Needles and Nanotubes in Highly Porous Particles
The technology creates porous catalyst particles with embedded nanotubes or needle-like structures that form direct pathways into the particle, significantly enhancing access and efficiency for chemical reactions in synthesis, petroleum processing, and biofuel upgrading.
The Problem
Highly porous particles (PPs) are low-density solids with open or closed pore structures that provide a large exposed surface area. They have been used in various scenarios, such as encapsulated drugs, pesticides, polymers, catalysts, and many others. PPs possess several distinct features, such as large surface area, high porosity, uniform and tunable pore structure, and well-defined inner and outer surface properties. For example, drugs and other cargo can be loaded into the pores and on the surfaces of PPs to improve their dissolution and achieve sustained or targeted release. Still, it can be challenging to access the inner pores of PPs, which have limited their use in various applications.
The Solution
Tulane researchers have developed highly porous particles (PPs) where nanotubes penetrate the PPs at various points to allow reactants to access the entire interior of the particle. The cargo can comprise a drug, ligand, polymer, chemical, catalysts, proteins, and other molecules. The technology is in the laboratory testing stage of development, where the inventors have prototyped a mesoporous material with a hierarchical structure impregnated with halloysite nanotubes (HNT). In addition, data indicate that the impregnated PP/HNT can improve the adsorption of CO2 in the laboratory.
The Opportunity
This technology could be used in the drug delivery, biotechnology, and advanced materials industries. The porous particles with nanotube access points offer a versatile platform for targeted drug delivery, enabling controlled release and enhanced bioavailability of therapeutic agents. In biotechnology, they could be used for enzyme immobilization, protein delivery, or biosensing applications. The particles also hold potential in industrial catalysis, where their structure allows for efficient diffusion of reactants and catalysts. Additionally, specialty chemical manufacturers and materials science companies could leverage this platform for developing advanced coatings, responsive materials, or novel composites.
