Abstract: A method of reshaping an article comprising a polyelectrolyte complex, the polyelectrolyte complex comprising an intermolecular blend of a predominantly positively-charged polyelectrolyte and a predominantly negatively charged polyelectrolyte by controlling the salt doping level.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films. Further, said films may be free or isolated membranes, or coatings on substrates such a porous substrates, capillary tubes, chromatographic packing material, and monolithic stationary phases and used to separate chiral compounds. The present invention is also directed to a method for forming such enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films.

Abstract: Polymeric surfactants (molecular micelles) are disclosed for use in open tubular capillary electrochromatography or in high performance liquid chromatography. For example, fused silica capillaries are coated with thin films of charged polymers in a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM). A PEM coating may be formed in situ by alternate rinses with positive and negative polyelectrolytes. At least the innermost of the negatively charged polymer layers is a molecular micelle. Prototype embodiments have successfully separated seven benzodiazepines from one another. The run-to-run, day-to-day, week-to-week and capillary-to-capillary reproducibilities were very good, with relative standard deviation values less than 0.01. The PEM-coated capillary was very robust over at least 200 runs. Stability against high and low pH values was also observed. Using chiral polymerized micelles, chiral separations may be achieved, as was demonstrated with a separation of the enantiomers of 1,1?-binaphthyl-2,2?-dihydrogenphosphate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for capillary zone electrophoresis includes a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned in a capillary tube for analytical separations of macromolecules. The capillary comprises a passage defined by passage walls comprising fused silica. The polyelectrolyte multilayer is positioned within the passage adjacent the walls, and comprises an organic polyelectrolyte. The passage may further comprise nonporous silica particles coated with a multilayer including a plurality of polyelectrolyte layers. An apparatus includes a power supply having a positive electrode and a negative electrode for generating an electric field therebetween. The apparatus includes a capillary having a passage formed by passage walls and comprising therein a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned substantially within the passage.

Abstract: A process for increasing the viscosity of an aqueous cementitious mixture during its working state by mixing oppositely-charge polyelectrolytes into the cementitious mixture.

Abstract: A membrane comprising two or more macromolecules that interact via multiple reversible physical interaction points (MRIPM). The membrane further comprises a chemical species A, which interacts selectively or nonselectively with the MRIPM; and a chemical species B, which interacts selectively with the MRIPM whereby the passage of species A across the MRIPM is moderated by species B.

Abstract: A releaseable membrane structure for producing a free membrane containing a substrate, a release stratum on the substrate and a membrane stratum on the release stratum. The release stratum and the membrane stratum contain oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes that are associated. The oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes of the release stratum are selected to dissociate upon application of stimulus whereas those of the membrane stratum are selected to remain associated upon application of the stimulus. Thus, when the stimulus is applied the polyelectrolytes in release stratum dissociate and the membrane stratum is released from the substrate and is a free membrane.

Abstract: An ordered array of magnetized nanorods includes a plurality of metallic nanorods generally cylindrical in shape and including a nickel portion coated with a positively charged polyelectrolyte and a gold portion coated with an alkanethiolate; and a layer of a hardened polymer wherein each individual nanorod of the plurality is held by having said gold portion embedded therein so that the nickel portion extends approximately perpendicularly away from the layer of hardened polymer, and wherein said plurality of metallic nanorods is ordered in the array by having substantially all individual nanorods of the plurality of nanorods oriented generally parallel to each other.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films. Further, said films may be free or isolated membranes, or coatings on substrates such a porous substrates, capillary tubes, chromatographic packing material, and monolithic stationary phases and used to separate chiral compounds. The present invention is also directed to a method for forming such enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for capillary zone electrophoresis includes a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned in a capillary tube for analytical separations of macromolecules. The capillary comprises a passage defined by passage walls comprising fused silica. The polyelectrolyte multilayer is positioned within the passage adjacent the walls, and comprises an organic polyelectrolyte. The passage may further comprise nonporous silica particles coated with a multilayer including a plurality of polyelectrolyte layers. An apparatus includes a power supply having a positive electrode and a negative electrode for generating an electric field therebetween. The apparatus includes a capillary having a passage formed by passage walls and comprising therein a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned substantially within the passage.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant structure and a method for preparing the same. The corrosion resistant structure comprises a metallic substrate comprising a surface and an anticorrosion polymer coating deposited onto at least a portion of the metallic substrate surface. The anticorrosion polymer coating comprises a polyelectrolyte complex which comprises a positively-charged polyelectrolyte and a negatively-charged polyelectrolyte.

Abstract: A releaseable membrane structure for producing a free membrane containing a substrate, a release stratum on the substrate and a membrane stratum on the release stratum. The release stratum and the membrane stratum contain oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes that are associated. The oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes of the release stratum are selected to dissociate upon application of stimulus whereas those of the membrane stratum are selected to remain associated upon application of the stimulus. Thus, when the stimulus is applied the polyelectrolytes in release stratum dissociate and the membrane stratum is released from the substrate and is a free membrane.

Abstract: Polymeric surfactants (molecular micelles) are disclosed for use in open tubular capillary electrochromatography or in high performance liquid chromatography. For example, fused silica capillaries are coated with thin films of charged polymers in a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM). A PEM coating may be formed in situ by alternate rinses with positive and negative polyelectrolytes. At least the innermost of the negatively charged polymer layers is a molecular micelle. Prototype embodiments have successfully separated seven benzodiazepines from one another. The run-to-run, day-to-day, week-to-week and capillary-to-capillary reproducibilities were very good, with relative standard deviation values less than 0.01. The PEM-coated capillary was very robust over at least 200 runs. Stability against high and low pH values was also observed.

Abstract: A process for increasing the viscosity of an aqueous cementitious mixture during its working state by mixing oppositely-charge polyelectrolytes into the cementitious mixture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films. Further, said films may be free or isolated membranes, or coatings on substrates such a porous substrates, capillary tubes, chromatographic packing material, and monolithic stationary phases and used to separate chiral compounds. The present invention is also directed to a method for forming such enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films.

Abstract: A microreactor includes a substrate having a porous bulk and at least one well formed in the substrate. The device can include a plurality of wells, where at least two of the plurality of wells have different structural properties, such as area of the well, depth of the well and porosity of the well. One or more portions of the well surface can be functionalized to produce desired properties, such as porosity. A method for forming microreactor devices includes the step of providing a substrate material having a porous open cell substrate core portion and removing discrete portions of the substrate to form at least one well in the substrate material. The removing step can include the process of laser ablation. A whole cell sensing device includes a substrate having a porous bulk, at least one well formed in the substrate, and at least one whole cell disposed in the well.

Abstract: A mechanical indexing device. The device comprises a mechanism for converting linear motion into many different combinations of linear and rotary motion, whereby an object can be moved along a desired linear path and indexed through a desired arc of rotation.

Abstract: A mechanical indexing device. The device comprises a mechanism for converting linear motion into many different combinations of linear and rotary motion, whereby an object can be moved along a desired linear path and indexed through a desired arc of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for capillary zone electrophoresis includes a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned in a capillary tube for analytical separations of macromolecules. The capillary comprises a passage defined by passage walls comprising fused silica. The polyelectrolyte multilayer is positioned within the passage adjacent the walls, and comprises an organic polyelectrolyte. The passage may further comprise nonporous silica particles coated with a multilayer including a plurality of polyelectrolyte layers. An apparatus includes a power supply having a positive electrode and a negative electrode for generating an electric field therebetween. The apparatus includes a capillary having a passage formed by passage walls and comprising therein a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned substantially within the passage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for capillary zone electrophoresis includes a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned in a capillary tube for analytical separations of macromolecules. The capillary comprises a passage defined by passage walls comprising fused silica. The polyelectrolyte multilayer is positioned within the passage adjacent the walls, and comprises an organic polyelectrolyte. The passage may further comprise nonporous silica particles coated with a multilayer including a plurality of polyelectrolyte layers. An apparatus includes a power supply having a positive electrode and a negative electrode for generating an electric field therebetween. The apparatus includes a capillary having a passage formed by passage walls and comprising therein a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned substantially within the passage.