Apparatus and method for preconcentrating and transferring analytes from surfaces and measurement thereof using spectroscopy

Abstract

A system and method for capturing a target analyte in advance of performing spectroscopic analysis to determine the existence of the target analyte from a source contacted with a collection substrate. The collection substrate is fabricated of a material selected to have an affinity for the target analyte, sufficiently transparent in a spectral region of interest and capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon in a manner that limits scattering sufficient to obscure spectral analysis. The collection substrate may be coated with a material selected to react with, bind to, or absorb the target analyte. The method optionally includes the step of transferring the captured target analyte to a second substrate, which may be an optical substrate. The target analyte may be captured to the collection substrate by one or more of wiping, dabbing or swabbing a target analyte carrier with the collection substrate.

1 . A method for capturing a target analyte located on a surface and preparing it for spectral analysis, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. contacting the surface including the target analyte with a collection substrate, wherein the collection substrate is made of a material selected to have an affinity for the target analyte, sufficiently transparent in a spectral region of interest and capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon; and   b. inserting the collection substrate including the captured target analyte into a spectroscopy tool.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the collection substrate is further capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon in a manner that limits scattering sufficient to obscure spectral analysis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the collection substrate is coated with a material selected to react with, bind to, or absorb the target analyte. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of contacting the target analyte with the collection substrate is achieved by one or more of wiping, pressing or swabbing a target analyte carrier with the collection substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of contacting the target analyte with the collection substrate is achieved by passing the collection substrate through a fluid containing the target analyte. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the collection substrate is a glass fiber membrane having a surface treated to increase its hydrophobic characteristic. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the collection substrate is a membrane having nanoparticles with high affinity for the target analyte. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the collection substrate is formed of a stainless steel mesh material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the collection substrate is formed of a metal-coated polymer membrane. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of transferring the captured target analyte from the collection substrate to a second substrate, wherein the second substrate is made of a material sufficiently transparent in a spectral region of interest and capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon and inserting the second substrate rather than the collection substrate into the spectroscopy tool. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second substrate is an optical substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the optical substrate is fabricated of ATR crystal material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second substrate is at least partially fabricated of a material having a higher affinity for the target analyte than the material used to fabricate the collection substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of joining the collection substrate to a facilitating housing before contacting the target analyte with the collection substrate. 
     
     
         15 . A method for capturing a target analyte for analysis, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. contacting the target analyte with a collection substrate, wherein the collection substrate is made of a material selected to have an affinity for the target analyte and capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon; and   b. inserting the collection substrate including the captured target analyte into an analysis tool.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of joining the collection substrate to a facilitating housing before contacting the target analyte with the collection substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of transferring the captured target analyte from the collection substrate to a second substrate, wherein the second substrate is made of a material capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon and inserting the second substrate rather than the collection substrate into the analysis tool. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for capturing a target analyte located on a surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a collection substrate made of a material selected to have an affinity for the target analyte and arranged to contact the surface including the target analyte; and   b. a facilitating housing configured to retain thereto and support the collection substrate sufficiently to enable analysis of the target analyte on the collection substrate.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising a second substrate, wherein the second substrate is made of a material capable of receiving the target analyte from the collection substrate and immobilizing the target analyte thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the second substrate is at least partially fabricated of a material having a higher affinity for the target analyte than the material used to fabricate the collection substrate.