METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTION AND SPATIAL MAPPING OF MERCURY CONCENTRATION IN WATER SAMPLES

摘要

The concentration of mercury in a sample is measured by a reader secured to a camera-containing mobile electronic device. The reader has holders for sample and control solutions. First and second light sources emitting light at different colors illuminate the sample and control holders. Each holder contains gold nanoparticles, thymine-rich aptamers, and sodium chloride. The light sources illuminate the sample and control holders. An image is captured of the transmitted light through the sample and control holders, wherein the image comprises two control regions of interest and two sample regions of interest. The device calculates the intensity of the two control regions of interest and the two sample regions of interest and generates intensity ratios for the sample and control, respectively, at each color. The device calculates a normalized color ratio based on the intensity ratios and outputs a concentration of mercury based on the normalized color ratio.

主权项

1. A system for analyzing a water sample for mercury with a mobile electronic device having a camera comprising:
a reader configured for securement to the mobile electronic device over the camera, the reader further comprising:
a sample solution holder and a control solution holder;a power source operatively coupled to a first light source and a second light source configured to illuminate the sample solution holder and the control solution holder with different colors;a mask interposed between the first and second light sources and the sample solution and control solution holders, the mask comprising a first set of apertures disposed over the sample solution holder and the control solution holder and configured to be illuminated by the first light source and a second set of apertures disposed over the sample solution holder and the control solution holder and configured to be illuminated by the second light source;a lens disposed in the reader and positioned adjacent to the camera;a solution containing sodium chloride, nanoparticles, and thymine-rich aptamer contained in both the sample solution holder and the control solution holder, the sample solution holder also containing the water sample therein; and wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to capture an image of transmitted light passing through the control solution holder and the sample solution holder from the first and second light sources, wherein the image contains four separate regions of interest and wherein the mobile electronic device outputs a concentration of mercury within the water sample based on a normalized color ratio obtained from a measured intensity levels at each of the four separate regions of interest.