A trifluoroacetic acid-based etchant is described that can remove a sacrificial component of a multi-component polymer, e.g., a self-assembled block copolymer. The etchant can operate at a high etch rate and with excellent selectivity. The etchant can remove a hydrolysable sacrificial component such as a polylactide block from a self-assembled block copolymer. The etchant enables the macroscopic preservation of the nanostructure morphologies of self-assembled copolymers (e.g., poly(styrene-block-lactide) copolymers) and can yield pristine porous films of the non-hydrolysable component of the starting multi-component polymer.

A method of manufacturing a porous fluorine-containing polymer membrane is provided, which includes mixing a fluorine-containing polymer, a pore creating agent, and a solvent to form a mixture; forming a membrane of the mixture, and removing the pore creating agent and the solvent in the membrane to form the porous fluorine-containing polymer film. The pore creating agent has a chemical formula of ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-8 alkyl group, a C.sub.2-8 alkenyl group, a C.sub.2-8 alkynyl group, or a C.sub.6-12 aromatic group, and A.sup.? is hydrogen sulfite ion, dihydrogen phosphate ion, nitrate ion, halogen ion, or a combination thereof. The solvent has a chemical formula of ##STR00002##

A method of manufacturing a porous fluorine-containing polymer membrane is provided, which includes mixing a fluorine-containing polymer, a pore creating agent, and a solvent to form a mixture; forming a membrane of the mixture, and removing the pore creating agent and the solvent in the membrane to form the porous fluorine-containing polymer film. The pore creating agent has a chemical formula of ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-8 alkyl group, a C.sub.2-8 alkenyl group, a C.sub.2-8 alkynyl group, or a C.sub.6-12 aromatic group, and A.sup.? is hydrogen sulfite ion, dihydrogen phosphate ion, nitrate ion, halogen ion, or a combination thereof. The solvent has a chemical formula of ##STR00002##

The present invention includes a hydrogel and a method of making a porous hydrogel by preparing an aqueous mixture of an uncrosslinked polymer and a crystallizable molecule; casting the mixture into a vessel; allowing the cast mixture to dry to form an amorphous hydrogel film; seeding the cast mixture with a seed crystal of the crystallizable molecule; growing the crystallizable molecule into a crystal structure within the uncrosslinked polymer; crosslinking the polymer around the crystal structure under conditions in which the crystal structure within the crosslinked polymer is maintained; and dissolving the crystals within the crosslinked polymer to form the porous hydrogel.

The present invention includes a hydrogel and a method of making a porous hydrogel by preparing an aqueous mixture of an uncrosslinked polymer and a crystallizable molecule; casting the mixture into a vessel; allowing the cast mixture to dry to form an amorphous hydrogel film; seeding the cast mixture with a seed crystal of the crystallizable molecule; growing the crystallizable molecule into a crystal structure within the uncrosslinked polymer; crosslinking the polymer around the crystal structure under conditions in which the crystal structure within the crosslinked polymer is maintained; and dissolving the crystals within the crosslinked polymer to form the porous hydrogel.

The invention relates to a porous hydrogel matrix having substantially interconnected tunnel-shaped micropores with a three-dimensional configuration of an interconnected hollow tetrapod network. Such matrices may be used to entrap motile cells that migrate into the micropores of said matrix. The matrices of the invention are formed by a method comprising the steps of providing a solution of a hydrogel-forming material, providing a template material with a three-dimensional configuration corresponding to the negative configuration of the desired interconnected porous structure of the hydrogel material, said template material comprising interconnected zinc oxide tetrapod (t-ZnO) networks, casting the solution of hydrogel-forming material onto the template and removing the template material from the hydrogel material by acid hydrolysis of the template material.

The invention relates to a porous hydrogel matrix having substantially interconnected tunnel-shaped micropores with a three-dimensional configuration of an interconnected hollow tetrapod network. Such matrices may be used to entrap motile cells that migrate into the micropores of said matrix. The matrices of the invention are formed by a method comprising the steps of providing a solution of a hydrogel-forming material, providing a template material with a three-dimensional configuration corresponding to the negative configuration of the desired interconnected porous structure of the hydrogel material, said template material comprising interconnected zinc oxide tetrapod (t-ZnO) networks, casting the solution of hydrogel-forming material onto the template and removing the template material from the hydrogel material by acid hydrolysis of the template material.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are materials exhibiting molecular recognition of a target molecule. MIPs are synthesized in the presence of an aflatoxin template, a mimic to the targeted molecule, used as an imprint that is further washed away with suitable solvent after completion of the polymerization process, leaving a cavity in the polymer of the same stereochemistry, functionality and morphology to the template. When the MIP encounters an aflatoxin, the molecule is bound in the cavity with a receptor-like affinity.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are materials exhibiting molecular recognition of a target molecule. MIPs are synthesized in the presence of an aflatoxin template, a mimic to the targeted molecule, used as an imprint that is further washed away with suitable solvent after completion of the polymerization process, leaving a cavity in the polymer of the same stereochemistry, functionality and morphology to the template. When the MIP encounters an aflatoxin, the molecule is bound in the cavity with a receptor-like affinity.

Embodiments herein described provide devices for identifying and collecting rare cells or cells which occur at low frequency in the body of a subject, such as, antigen-specific cells or disease-specific cells. More specifically, the devices are useful for trapping immune cells and the devices contain a physiologically-compatible porous polymer scaffold, a plurality of antigens, and an immune cell-recruiting agent, wherein the plurality of antigens and the immune cell recruiting agent attract and trap the immune cell in the device. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and packages containing such devices. Additional embodiments relate to methods for making the devices, compositions, and kits/packages. Further embodiments relate to methods for using the devices, compositions, and/or kits in the diagnosis or therapy of diseases such as autoimmune diseases or cancers.