Swab composition for detection of molecules/explosives on a surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11906498-B2
Application number	US-202017073649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2020
Priority date	May 19, 2014
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

Compositions comprising electrospun fibers and colorimetric detection encapsulated thereto are provided. Further, methods of use of said composition, including, but not limited to in-situ detection of molecules of interest, such as explosive compounds, are provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A swab comprising at least one type of electrospun fibers and at least one colorimetric reactant, the electrospun fibers comprise a brittle shell and a core, said core is a liquid and comprises the at least one colorimetric reactant, and said brittle shell is a polymeric shell characterized by glass transition between 70° C. and 150° C. and is configured to break under normal stress of 0.08-1 kg/cm 2 at a temperature between −55° C. and 60° C., so as to allow detection of a solid analyte; and wherein a polymeric material of said brittle shell consist of poly(methylmethacrylate-co-ethylacrylate) (PMCEA).

2. The swab of claim 1 , wherein said swab has a porosity span from 60% to 95%.

3. The swab of claim 1 , wherein said brittle shell is characterized by low porosity and has a pore size ranging from 0.1 to 1 micrometer.

4. The swab of claim 1 , wherein said brittle shell has a thickness in the range of about 100 nm to about 5 micrometer.

5. The swab of claim 1 , wherein said electrospun fiber has a diameter in the range of about 1 to about 40 micrometer.

6. The swab of claim 1 , comprising: (i) a plurality of fibers types; (ii) a plurality of colorimetric reactants; or (iii) both, wherein each type of electrospun nanofiber comprises at least one type of a colorimetric reactant reactive with the solid analyte, wherein the solid analyte selected from a nitro-based compound, a peroxide-based compound, a chlorate and a bromate.

7. The swab of claim 6 , wherein said nitro-based compound is TNT.

8. The swab of claim 1 , wherein said at least one colorimetric reactant has a pH value selected from: (i) a pH value of at most 6 ; or (ii) a pH value of at least 8.

9. The swab of claim 1 , wherein said at least one colorimetric reactant is an explosive detection reagent selected from the group consisting of: a Meisenheimer complex forming agent, a Griess reagent, a thymol reagent and a Nesslers reagent or any combination thereof.

10. The swab of claim 9 , wherein the at least one colorimetric reactant is an amine.

11. The swab of claim 1 , further comprising at least one polymer compound for providing a mechanical support to said swab.

12. The swab of claim 11 , wherein said at least one polymer compound is selected from the group consisting of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL), fluoropolymer, polyamide, poly(siloxane), poly(silicone), poly(ethylene), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(2-hydroxy ethylmethacrylate), poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl acetate), polyacrylamide, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(methacrylic acid), polylactide, polyglycolide, poly(lactide-coglycolide), polyanhydride, polyorthoester, poly(acrylo nitrile), poly(ethylene oxide), polyaniline, polyvinyl carbazole, poly(vinyl phenol), polyhydroxyacid, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyurethane, or a combination thereof.

13. A swab comprising a fibrous matrix consisting of at least one type of electrospun microfibers and a colorimetric reactant, wherein:
the electrospun microfibers comprise a brittle shell and a core encapsulated by said brittle shell;
said core consists of a liquid composition comprising said colorimetric reactant;
said brittle shell is a polymeric shell characterized by a glass transition between 70° C. and 150° C. and is configured to break under normal stress of 0.08-1 kg/cm 2 at a temperature between −55° C. and 60° C., so as to allow detection of a solid analyte; wherein said colorimetric reactant is an amine; and wherein a polymeric material of said brittle shell consist of polyacrylate.

14. The swab of claim 13 , wherein said core consists of said colorimetric reactant being in a liquid state.

Assignees

• Technion Res & Dev Foundation

Inventors

• Zussman Eyal
• Eshed Yuval
• Gal-Oz Reshef

Classifications

• G01N33/227 Primary

  Explosives, e.g. combustive properties thereof · CPC title

• C09K9/00

  Tenebrescent materials, i.e. materials for which the range of wavelengths for energy absorption is changed as a result of excitation by some form of energy · CPC title

• D01D5/0007

  Electro-spinning (non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728) · CPC title

• D01D5/34

  Core-skin structure; Spinnerette packs therefor · CPC title

• D01F1/10

  Other agents for modifying properties · CPC title