03 Fakultät Chemie

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Open Access
The effect of pooling on the detection of the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 with rapid antigen tests
(2021) Berking, Tim; Lorenz, Sabrina; Ulrich, Alexander; Greiner, Joachim; Kervio, Eric; Bremer, Jennifer; Wege, Christina; Kleinow, Tatjana; Richert, Clemens
The COVID-19 pandemic puts significant stress on the viral testing capabilities of many countries. Rapid point-of-care (PoC) antigen tests are valuable tools but implementing frequent large scale testing is costly. We have developed an inexpensive device for pooling swabs, extracting specimens, and detecting viral antigens with a commercial lateral flow test for the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 as antigen. The holder of the device can be produced locally through 3D printing. The extraction and the elution can be performed with the entire set-up encapsulated in a transparent bag, minimizing the risk of infection for the operator. With 0.35 mL extraction buffer and six swabs, including a positive control swab, 43 ± 6% (n = 8) of the signal for an individual extraction of a positive control standard was obtained. Image analysis still showed a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 2:1 at 32-fold dilution of the extract from a single positive control swab. The relative signal from the test line versus the control line was found to scale linearly upon dilution (R2 = 0.98), indicating that other pooling regimes are conceivable. A pilot project involving 14 participants and 18 pooled tests in a laboratory course at our university did not give any false positives, and an individual case study confirmed the ability to detect a SARS-CoV-2 infection with five-fold or six-fold pooling, including one swab from a PCR-confirmed COVID patient. These findings suggest that pooling can make frequent testing more affordable for schools, universities, and similar institutions, without decreasing sensitivity to an unacceptable level.
Open Access
Method of manufacturing structural, optically transparent glass fiber-reinforced polymers (tGFRP) using infusion techniques with epoxy resin systems and E-glass fabrics
(2023) Heudorfer, Klaus; Bauer, Johannes; Caydamli, Yavuz; Gompf, Bruno; Take, Jens; Buchmeiser, Michael R.; Middendorf, Peter
Recently, fiber-reinforced, epoxy-based, optically transparent composites were successfully produced using resin transfer molding (RTM) techniques. Generally, the production of structural, optically transparent composites is challenging since it requires the combination of a very smooth mold surface with a sufficient control of resin flow that leads to no visible voids. Furthermore, it requires a minimum deviation of the refractive indices (RIs) of the matrix polymer and the reinforcement fibers. Here, a new mold design is described and three plates of optically transparent glass fiber-reinforced polymers (tGFRP) with reproducible properties as well as high fiber volume fractions were produced using the RTM process and in situ polymerization of an epoxy resin system enclosing E-glass fiber textiles. Their mechanical (flexural), microstructural (fiber volume fraction, surface roughness, etc.), thermal (DSC, TGA, etc.), and optical (dispersion curves of glass fibers and polymer as well as transmission over visible spectra curves of the tGFRP at varying tempering states) properties were evaluated. The research showed improved surface quality and good transmission data for samples manufactured by a new Optical-RTM setup compared to a standard RTM mold. The maximum transmission was reported to be ≈74%. In addition, no detectable voids were found in these samples. Furthermore, a flexural modulus of 23.49 ± 0.64 GPa was achieved for the Optical-RTM samples having a fiber volume fraction of ≈42%.
Open Access
Transparent fiber-reinforced composites based on a thermoset resin using liquid composite molding (LCM) techniques
(2021) Caydamli, Yavuz; Heudorfer, Klaus; Take, Jens; Podjaski, Filip; Middendorf, Peter; Buchmeiser, Michael R.
The production of optically transparent glass-fiber-reinforced composites based on a thermoset resin using both vacuum-assisted resin infiltration (L-RTM) and resin transfer molding (RTM) was successfully accomplished. The composites have been characterized in terms of infiltration quality, degree of transparency, mechanical and thermal properties. A good match in the RIs, smooth composite surfaces, and high infiltration quality have been achieved. The key to success was the low viscosity of the resin-hardener mixture. The good surface quality was accomplished via polymerization in a glass cavity of the L-RTM setup. The mechanical properties of the composites containing 5- or 10-layers of the glass fabric correlate with a heterogeneous distribution of these fabrics. By contrast, composites containing 29-layers, corresponding to 44 v. % of fiber, possess strongly enhanced mechanical properties. By matching the RIs of the materials at 589 nm, almost unchanged optical properties were obtained in this wavelength region for the 5- and 10-layer samples. Furthermore, compared to 86% of the pure polymer matrix, up to 75% transmittance was accomplished with the composite containing 29 layers of fabric, both prepared by L-RTM. A tensile strength of 435 MPa and a modulus of 24.3 GPa were achieved for the same composite, compared to 67 MPa strength and 3.6 GPa modulus of the polymer matrix, both prepared by RTM. Manual process control of the presented LCM manufacturing methods is challenging, particularly with regard to controlling sample thickness i.e., fiber v. %. Also, the flow front propagation requires better mold design, resin volume flow, and injection pressure control. For a homogeneous distribution of the textiles within the cavity, a new mold design combining the good surface quality of the L-RTM and the capability of the RTM setups to produce large-sized parts is required. Considering that commercially available resin systems and textiles were used in this study, the major limitation of the technology outlined here is related to upscaling and equipment. To satisfy these needs, a new RTM mold design and development is required that can provide an industry-scale, low porosity, and smooth surface production.

03 Fakultät Chemie

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