SPR Sample Holder with Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measuring instruments face a 'peripheral concentration effect' where analyte in droplets spreads and concentrates at the periphery, causing non-uniform distribution and signal distortion, which interferes with accurate analysis.
Innovation Solution
A sample holder with a glass slide featuring separate electrically conductive spots surrounded by hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers, where the hydrophilic layer attracts the droplet periphery and the hydrophobic layer restricts expansion, maintaining uniform analyte distribution across the spot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a continuous gold coating is used on the glass slide, then surface plasmon resonance measurement can be performed, but the analyte in droplets spreads and concentrates at the periphery causing non-uniform distribution and signal distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous gold coating is segmented into discrete conductive spots or islands on the glass slide. This segmentation creates distinct measurement zones that confine the droplet analyte over the conductive spots, preventing peripheral concentration and maintaining uniform analyte distribution across the measurement area, thereby resolving the contradiction between enabling SPR measurement and maintaining analyte distribution uniformity
2Area of stationary object
If the droplet is allowed to spread naturally on the gold surface, then the sample covers the measurement area, but the analyte migrates to the periphery causing signal distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The glass slide is designed with different local properties: hydrophilic regions that attract and confine the droplet over the conductive spots, and hydrophobic regions that prevent further spreading. This local quality differentiation ensures the droplet covers the measurement area while maintaining uniform analyte distribution, preventing signal distortion
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
This design minimizes the 'peripheral concentration effect' by ensuring uniform analyte distribution, enhancing the accuracy of SPR measurements by maintaining the analyte concentration centrally over the conductive spots.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrophilic layer attracts the droplet periphery
Implementation Method 2
the hydrophobic layer restricts expansion
Implementation Method 3
a surface for providing internal reflection of an electromagnetic radiation beam
Implementation Method 4
Surface plasmon resonance occurs when the momentum (or the wave vector) and energy (i.e. frequency) of the evanescent electromagnetic wave are made to match the momentum and energy of the surface plasmons respectively
Data Source
AI summary
A droplet sample holder, especially a sample holder for use in a measuring instrument utilizing surface plasmon resonance. The sample holder reduces or minimizes the measurement distortion result of the droplet “pherpheral concentration effect” by surrounding the analysis zone with a wettable (hydrophilic) zone that captures the periphery of the droplet to keep the pheriphery of the droplet and the increased concentration of the analyte out of the analysis zone. The wettable zone is surrounded by a nonwettable (hydrophobic) zone that restricts the periphery of the droplet to analysis zone and the wettable zone.