Sterilizable Optochemical Sensor Elements with Radical Scavengers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optochemical sensor elements face destruction and calibration challenges due to radical-induced changes during radiation sterilization, especially in medical and biotechnological applications, where traditional stabilizers are toxic and calibration media cannot be used post-sterilization.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a non-volatile substance, such as a radical-scavenging acid or its salt, into the sensor layer to prevent radical damage and enable dry calibration without a calibration medium, using materials like ascorbic acid and its salts for pH, potassium, sodium, calcium, and ammonium sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiation sterilization is performed on optochemical sensor elements, then sterilization is achieved, but destruction or changes in the sensor layer materials occur due to radical reactions
Solution Approach 1:
A radical scavenger is introduced as an intermediary substance in the sensor layer that intercepts and neutralizes radicals generated during radiation sterilization, preventing these radicals from attacking and damaging the sensor layer materials. This mediator protects the indicator and matrix from radical-induced degradation while allowing sterilization to proceed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor layer is pre-equipped with radical scavengers before sterilization to cushion against the harmful effects of radicals. This beforehand protection ensures that when radiation sterilization occurs, the scavengers are already in place to absorb and neutralize radicals, preventing damage to the sensor layer components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional stabilizers are added to the sensor layer to minimize sterilization damage, then material stability improves, but toxicity increases and stabilizers can be washed out through the permeable sensor layer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the stabilizing substance by selecting radical scavengers with specific properties: they must be non-toxic, non-volatile, and have low water solubility. Examples include ascorbic acid and its salts, which have been chosen because they meet all these criteria unlike traditional stabilizers that are toxic or water-soluble.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor layer is formulated as a composite material incorporating the indicator, matrix, and radical scavenger together. This composite approach ensures that the scavenger is integrated into the sensor layer structure and cannot be washed out, while providing the necessary protection during sterilization without introducing toxicity.
3Ease of operation
If the sensor layer is made permeable to water and ions for sensor function, then sensor operation is enabled, but toxic stabilizers can be washed out during sterilization and use
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the solubility parameter of the stabilizing substance by selecting radical scavengers that are non-volatile and have low water solubility. This ensures that while the sensor layer remains permeable to water and ions for normal sensing operation, the scavenger substances remain trapped in the layer and cannot be washed out during sterilization or use.
4Reliability
If optochemical sensors are sterilized by radiation, then sterilization is achieved, but calibration curves become irreproducible due to radical-induced changes
Solution Approach 1:
The radical scavenger acts as an intermediary that protects the indicator substance from radical damage during sterilization. By neutralizing radicals before they can react with the indicator, the scavenger preserves the indicator's optical properties and ensures that calibration curves remain reproducible after sterilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor layer is pre-equipped with radical scavengers before sterilization to cushion against the harmful effects of radicals. This beforehand protection ensures that when radiation sterilization occurs, the scavengers are already in place to absorb and neutralize radicals, preventing damage to the indicator and maintaining calibration reproducibility.
5Stability of the object's composition
If encapsulation is used to protect sensor elements during sterilization, then radical damage is minimized, but complete prevention of degradation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on encapsulation, the invention introduces radical scavengers as chemical intermediaries directly within the sensor layer. These scavengers provide more reliable and complete protection by chemically neutralizing radicals at the source, preventing degradation that encapsulation cannot fully prevent.
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
The solution effectively minimizes radical-induced degradation and allows for reliable dry calibration of optochemical sensors, ensuring accurate measurements without contact with calibration media, particularly suitable for medical and biotechnological applications.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor layer contains at least one non-volatile substance that can act as a radical scavenger
Implementation Method 2
sterilization is usually carried out using high-energy radiation, especially gamma, beta, or X-ray radiation
Implementation Method 3
These destruction or changes are the result of chemical reactions initiated by radicals created during irradiation
Implementation Method 4
The optochemical sensor layer contains an indicator whose optical properties depend on a state parameter of the analyte
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to optochemical sensor elements for optochemical sensors, the sensor layer of which contains at least one non-volatile substance that enables radiation sterilization and subsequent calibration without a liquid calibration medium, and to a method for dry calibration of such an optochemical sensor element.