Electrically controllable laboratory gel-permeation device which can be used for laboratory or medical dosing of soluble substances

摘要

Controllable device comprising a porous matrix, such as a micro-porous membrane, and a gel layer which is swellable at ambient temperature. The pores are produced in the membrane by etching and high energy particle bombardment, preferably with heavy ions . Controllable device comprising a porous matrix, such as a micro-porous membrane, and a gel layer which is swellable at ambient temperature. The pores are produced in the membrane by etching and high energy particle bombardment, preferably with heavy ions . The matrix consists of, or is coated with, the same material as the outer surface of the swellable layer. An AC or DC voltage is applied to electro-thermally or electro-osmotically control of the pores. The electrolytic region on both sides of the matrix are separated from each other and electrically insulated. Cell (1) has a thermally or chemically responsive porous membrane, such as microporous membrane (2) lined with a glucose responsive gel possesses at least one pore (3), and typically many, of 10-1000 nm diameter. The cell is thermostatically jacketed , and contains aqueous glucose solution as electrolyte. In each of the chambers separated by the membrane (2) are immersed electrodes (7) which are preferably non-polarize Ag/AgCl, and to which are connected a source of AC or DC EMF, leading to a current flow through the pore(s) (3) and producing an electro-osmotic pressure acting from outside (6) to inside (5), or vice versa. The effect may alternatively, or in addition, simultaneously cause a temperature change in the pore(s).