# US 11,906,498 B2 · Swab composition for detection of molecules/explosives on a surface

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- Number: US 11,906,498 B2
- Document ID: US11906498B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/073,649
- Filed: 2020-10-19
- Published: 2021-04-15
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-19
- Assignees: Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited
- Applicants: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.
- Inventors: Eyal Zussman; Yuval Eshed; Reshef Gal-Oz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906498B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/227: {Explosives, e.g. combustive properties thereof}
- C09K 9/00: 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
- D01D 5/0007: {Electro-spinning (non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728)}
- D01D 5/34: Core-skin structure; Spinnerette packs therefor
- D01F 1/10: Other agents for modifying properties
- D01F 8/04: from synthetic polymers
- G01N 21/78: producing a change of colour
- G01N 33/22: Fuels; Explosives
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- D01D: MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
- D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 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/cm2 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).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

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

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

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

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

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.

### Claim 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/cm2 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.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

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