NC Membrane Colorimetric Detection of Micro/Nano Plastics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for quantifying microplastics are time-consuming, laborious, prone to errors, and require extensive pretreatment, especially for microscopic infrared and Raman spectroscopy, which lack efficiency and accuracy in identifying and quantifying microplastics.
Innovation Solution
A one-step precipitation and color development method using a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane, involving coupling micro/nano plastics with ovalbumin (OVA) and using specific antibodies for detection, including incubation, washing, and color development with tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to visualize and quantify microplastics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual inspection method is used to count microplastic particles manually, then the method is simple to operate, but it is time-consuming and laborious with low productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary immunological detection system using antibodies and enzymes. The microplastics are first coupled with OVA to create conjugates, which then interact with polystyrene antibodies in a series of immunological reactions, ultimately producing a colorimetric signal that can be quantified. This intermediary system transforms the detection task from manual counting to an automated biochemical assay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual counting process with a biochemical detection system. Instead of visually inspecting and counting particles under a microscope, the method uses antibody-antigen recognition, enzyme catalysis, and color development to automatically indicate the presence and quantity of microplastics, thereby substituting mechanical labor with biochemical processes.
2Measurement precision
If microscopic infrared spectroscopy or Raman spectroscopy is used to identify microplastics, then the accuracy of analysis is improved, but extensive pretreatment is required and analysis time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary coupling of microplastics with ovalbumin (OVA) to create stable conjugates before detection. This preliminary action ensures that the microplastics are properly prepared and labeled with immunogenic markers, enabling direct immunological detection without requiring extensive surface cleaning or pretreatment that would be necessary for spectroscopic methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from physical-chemical spectral properties (infrared or Raman shifts) to immunological binding properties. By coupling microplastics with OVA and detecting them through antibody-antigen interactions followed by colorimetric readout, the method transforms the detection basis from spectral analysis to biochemical recognition, thereby simplifying sample preparation while maintaining accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If microplastics are identified one by one using spectroscopy methods, then the identification accuracy is improved, but the surface of microplastics cannot be polluted by organic pollutants requiring good pretreatment technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal detection platform where the OVA-coupled microplastics can be detected through a standardized immunological assay procedure. This multi-functional approach allows the same detection system to handle various microplastic samples regardless of their surface condition or pollutant contamination, eliminating the need for sample-specific pretreatment optimization required by spectroscopic methods.
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, visualized, and quantitative detection of microplastics without additional pads, reducing costs and time, while improving accuracy and efficiency compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
coupling micro/nano plastics with ovalbumin (OVA) to prepare a micro/nano plastic-OVA conjugate
Implementation Method 2
incubating for 30 min at 37°C; washing the NC membrane 4-5 times and sucking away water, completely immersing the NC membrane into precipitating tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for 30 s and then taking out the NC membrane and sucking away water, and placing the NC membrane at room temperature for color development
Implementation Method 3
completely immersing the NC membrane into precipitating tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for 30 s and then taking out the NC membrane and sucking away water, and placing the NC membrane at room temperature for color development
Implementation Method 4
streaking the micro/nano plastic-OVA conjugate on an NC membrane to prepare an NC membrane coated with the micro/nano plastic-OVA conjugate
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A one-step precipitation and color development detection method of a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane for micro/nano plastics was provided, including the following steps: S1, preparing a micro/nano plastic-ovalbumin (OVA) conjugate; S2, preparing an NC membrane coated with the micro/nano plastic-OVA conjugate; S3, putting the NC membrane coated with the micro/nano plastic-OVA conjugate into a polystyrene antibody solution and a sample solution and incubating for 1 h at 37°C, and then rinsing the NC membrane; S4, diluting goat anti-mouse IgG-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) by 1w fold and then putting in a centrifuge tube, putting the NC membrane into the centrifuge tube, and then incubating for 30 min at 37°C; and S5, washing the NC membrane 4-5 times, completely immersing the NC membrane into a precipitating tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for 30 s and then taking out the NC membrane at room temperature for development, followed by detecting the concentration of micro/nano plastics.