Gold Nanoparticle Assembly for Trace Analyte Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting analytes, such as the immunochromatography method using colloidal gold, require high concentrations of antigens to visually confirm their presence, limiting the detection of trace amounts.
Innovation Solution
A detection device comprising metallic nanoparticles modified with host molecules, polarized light, an objective lens, and a photoreceiver, which assembles nanoparticles to detect analytes through light-induced forces, allowing for the detection of trace amounts of analytes by analyzing light signals or spectra.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual color confirmation method is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces metallic nanoparticles as an intermediary between the analyte and the detection system. These nanoparticles exhibit localized surface plasmon resonance that produces highly sensitive optical signals, acting as a mediator that amplifies the detection response while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional visual color assessment system with an optical detection system based on localized surface plasmon resonance. This substitution enables trace amount detection through optical signal analysis while preserving the ease of operation characteristic of visual methods
2Device complexity
If conventional immunochromatography is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from conventional colorimetric analysis to localized surface plasmon resonance optical signals. This parameter change enables trace amount detection while maintaining the simplicity of the immunochromatography approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structures combining metallic nanoparticles with immunological reagents. This composite approach integrates the sensitivity enhancement of plasmonic materials with the specificity of immunochromatography, achieving both simple operation and high detection precision
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
Enables rapid detection of trace analytes with enhanced sensitivity, reducing detection time and eliminating the need for fluorescent labeling, thus providing a cost-effective and efficient method.
Implementation Method 1
a first light source emitting polarized light for assembling the plurality of metallic nanoparticles together
Implementation Method 2
as an in-vitro diagnostic method, there has been proposed a diagnostic method utilizing presentation of color by localized surface plasmon resonance of colloidal gold
Implementation Method 3
The objective lens focuses and introduces the polarized light into a liquid containing a specimen and the plurality of metallic nanoparticles
Implementation Method 4
The photoreceiver receives light from the liquid. The detector detects an analyte based on a signal received from the photoreceiver
Implementation Method 5
analyzing light signals or spectra
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
Figure 4
AI summary
A detection device (100) detects an analyte that may be contained in a specimen. The detection device (100) includes a plurality of gold nanoparticles, an optical trapping light source (101), an illumination light source (102), an objective lens (103), an image pick-up device (108), and a computation unit (106). The plurality of gold nanoparticles are each modified with a probe DNA allowing the analyte to specifically adhere thereto. The optical trapping light source (101) emits polarized light for assembling the plurality of gold nanoparticles together. The objective lens (103) focuses and introduces the polarized light into a liquid containing a specimen and the plurality of gold nanoparticles. The image pick-up device (108) receives light from the liquid. The computation unit (106) detects an analyte based on a signal received from the image pick-up device (108).