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Publication Number
US-11353449-B2
Publication Date
2022-06-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Electrokinetic devices and methods are described with the purpose of collecting assayable agents from a dielectric fluid medium. Electrokinetic flow may be induced by the use of plasma generation at high voltage electrodes and consequent transport of charged particles in an electric voltage gradient. Actively growing mold releases the carbohydrate cell wall component (1→3)-β-D-Glucan into the air. The invention recognizes that the airborne fraction is that which affects respiratory health and selectively tests for a free form which is soluble in aqueous medium. The sample to be analysed is preferably collected by the electrokinetic propulsion method described, but any air sampling method such as filtration, impactor or impingement may be applicable.
Core Innovation
The invention analyzes aerosol particles by capturing aerosol particles using an air sampling device, suspending captured aerosol particles in an extraction fluid, and performing centrifugation of the suspension. All or part of the resulting supernatant is directly added, with no other processing, to a reaction mixture for analysis for (1→3)-β-D-glucan.
A key aspect of the invention is focusing on the soluble/free fraction released by actively growing mold, rather than the insoluble/particle-bound fraction. The approach provides an electrokinetic air-sampling pathway that collects the relevant (1→3)-β-D-glucan fraction and then applies downstream detection on the centrifugation supernatant.
The document further describes embodiments where (1→3)-β-D-glucan is determined using a limulus-amebocyte based assay or an immunoassay after direct addition of the centrifugation supernatant or neutral extraction fluid to the reaction mixture. The relationship between respiratory-relevant mold activity and measured (1→3)-β-D-glucan from electrokinetic sampling is supported by correlation/analysis examples.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are directed to methods for analyzing aerosol particles by capturing airborne material, extracting it into a fluid, separating the relevant fluid fraction, and directly adding that fluid to a reaction mixture for analysis of (1→3)-β-D-glucan. The inventive features cover supernatant-based direct addition after centrifugation and electrode capture in an electrokinetic propulsion device followed by direct addition of neutral extraction fluid.
Centrifuged supernatant direct addition for (1→3)-β-D-glucan analysis
Capturing aerosol particles using an air sampling device, suspending the captured aerosol particles from the air sampling device in an extraction fluid, performing centrifugation of the suspension, and directly adding with no other processing all or part of the supernatant from the centrifugation to a reaction mixture for analysis of the supernatant for (1→3)-β-D-glucan.
Electrode capture in electrokinetic propulsion device with neutral extraction fluid direct addition
Capturing aerosol particles on an electrode of an electrokinetic propulsion device from a volume of air propelled electrokinetically through the device, removing the electrode from a carrier mounting and placing the electrode in an extraction vessel, adding a predetermined volume of extraction fluid to the extraction vessel, agitating the electrode in a neutral extraction fluid for a predetermined time, and directly adding with no other processing all or part of the neutral extraction fluid to a reaction mixture for analysis of the aerosol particles for (1→3)-β-D-glucan.
Across the independent claims, the central coverage is the combination of aerosol capture with fluid handling that yields a supernatant or neutral extraction fluid for direct addition into a reaction mixture for (1→3)-β-D-glucan analysis, with dependent claim options specifying a limulus-amebocyte based assay or an immunoassay.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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