Hydrophobic Barrier for Direct Liquid Extraction Desorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrophilic surfaces, commonly used for sampling and storage of aqueous-based samples, are difficult to analyze directly using liquid extraction desorption techniques due to solvent adsorption, leading to laborious and time-consuming indirect analysis methods that blur spatial resolution.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving the application of a hydrophobic material to create a barrier on hydrophilic absorptive layers, such as paper or ceramic materials, to prevent solvent absorption, allowing for direct extraction and ionization of samples using a liquid extraction surface sampling probe and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If liquid extraction desorption techniques are used on hydrophilic surfaces, then solvent extraction can dissolve the sample, but the hydrophilic surface adsorbs and retains the solvent preventing effective sample removal and ionization
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrophobic coating is applied to the hydrophilic surface to act as an intermediary layer. This coating prevents the hydrophilic surface from directly adsorbing the extraction solvent, allowing the solvent to dissolve and remove the sample effectively while the hydrophobic barrier prevents solvent retention by the underlying hydrophilic material.
2Productivity
If physical excision of the sample region is performed, then the sample can be analyzed, but spatial resolution boundaries become blurred and additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The sample is extracted in situ from the hydrophilic surface using liquid extraction desorption techniques combined with hydrophobic coating. This eliminates the need for physical excision of the sample region, maintaining spatial resolution boundaries while enabling direct analysis without additional processing steps such as filtration and centrifugation.
3Reliability
If indirect analysis methods are used for hydrophilic surfaces, then sample analysis can be performed, but the process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophobic coating is applied preliminarily to the hydrophilic surface before sample deposition or extraction. This preliminary action modifies the surface properties to enable direct liquid extraction desorption, eliminating the need for laborious indirect analysis methods and significantly reducing analysis time while maintaining reliable sample analysis capability.
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 direct, efficient, and high-resolution analysis of samples on hydrophilic surfaces by preventing solvent diffusion and maintaining sample integrity, reducing the need for physical excision and additional processing steps.
Implementation Method 1
A hydrophobic material is applied to the sample surface... to prevent solvent absorption
Implementation Method 2
applying negative pressure to said surface of the porous sample collection material for withdrawing extraction liquid containing extracted sample from said surface
Implementation Method 3
ionizing the extracted dissolved sample material downstream of the porous material and the liquid extraction surface sampling probe
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
A system and method is disclosed for extracting a sample from a sample surface. A sample is provided and a sample surface receives the sample which is deposited on the sample surface. A hydrophobic material is applied to the sample surface, and one or more devices are configured to dispense a liquid on the sample, the liquid dissolving the sample to form a dissolved sample material, and the one or more devices are configured to extract the dissolved sample material from the sample surface.