Design and development of a passive bioaerosol sampler using polarized ferroelectric polymer film

Therkorn, Jennifer; Thomas, N.; Calderon, L.; Scheinbeim, J. I.; Mainelis, Gediminas

doi:10.1016/j.jaerosci.2016.12.002

Cited by 16 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Tests with the Evaporator and the two CP models (CP-150 and CP-Select) were conducted using green fluorescent polystyrene latex (PSL) particles (Duke Scientific Corp., Palo Alto, CA, USA) of 1.0, 2.0 and 2.9 μm in diameter, pure-cultured bacteria and outdoor bioaerosol samples. The sizes of the PSL particles were selected to represent the typical sizes of bacterial cells and fungal spores [7,8].…”

Section: Test Particles and Their Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The physical and biological collection performance of various bioaerosol sampling devices depends on multiple variables, including sampling time and flow rate, bioaerosol type and the sample analysis method [4][5][6][7]. However, despite advances in sampling and detection technologies, bioaerosols are still difficult to quantify [8][9][10]. Their analysis is frequently affected by two problems: the collected air volume is too low to be representative of the investigated environment and/or the concentration of the collected biological particles is too low for the intended bioassays [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Then, in the second step, the captured particles are eluted from the filter into a small amount of water or other liquids [16]. The resulting filter with the biological particles can also be analyzed directly by microscopy or directly placed onto agar for incubation [8,17,18]. The latter approach improves the detection limit of the captured biological particles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Performance of Two Different Techniques to Concentrate Samples for Bioaerosol Quantification

2020

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We evaluated two concentrating techniques that could be used to improve bioaerosol detection and quantification: A BioChromato Smart Evaporator C1 (BioChromato, Inc.) and two Concentrating Pipette (CP) models (CP-150 and CP-Select) (InnovaPrep, LLC). We determined the concentration factor (CF) (the concentration of particles in the final solution compared to the concentration in the initial solution) and the particle losses when processing the samples with polystyrene latex (PSL) beads and different species of bacteria. When processing total particles, regardless of the culturability status, the losses for the Evaporator were 3.70–23.89%; for the CP-models, the losses ranged from 0.20% to 67.22%. For the culturable particles processed with the CP devices, the losses ranged from 42.85% to 90.19% and were higher for Gram-negative pseudomonads compared to Gram-positive B. subtilis. Despite the loss of particles, both devices yielded more concentrated final solutions. The CF for the Evaporator was 3.59–10.92; the CF values for the CP devices ranged from 55.77 to 184.64 for total particles and from 6.29 to 96.52 for culturable bacteria. This higher CF was mainly achieved due to lower final suspension volumes. The study demonstrated that the two concentrators can improve particle detection, but that one should take particle losses into account.

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Section: Test Particles and Their Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Performance of Two Different Techniques to Concentrate Samples for Bioaerosol Quantification

2020

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“…For passive sampling to be practical, it has to allow for detection of the biological agents of concern while maintaining simplicity in its use (Tovey et al 2003). A new type of passive bioaerosol sampler, herein termed the Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler (REPS), has been developed based on the use of ferroelectric polymer film (poly(vinylidene fluoride), or PVDF), which remains permanently polarized for typical environmental applications (Therkorn et al 2017). This new bioaerosol sampler is designed to substantially improve passive capture of airborne biological particles as well as their analysis due to: 1) the use of polarized PVDF to electrostatically attract charged particles in addition to capture of particles settling under gravity, 2) use of a spiral film shape to increase total collection surface area, and 3) a sampler design that fits into 50 mL conical centrifuge tubes to expedite pre- and post-sampling sampler transport and analyses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This new bioaerosol sampler is designed to substantially improve passive capture of airborne biological particles as well as their analysis due to: 1) the use of polarized PVDF to electrostatically attract charged particles in addition to capture of particles settling under gravity, 2) use of a spiral film shape to increase total collection surface area, and 3) a sampler design that fits into 50 mL conical centrifuge tubes to expedite pre- and post-sampling sampler transport and analyses. Our earlier research showed that in a laboratory setting, this sampler was able to collect particles representing the full-size spectrum of typical bioaerosols (nano to micron-size), and the collected particles were removed for analyses without any losses (Therkorn et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Field performance of a novel passive bioaerosol sampler using polarized ferroelectric polymer films

Therkorn

Thomas

Scheinbeim

et al. 2017

Aerosol Science and Technology

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Passive bioaerosol samplers can improve environmental and health protection by enhancing the practicality and cost-effectiveness of air sampling. Here, we present the outdoor field testing of a novel, passive bioaerosol sampler, the Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler (REPS), based on the use of polarized, ferroelectric polymer film (poly(vinylidene fluoride)). Four 10-day-long field campaigns were conducted to compare total (culturable + non-culturable) and culturable bioaerosol collection efficiencies of REPS to passive samplers (PTFE settling filters and agar settling plates). These collection efficiencies were calculated relative to performance of an active, reference Button Sampler. Compared to passive PTFE filters, which exclusively rely on gravitational particle deposition, REPS collected a 7-fold higher total microorganism quantity. Relative to the Button Sampler, REPS collected 25% of the total number of bacteria and fungi and 65% of the culturable bacteria. Furthermore, REPS achieved this performance without any air movers, pumps, batteries or external power. Since the Button Samplers operated at 4 L/min, REPS was calibrated to have equivalent sampling rates of 2.6 L/min and 1.0 L/min for culturable bacteria and total microorganisms, respectively. These results suggest that REPS can passively collect airborne microorganisms, including culturable bacteria, with high efficiency over long-term sampling durations. REPS can provide better preservation of bacterial culturability because it has no active airflow, which desiccates microbes in active samplers. Since there are limited options available for long-term, unattended bioaerosol sampling, REPS can complement currently available bioaerosol sampling technologies for numerous environmental health applications, such as exposure assessment for epidemiology and monitoring aeroallergen trends.

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Sampling Techniques

Amato

Brisebois

Draghi

et al. 2017

Microbiology of Aerosols

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Design and development of a passive bioaerosol sampler using polarized ferroelectric polymer film

Cited by 16 publications

References 53 publications

Performance of Two Different Techniques to Concentrate Samples for Bioaerosol Quantification

Performance of Two Different Techniques to Concentrate Samples for Bioaerosol Quantification

Field performance of a novel passive bioaerosol sampler using polarized ferroelectric polymer films

Sampling Techniques

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