Surface-Modified Cellulose Membrane for Immunochromatographic Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional immunochromatographic detection devices suffer from poor sensitivity due to biological molecules adhering to the top surface of cellulose membranes, which reduces their ability to accurately detect analytes in biological specimens.

Innovation Solution

A surface-modified cellulose membrane with an anti-biofouling acrylic copolymer bonded to the cellulose fibers, featuring a detection unit with a diffusion layer, capturing layer, detection layer, control line layer, and absorbent layer, which prevents analyte adhesion and enhances detection sensitivity by using gold nanocolloids and specific binding agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a conventional cellulose membrane is used in the immunochromatographic detection device, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but biological molecules easily adhere to the top surface resulting in poor detection sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidmembrane structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the surface properties of the cellulose membrane through coating with anti-biofouling acrylic copolymer. This changes the surface energy and chemical composition parameters of the membrane, transforming it from a high-adhesion surface to a low-adhesion surface that repels biological molecules, thereby improving detection sensitivity without fundamentally changing the membrane structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining cellulose membrane with anti-biofouling acrylic copolymer coating. The composite structure integrates the porous absorption properties of cellulose with the anti-adhesion properties of the copolymer, creating a membrane that both absorbs specimen effectively and prevents non-specific binding of biological molecules

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the top surface of the cellulose membrane has high affinity for biological molecules, then the membrane can effectively absorb and diffuse the specimen, but analyte adhesion occurs reducing detection accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecimen diffusion efficiencyVSAvoiddetection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different surface properties at different locations or aspects of the membrane. The bulk cellulose structure maintains high absorption and diffusion capability, while the coated top surface provides selective anti-adhesion properties. This local differentiation allows the membrane to simultaneously achieve efficient specimen diffusion and accurate analyte detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The surface-modified cellulose membrane effectively reduces analyte adhesion, improving the sensitivity of the immunochromatographic detection device to detect analytes at lower concentrations, as demonstrated by enhanced signal intensity and reduced bioanalyte adhesion percentages.

Implementation Method 1

an anti-biofouling acrylic copolymer bonded to the cellulose fibers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnti-biofouling:

Implementation Method 2

a first binding agent loaded on the gold nanoparticle for specifically binding to the analyte so as to form a complex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntigen-antibody binding:

Implementation Method 3

includes a second binding agent for specifically binding to the analyte of the complex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntigen-antibody binding:

Implementation Method 4

includes a third binding agent for specifically binding to the gold nanocolloids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntigen-antibody binding:

Implementation Method 5

is adapted for absorbing the specimen after the specimen passes through the control line layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11988664B2Immunochromatographic detection device

Publication Date: 2024.05.21 SOUTHERN TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

An immunochromatographic detection device adapted for detecting an analyte in a specimen includes a surface-modified cellulose membrane, a detection unit, and a substrate. The surface-modified cellulose membrane includes opposite top and bottom surfaces, cellulose fibers, and an anti-biofouling acrylic copolymer that is bonded to the cellulose fibers. The detection unit is disposed on the top surface of the cellulose membrane, is configured to interact with the specimen, and includes a diffusion layer, a capturing layer, a detection layer, a control line layer, and an absorbent layer. The substrate is disposed on the bottom surface of the surface-modified cellulose membrane.