The Technology
The BSA Sponge Cartridge is a protein-engineered porous sorbent platform designed for analytical sample preparation and selective extraction of target molecules from complex aqueous samples. The platform is based on a three-dimensional bovine serum albumin (BSA) sponge fabricated through a rapid one-pot aqueous photochemical crosslinking process, producing mechanically robust and cartridge-compatible porous structures.
Unlike conventional sorbents that focus primarily on adsorption, the platform integrates the complete analytical workflow of capture to preconcentrate to detect. Captured analytes are released through controlled enzymatic digestion of the protein matrix (“self-elution”), generating a small, LC-MS/MS-compatible concentrate while minimizing solvent consumption and matrix effects.
The manufacturing process preserves the native structural and chemical functionality of albumin, maintaining its diverse molecular binding sites and enabling selective interactions with PFAS compounds, metal ions, and other target analytes.
The same cartridge architecture can therefore support multiple analytical and extraction applications without changing the underlying manufacturing platform.
Core Technological Innovations
One-pot aqueous photochemical manufacturing producing tunable, cartridge-ready porous protein sponges without organic solvent processing.
Protein-based functional sorbent preserving native albumin binding chemistry after fabrication.
Enzymatically triggered self-elution, replacing conventional solvent-intensive desorption with controlled proteolytic release.
Integrated analytical workflow combining analyte capture, preconcentration and recovery in a single cartridge platform.
Key Advantages
- Green manufacturing through rapid, fully aqueous one-pot fabrication.
- Reduced solvent consumption and simplified analytical sample preparation.
- Reproducible analyte enrichment compatible with LC-MS/MS workflows.
- Modular platform enabling different applications using the same cartridge architecture.
- Scalable cartridge design suitable for analytical and environmental technologies.
Potential Applications
- PFAS monitoring through selective capture, preconcentration and quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis.
- Recovery of precious metals, initially focused on Au³⁺ extraction from aqueous streams.
- Future extraction of critical metals and rare earth elements (REEs) including Nd³⁺, Dy³⁺ and Y³⁺.
- Analytical sample preparation cartridges as a protein-based alternative to conventional SPE technologies.
- Environmental monitoring and circular-economy applications based on selective biomolecular capture.
Business Development Contacts
