Gregory P Rutledge, 44Calvin, TX

7674882, Mar 9, 2010

Dec 23, 2004

11/020650

David L. Kaplan - Concord MA, US
Hyoung-Joon Jin - Seoul, KR
Gregory Rutledge - Newton MA, US
Sergey Fridrikh - Acton MA, US

Trustees of Tufts College - Medford MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

A61K 38/17
A61L 15/00

530353, 424445

The present invention provides an all-aqueous process and composition for production of silk biomaterials, e. g. , fibers, films, foams and mats. In the process, at least one biocompatible polymer, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (a well-documented biocompatible material), was blended with the silk protein prior to processing e. g. , electrospinning. We discovered that this step avoids problems associated with conformational transitions of fibroin during solubilization and reprocessing from aqueous solution which lead to embrittled materials. Moreover, the process avoids the use of organic solvents that can pose problems when the processed biomaterials are exposed to cells in vitro or in vivo.

8071722, Dec 6, 2011

Jan 15, 2010

12/688014

David L. Kaplan - Concord MA, US
Hyoung-Joon Jin - Seoul, KR
Gregory Rutledge - Newton MA, US
Sergey Fridrikh - Acton MA, US

Trustees of Tufts College - Medford MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

A61K 38/00
C07K 14/00

530353, 514 2

The present invention provides an all-aqueous process and composition for production of silk biomaterials, e. g. , fibers, films, foams and mats. In the process, at least one biocompatible polymer, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (a well-documented biocompatible material), was blended with the silk protein prior to processing e. g. , electrospinning. We discovered that this step avoids problems associated with conformational transitions of fibroin during solubilization and reprocessing from aqueous solution which lead to embrittled materials. Moreover, the process avoids the use of organic solvents that can pose problems when the processed biomaterials are exposed to cells in vitro or in vivo.

2006021, Sep 28, 2006

Mar 25, 2005

11/089931

Gregory Rutledge - Newton MA, US
Jian Yu - Cambridge MA, US
Sergey Fridrikh - Acton MA, US

B01D 24/00
B01D 39/00

210503000, 210505000, 264041000

Electrospinning of materials that are difficult or impossible to process into nanofibers by conventional fiber-forming techniques or by electrospinning are prepared by an electrospinning procedure which uses an electrospinnable outer “shell” fluid around an inner “core” fluid, which may or may not be electrospinnable, to form nanofibers of the inner core fluid having a core/shell morphology. The resulting shell around the nanofiber can remain in place or be removed during post-processing with the core of the fiber remaining intact. The dual-fluid electrospinning process can produce core fibers having diameters less than 100 nm, insulated nanowires, as well as tough, bio-compatible silk fibers. Alternatively, the core can be removed leaving a hollow fiber of the shell fluid.

2007023, Oct 11, 2007

Sep 16, 2005

11/229062

Karen Gleason - Lexington MA, US
Gregory Rutledge - Newton MA, US
Malancha Gupta - Cambridge MA, US
Minglin Ma - Cambridge MA, US
Yu Mao - Cambridge MA, US

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

C23C 16/00
B32B 1/00
B32B 27/00

428336000, 427255600, 428421000, 428422000, 428420000, 428378000

Disclosed is a versatile method to produce superhydrophobic surfaces by combining electrospinning and initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). A wide variety of surfaces, including electrospun polyester fibers, may be coated by the inventive method. In one embodiment, poly(caprolactone) (PCL) was electrospun and then coated by iCVD with a thin layer of hydrophobic polymerized perfluoroalkyl ethyl methacrylate (PPFEMA). In certain embodiments said coated surfaces exhibit water contact angles of above 150 degrees, oleophobicities of at least Grade-8 and sliding angles of less than 12 degrees (for a water droplet of about 20 mg).

2010013, May 27, 2010

Aug 17, 2009

12/542174

Jung Ah Lee - Malden MA, US
Randall M. Hill - Cambridge MA, US
Paula T. Hammond - Newton MA, US
Gregory C. Rutledge - Newton MA, US
Kevin C. Krogman - Santa Clara CA, US

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

B32B 5/16
B32B 9/00
D03D 25/00
D04H 13/00
B32B 7/00
B32B 27/28
D01D 5/00

442181, 428702, 428221, 442417, 428323, 428447, 428380

One aspect of the invention relates to a method of preparing metal oxide coated substrates for various potential applications, and the coated substrate formed thereby.

2010028, Nov 11, 2010

Nov 12, 2008

12/741478

Liang Chen - Cambridge MA, US
Lev E. Bromberg - Swampscott MA, US
Trevor Alan Hatton - Sudbury MA, US
Gregory C. Rutledge - Newton MA, US

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - CAMBRIDGE MA

A01N 25/00
A01N 47/44
A01P 1/00

424405, 514635

One aspect of the invention relates to an antimicrobial fiber formed from an electroprocessed blend of at least one polymer, at least one antimicrobial agent, and at least one crosslinker. Another aspect of the invention relates to an antimicrobial fiber formed from an electroprocessed blend of at least one polymer and at least one crosslinker, which is then coated with an antimicrobial compound or antimicrobial polymer.

2011006, Mar 17, 2011

Sep 17, 2009

12/561757

Kevin C. Krogman - Cambridge MA, US
Joseph L. Lowery - Midlothian VA, US
Gregory C. Rutledge - Newton MA, US

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

B32B 3/26
B05D 5/00
B32B 9/04
B32B 27/06
B32B 27/30
B05D 1/36

4283066, 427243, 4284111, 4284735, 428500, 427402, 427244

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for installing coatings of different morphology and function within a single textile membrane. Remarkably, the methods described herein enable one to engineer the properties of a material at the nanoscopic level and produce the material in commercially viable quantities. For example, by simply controlling the flow rate of charged species passing through an electrospun material during spray-assisted Layer-by-Layer (Spray-LbL) deposition, individual fibers within the matrix can be conformally functionalized for ultra-high surface area catalysis, or bridged to form a networked sublayer with complimentary properties.

2011017, Jul 21, 2011

Jul 21, 2010

12/840916

Liang Chen - Cambridge MA, US
Lev E. Bromberg - Swampscott MA, US
T. Alan Hatton - Sudbury MA, US
Gregory C. Rutledge - Newton MA, US

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

B01D 39/00

2103231, 21050035, 21050042, 21050027, 21050033, 21050029, 2105003

Described is the application of layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly techniques to electrospun nanofibers in order to fabricate novel, breathable electrospun fiber-based chemical and biological detoxifying protective fabrics and filters. The combination of layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly and electrospinning technique allows one to take advantage of high specific surface area, light weight and breathability of electrospun fiber mats while simultaneously providing the versatility to incorporate different functional polyelectrolytes to achieve multifunctional coatings for both chemical and biological protection together. The functionalized fiber mats can be incorporated into breathable chemical and biological protective fabrics, filters and masks. In addition, LbL electrostatic coating of porous non-woven materials provides the versatility to generate multifunctional polymer-based membrane materials for other applications.