solutions is for forming a coat over an internal surface of said shell, said first polymeric solution is selected solidifying faster than said second polymeric solution and a solvent of said second polymeric solution is selected incapable of dissolving said first polymeric solution and wherein said second polymeric solution comprises the molecule-of-interest, thereby attaching the molecule-of-interest to the microtube. 
     
     
         19 . A method of processing a substrate-of-interest, comprising contacting the substrate-of-interest with the microtube of  claim 1 , wherein said molecule-of-interest is capable of processing said substrate, thereby processing the substrate-of-interest. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said processing is selected from isolating a molecule and detecting a presence of a molecule in a sample.