AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 4 June 1999 (04.06.99); ,. original claims 1-31 replaced by new claims 1-59 (6 pages)]
1. A filter for removing a contaminant from a fluid, comprising: a porous skeleton coated with a hydrogel material in which the pore size of the porous skeleton is greater in dimension than a contaminant to be removed from an environment.
2. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the pore size is of a dimension effective to remove biological pathogens and toxins.
3. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the pore size is of a dimension effective to remove molecular and chemical contaminants.
4. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the pore size is of a dimension effective to remove vaporous or gaseous contaminants.
5. The filter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel material is selected from the group consisting of poly(2-ethylhydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate-co- methyl methacrylate), poly(methacrylic acid) (MAA), poly(acrylic acid) (AA), linear polyesters, cellulosics, poly(vinylalcohols) (PVA), poly(acrylamides), poly(n- vinylpyrollidone), poly(vinylacetates), poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and copolymers and terpolymers thereof.
6. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel material further comprises additives selected to enhance removal of the contaminants.
7. The filter of claim 6, wherein the additive comprises an affinity binding ligand selected to have a binding affinity to a contaminant to be removed.
8. The filter of claim 7, wherein the affinity binding ligand is selected from the group consisting of sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acid, membrane phospholipids and plastic antibodies.
9. The filter of claim 6, wherein the additive is reactive with a contaminant in order to inactivate or destroy the contaminant.
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10. The filter of claim 9, wherein the reactive additive is selected from the group consisting of enzymes, antimicrobials, chemical substrates reactive with a contaminant, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, oxidants, free radical generators, photosensitive molecules capable of free radicals generation, sterilizing radiation, peroxides, potassium permanganate, iodine, aldehydes, magainins, dendrimers, novasomes and liposomes.
11. The filter of claim 6, wherein the additive is capable of adsorbing contaminants from the fluid.
12. The filter of claim 11, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of charcoal particles and zeolites.
13. The filter of claim 6, wherein the additive is located in a liquid phase of the hydrogel.
14. The filter of claim 6, wherein the additive is chemically bound or coordinated to a polymer comprising the hydrogel.
15. The filter of claim 6, wherein the additive is chemically bound or coordinated to the porous skeleton.
16. The filter of claim 1, wherein the pore size of the porous skeleton is in the range of about 5 μm to 5 cm.
17. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the pore size of the porous skeleton is in the range of about 25 μm to 5 cm.
18. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter is incorporated into a face mask and the pore size the porous skeleton is in the range of 100 μm - 1 cm.
19. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter is incorporated into a fabric and the
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pore size the porous skeleton is in the range of 25 μm - 250 μm.
20. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel is porous.
21. The filter of claim 20, wherein the hydrogel pore size [porosity] is in the range of 5-150 μm.
22. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the porous skeleton is selected from the group consisting of fabrics, textiles, felts, nets, foams, honeycombs, screens, and meshes of two or three dimensional materials.
23. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the porous skeleton is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of inorganic or organic polymers (non-erodible or erodible), metals, ceramics, glasses, carbon, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, collagens, elastins and spectrins.
24. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the porous skeleton is comprised of a geodesic material or a material which can rearrange to form a fully geodesic material.
25. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the porous skeleton comprises a predetermined arrangement of integrally connected modules, each said module comprised of a plurality of integrally connected elongated members forming at least a portion of a polyhedron, the members arranged such that at least a portion of said members form geodesic or tensegrity elements.
26. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter is incorporated into an device selected from the group consisting of a face mask, protective fabric, air filter, water filter, breathing apparatus and catalytic air detoxification system.
27. A scaffold for chemical processing, catalysis, or detoxification, comprising: porous skeleton coated with a hydrogel material, said scaffolding being porous, such that a fluid medium comprising a chemical substrate may pass freely therethrough, said
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hydrogel selected to transform [on] said chemical substrate into a desired product.
28. A scaffold for biological processing, comprising: porous skeleton coated with a hydrogel material, said scaffolding being porous, such that a fluid medium comprising a living organism may pass freely therethrough, said hydrogel selected to be compatible with viability of the living organism.
29. The scaffold of claim 28, further comprising a molecule capable of interacting with or exerting an effect on the living organism.
30. The scaffold of claim 29, wherein said molecule comprises an enzyme.
31. A method of filtration, comprising: contacting a fluid with a filter comprising a porous skeleton coated with a hydrogel material in which the porosity of the filter is greater in size than a contaminant to be removed, whereby the contaminant is removed from the fluid.
32. The filter of claim 1, wherein the porous skeleton comprises an integrally connected structure.
33. The filter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel material includes a liquid phase.
34. The filter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel material is swollen with water.
35. The filter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel material is dehydrated.
36. The filter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel material has a thickness in the range of 10 μm to 500 μm.
37. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel material removes the contaminant.
38. The filter of claim 1, wherein the contaminant is removed from a gas medium.
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39. The scaffold of claim 27, wherein the porous skeleton comprises an integrally connected structure.
40. The scaffold of claim 27, wherein the hydrogel material includes a liquid phase.
41. The scaffold of claim 27, wherein the hydrogel material is swollen with water.
42. The scaffold of claim 27, wherein the hydrogel material is dehydrated.
43. The scaffold of claim 27, wherein the hydrogel material has a thickness in the range of 10 μm to 500 μm.
44. The scaffold of claim 27, wherein the hydrogel material removes the contaminant.
45. The scaffold of claim 27, wherein the contaminant is removed from a gas medium.
46. The filter of claim 28, wherein the porous skeleton comprises an integrally connected structure.
47. The filter of claim 28, wherein the hydrogel material includes a liquid phase.
48. The filter of claim 28, wherein the hydrogel material is swollen with water.
49. The filter of claim 28, wherein the hydrogel material is dehydrated.
50. The filter of claim 28, wherein the hydrogel material has a thickness in the range of 10 μm to 500 μm.
51. The filter of claim 28, wherein the hydrogel material removes the contaminant.
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52. The filter of claim 28, wherein the contaminant is removed from a gas medium.
53. The method of claim 31 , wherein the porous skeleton comprises an integrally connected structure.
54. The method of claim 31 , wherein the hydrogel material includes a liquid phase.
55. The method of claim 31 , wherein the hydrogel material is swollen with water.
56. The method of claim 31 , wherein the hydrogel material is dehydrated.
57. The method of claim 31 , wherein the hydrogel material has a thickness in the range of 10 μm to 500 μm.
58. The method of claim 31 , wherein the hydrogel material removes the contaminant.
59. The method of claim 31 , wherein the contaminant is removed from a gas medium.
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