Invention Disclosure

ARL FORM 25-13

TITLE OF INVENTION: bioMATADOR: BIOcompatible Material Agnostic Testbed for Autonomous Degradation Of Recalcitrants

1. What is this Invention?

(e.g., a short 3-sentence “summarized” description as a more “detailed” description will be required further into this invention disclosure)

Polymer plastics are ubiquitous in the modern world, including in U.S. Army fielded material. These plastics are too strong (i.e. highly recalcitrant, inert, and non-biodegradable) and take hundreds of years to degrade. There is need for high-throughput systems to investigate polymer degradation induced by bacterial enzymatic mechanisms.

This invention describes a microfluidic-based testbed for monitoring bio-derived molecule degradation of recalcitrant materials. The testbed has the enhancing characteristic features of being optically clear, compatible with traditional and fluorescent microscopy, and allows for a continual and autonomous degradation scheme. This invention enables autonomous biodegradation of materials on the scale of weeks- to months.

2. What is the basic premise of the design?

The basic premise of the design is a microfluidic chamber for hosting the test material sets, an optically transparent microfluidic channel surface and ‘ceiling’, and fluidic connection ports communicating from the hermetically sealed channel system to the bacterial-enzyme repository. These details are further explained and demonstrated in the supplementary documentation containing the prototype design. The testbed system is designed in such a manner to enable precise temperature control along with compatibility with automated monitoring and analysis systems (e.g. fluorescent microscopy)

3. What is new about this Invention?

This is the first known microfluidics device that can be utilized to study enzymatic breakdown of materials of varying chemistries (polymeric and biological materials) by incubating enzyme with the materials, while also enabling simultaneous storage of enzyme at cooler temperatures for stability. The developed platform is compatible with continuous, long-term enzymatic degradation studies while also allowing for automated imaging and analysis.

4. Has this Invention been verified?

(e.g., does it exist, is it factual, is there a test module)

Yes. Prototyped testing of devices confirmed microfluidic system compatibility with cellulose, nylon, and polyester textile fibers of unknown composition and treatment. The initial prototype has been assembled and concept-tested for the first use-case scenario outlined in the ‘What is this Invention?’ section above.

5. Identify Potential Military Uses of the Invention:

(if CTI exists, please mark accordingly)

• Screening platform to assess how resistant certain material (paints, engine parts, sensors, etc) are to continuous external stimuli in an automated and high-throughput fashion to inform acquisition processes

• Testbed for assessing materials for extreme environments. bioMATADOR system can be easily changed to help develop materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, pressures, and radiation. This could be applied for applications such as hypersonic vehicles, advanced propulsion systems, and nuclear radiation shielding

• Screening system to study the behavior of explosives, propellants, and other energetic materials under various conditions, such as temperature, pressure and impact. Using an adapted bioMATADOR system, more efficient and stable explosives or warheads could be developed.

• Screening platform to help develop nanostructured materials and metamaterials with unique properties, such as enhanced strength, thermal conductivity, or electromagnetic absorption for use in stealth technology or advanced composites.

• Screening system to assess effectiveness of potential medical textiles or other self-healing material for wound care

• Testbed for assessing biofouling of continuously used filters under various conditions, such as temperature, pressure and impact.

6. Identify Potential Commercial Uses of the Invention:

• Aviation and aerospace industrial sector as a testbed to develop materials for advanced composites, alloys, and coatings to improve fuel efficiency, reduce weight, and enhance safety

• Agrobiotech industrial sector to screen and assess the behavior of biodegradable and compostable materials

• Consumer Product & Food packaging industrial sectors may want to assess packaging materials success when exposed to external stimuli over extended periods of time

• Textile and advanced apparel industrial sectors to assess external stimuli effects on advanced fibers and fabrics for clothing, smart materials, and/or medical textiles

• Construction/Infrastructure industrial sector may leverage this testbed to develop coatings and surface treatments for corrosion protection and durability

• Pharmacology and medical biotech sectors can leverage this testbed for high-throughput screening of novel prosthetic materials and other long-term biocompatibility studies required for FDA approval

• Research industry (pharmaceutical and biotechnology) could leverage one embodiment of this invention as an automated mammalian cell culture platform

PUBLICATION OF THE INVENTION:

If a description of the invention has been published (publicly disclosed, verbally or in writing), list the type of publication and the dates. Please also provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding this external disclosure (e.g., what are the provisions of a funding agreement, etc.). Also, identify any further planned reports or publications. If none, so state.

There have been no public disclosures of this invented technology. A planned technical report is set to be released in 04/2025.

LIST ANY KNOWN RELATED PATENTS, PUBLICATIONS or PATENT

APPLICATIONS:

Also identify any previous reports, drawings, publications, or correspondence describing or showing the invention. List any known closely related patents, patent applications, reports, publications, devices, or methods. If none, so state.

The inventors conducted a thorough prior art search from 11/2024-12/2024 and have determined no existing prior art precludes this technology from being novel. The prior art document is being made available to the IEC committee as part of this submission package in the supplementary documentation.

IS AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION?

Yes

NATURE AND EXTENT OF PAST USE, PRESENT USE, AND FUTURE USE

AS WELL AS APPLICATIONS AND ADVANTAGES OF THIS INVENTION:

Past: There have been no past uses of this technology. This technology was conceived, designed, and prototyped with the proposed use-case in mind to fill a gap in commercially available platforms.

Present: This platform is being used to investigate bacterial-induced polymer degradation over long periods of time. At present, there are plans to validate the technology for use with cellulose, nylon, and polyester textile fibers of unknown composition and treatment.

Future: The platform will be used to analyze bacterial-induced degradation of military relevant material sets as planned efforts integrated into the ongoing programs in BBSD.

The inventors hope to extend the utility of the developed platform into a tri-service endeavor to assist similar efforts that may be ongoing at the Naval Research Laboratory, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the various national labs developing fielded materiel for defense purposes. Additional avenues will be sought to transition the technology into industrial settings as appropriate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

Provide the following information concerning the disclosed invention and in the indicated sequence (or reference other submitted papers that contain the requested information – please do not cut and paste):

All

A. Specifically describe the invention and its operation. You may use and attach copies of sketches, prints, photographs, paper, and illustrations, all of which should be signed, witnessed and dated. Alternatively, this form should be signed, witnessed and dated if the invention description is incorporated into this form. Use numbers and descriptive names in descriptions and drawings. For inventions that are methods list the steps involved in the method.

For inventions that are apparatus describe all the elements.

B. State the advantages of the invention over presently known devices, systems or processes. Also discuss/provide a background of the prior art.

C. Discuss the problems which the invention is designed to solve, referring to any prior invention of a similar nature with which you may be familiar (e.g limitations or disadvantages).

D. List all known and other possible uses for the invention.

E. List the features of the invention that are believed to be novel – how does this invention differ from present technology.

F. Please provide an abstract of your invention. This should be limited to no more than 250 words and will be used to facilitate discussion with the Invention Evaluation Committee.