Colour Changing Composition for Microorganism Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting and eliminating microorganisms, such as bacteria, and detecting chemical changes like pH, are inadequate in providing effective and efficient techniques for real-time monitoring and disinfection.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a metal, a metal aggregation inhibitor, a colour changing agent, and a surfactant, which can be applied as a spray or incorporated into a substrate or label, allowing for visual detection of microorganisms and chemical changes through colour changes, with a molar ratio of metal to colour changing agent ranging from 1:1 to 15, and a surfactant to metal ratio of 1:500 to 7,000, facilitating disinfection and contamination assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a colour changing agent is used to detect microorganisms, then detection capability is improved, but the composition becomes complex and requires multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single composition: the colour changing agent (CAS) detects microorganisms, the metal (iron) serves as a binding target, the aggregation inhibitor prevents metal precipitation, and the surfactant enhances delivery and contact. This integrated formulation resolves the contradiction by providing comprehensive detection capability while maintaining composition simplicity through synergistic component selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition achieves multi-functionality: it detects microorganisms through colour change, provides iron binding capacity, prevents metal aggregation, and ensures proper delivery to target surfaces. This universal approach allows a single composition to address multiple requirements simultaneously, improving detection capability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If metal is added to enhance colour changing agent performance, then detection sensitivity is improved, but metal aggregation occurs reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The aggregation inhibitor acts as an intermediary substance that interacts with metal ions to prevent their aggregation. It binds to metal in a way that maintains metal availability for colour changing agent interaction while preventing precipitation and aggregation. This mediator resolves the contradiction by preserving metal stability without compromising detection sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the molar ratio of metal to colour changing agent (1:1 to 15:1) and incorporates aggregation inhibitors to control metal behavior. By adjusting these parameters, the composition maintains high metal availability for detection while preventing aggregation, thus improving detection sensitivity without sacrificing composition stability.
3Ease of operation
If surfactant is added to improve composition delivery and contact, then application effectiveness is improved, but composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant provides multiple benefits: it enhances delivery of the composition to target surfaces, improves contact and wetting properties, and may contribute to overall formulation stability. This multi-functional role justifies its inclusion by improving application effectiveness while the selection of appropriate surfactant types and concentrations keeps the overall composition complexity manageable.
4Loss of information
If high metal concentration is used to enhance colour change intensity, then detection visibility is improved, but metal aggregation increases reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The aggregation inhibitor serves as a mediator that allows higher metal concentrations to be used without aggregation. It binds to metal ions in a controlled manner, maintaining metal availability for colour changing agent interaction while preventing precipitation. This enables enhanced detection visibility through increased metal concentration while preserving detection reliability by preventing aggregation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the metal to colour changing agent molar ratio (1:1 to 15:1) and incorporates aggregation inhibitors to control metal behavior. By adjusting these parameters, the composition achieves sufficient colour change intensity for reliable detection while preventing metal aggregation, thus improving detection visibility without sacrificing reliability.
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 composition enables effective detection and disinfection of microorganisms by colour change, allowing for precise determination of disinfection needs and reducing contamination, while also detecting chemical changes, thereby improving microbial and chemical monitoring efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
Chromeazurol S (CAS) is a colour changing agent which provides a change in colour upon binding and/or release of iron
Implementation Method 2
Bacteria typically extract iron from the ambient environment by means of iron-chelating compounds known as siderophores
Implementation Method 3
a surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to compositions comprising a metal, a metal aggregation inhibitor, and a colour changing agent. The metal is bindable to the colour changing agent to provide a change in colour on binding and/or release thereof.