EnderScope: a low-cost 3D printer-based scanning microscope for microplastic detection.
Fiche publication
Date publication
juillet 2024
Journal
Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Auteurs
Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr MUTTERER Jérôme
Tous les auteurs :
Burke N, Müller G, Saggiomo V, Hassett AR, Mutterer J, Ó Súilleabháin P, Zakharov D, Healy D, Reynaud EG, Pickering M
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
Low-cost and scalable technologies that allow people to measure microplastics in their local environment could facilitate a greater understanding of the global problem of marine microplastic pollution. A typical way to measure marine microplastic pollution involves imaging filtered seawater samples stained with a fluorescent dye to aid in the detection of microplastics. Although traditional fluorescence microscopy allows these particles to be manually counted and detected, this is a resource- and labour-intensive task. Here, we describe a novel, low-cost microscope for automated scanning and detection of microplastics in filtered seawater samples-the EnderScope. This microscope is based on the mechanics of a low-cost 3D printer (Creality Ender 3). The hotend of the printer is replaced with an optics module, allowing for the reliable and calibrated motion system of the 3D printer to be used for automated scanning over a large area (>20 × 20 cm). The EnderScope is capable of both reflected light and fluorescence imaging. In both configurations, we aimed to make the design as simple and cost-effective as possible, for example, by using low-cost LEDs for illumination and lighting gels as emission filters. We believe this tool is a cost-effective solution for microplastic measurement. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy'.
Mots clés
3D printing, accessible microscopy, low-cost, microplastic pollution, open-hardware
Référence
Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2024 07 9;382(2274):20230214