Raman Spectroscopy Cellular Water Mapping in Fruit Tissues

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods fail to accurately determine the cellular level water content and distribution in fruit and vegetable tissues, particularly in distinguishing between free, immobilized, and bound water, and their locations within the cells.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing Raman spectroscopy with laser confocal microscopy to scan and analyze water content at the cellular level, involving grid division, Gaussian peak fitting, and pseudocolor imaging to visualize and quantify water distribution and bonding states in fruit and vegetable tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If low-field NMR method is used to determine water content and bonding states, then the measurement speed and convenience are improved, but the ability to provide spatial distribution information and quantitative analysis is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement timeVSAvoidspatial distribution information
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the tissue sample into a grid of measurement points, with each point corresponding to a specific cellular location. This segmentation allows the system to collect Raman spectra at multiple discrete locations and reconstruct the spatial distribution of water content and bonding states, thereby obtaining both quantitative data and spatial information simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the low-field NMR method with Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy provides both quantitative water content measurement and spatial distribution information through optical imaging, eliminating the information loss inherent in NMR methods while maintaining measurement efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If traditional methods like Malin Chick experiment or differential scanning calorimetry are used to determine bound and free water, then the bonding strength classification is improved, but the ability to distinguish immobilized water and locate water inside or outside cells is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater bonding state classificationVSAvoidcellular location information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the tissue into cellular-level measurement points using optical microscopy guidance. This allows differentiation of water locations (intracellular vs. extracellular) while maintaining the bonding state classification capability through Raman spectral analysis at each segmented location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality analysis by examining Raman spectra at specific cellular locations identified through optical microscopy. This enables the system to determine both the bonding state of water (bound, immobilized, or free) and its precise location within or outside cells, providing localized water state information that traditional bulk methods cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If Raman spectroscopy with confocal microscopy is used to achieve cellular level water distribution mapping, then the measurement precision and spatial resolution are improved, but the device complexity and measurement time are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecellular level water content measurementVSAvoidinstrument complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges Raman spectroscopy with confocal optical microscopy to create an integrated system. The optical microscopy component provides cellular-level imaging guidance, while the Raman spectroscopy component performs water content and bonding state analysis. This merging allows the system to achieve high spatial resolution water distribution mapping without requiring separate instrumentation for structural imaging and chemical analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 precise visualization and quantification of water content and bonding states at the cellular level, providing detailed information on water location and state, facilitating the study of water migration during processing and its influence on tissue structure.

Implementation Method 1

A method for testing cellular level water content and distribution in fruit and vegetable tissues based on Raman spectroscopy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRaman scattering:

Implementation Method 2

selecting a cell region from the sample by the objective lens of the laser confocal microscope

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 3

laser confocal microscope for imaging spectrum acquisition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConfocal microscopy:

Data Source

PatentEP3859315B1Method for testing water content and water distribution of cellular levels in fruit and vegetable tissues on basis of raman spectrum
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 SOUTH CHINA UNIV OF TECH
  • EP3859315B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3859315B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3859315B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for testing cellular level water content and distribution in fruit and vegetable tissues based on Raman spectroscopy. This method comprises preprocessing of samples, acquisition and preprocessing of imaging spectra, Gaussian peak-separation fitting of imaging spectra, pseudocolor imaging according to the fitting results, and visualization of distribution of water content and water bonding state at the cell level. The present invention realizes the visualization of the distribution of water content and water binding state at the cellular level in the fruit and vegetable tissues for the first time, and obtains relatively reliable quantitative analysis results of the content of water with different bonding states according to the visualization imaging results. The present invention, able to be used as a new method for testing cellular level water content in fruit and vegetable tissues, solves the current problem of not being able to detect cellular level water changes in fruit and vegetable processing, and has a good prospect for the research on fruit and vegetables processing.