Identification of binding media in cultural heritage using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)

• Project/Area Number: 24700934
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cultural property science
• Research Institution: The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: TAKASHIMA Miho 独立行政法人国立美術館国立西洋美術館, 学芸課, 研究補佐員 (80443159)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥260,000 (Direct Cost: ¥200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥60,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
• Keywords: ELISA / エライザ / 展色剤 / 膠着剤 / 蛋白質 / 植物ガム / バーミヤーン / 抗体 / 絵画材料 / 展色材 / 膠着材 / メディウム / タンパク質 / 膠 / 卵 / 美術作品

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The immunological technique, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was modified upon several series of lab testsused to identify proteinaceous materials (i.e. animal glue, fish glue, egg and milk casein) and plant gums in binding media and adhesives on used in works of art. The detection limit of this assay is extremely low at about 0.1 ng - 50 ng/100μL, for the proteinaceous materials and plant gums. This sensitivity is the biggest advantage of method which allows us to use minimal amount of sample from the works of art. Many samples from naturally aged easel replica paintings were tested using ELISA, and actualfurther, wall painting samples from Bamiyan Buddhist caves (from the 5th century to the late 8th century) were analyzed, which successfully revealed the presence of animal glue (and/or fish glue), egg white, milk casein and plant gums.

Research Products

• [Presentation] ＥＬＩＳＡ（エライザ）法によるバーミヤーン仏教壁画の膠着剤の分析 (2016)
  • Author(s): 高嶋美穂、谷口陽子
  • Organizer: 文化財保存修復学会
  • Place of Presentation: 東海大学湘南キャンパス
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-25
• [Presentation] ELISA(酵素結合免疫吸着法)を用いた文化財中の膠着剤の検出 (2016)
  • Author(s): 高嶋美穂、谷口陽子
  • Organizer: 日本文化財科学会
  • Place of Presentation: 奈良大学
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-04
• [Presentation] ELISA（エライザ）法による美術作品中の蛋白質および植物ガムの同定 (2015)
  • Author(s): 高嶋美穂
  • Organizer: 文化財保存修復学会 第37回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 京都工芸繊維大学
  • Year and Date: 2015-06-27 – 2015-06-28
• [Presentation] ＥＬＩＳＡ（エライザ）法による美術作品中の蛋白質および植物ガムの同定 (2015)
  • Author(s): 高嶋美穂
  • Organizer: 文化財保存修復学会
  • Place of Presentation: 京都工芸繊維大学
  • Year and Date: 2015-06-27
• [Presentation] エライザ法を用いた美術品における展色材の同定の試み (2014)
  • Author(s): 高嶋美穂
  • Organizer: 文化財保存修復学会 第36回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 明治大学
  • Year and Date: 2014-06-07 – 2014-06-08
• [Presentation] エライザ法を用いた美術品における展色材の同定の試み
  • Author(s): 高嶋美穂
  • Organizer: 文化財保存修復学会
  • Place of Presentation: 明治大学
• [Book] Scientific Studies on Conservation for Uzumlu Church and Its Wall Paintings in Cappadocia, Turkey (2015)
  • Author(s): Piao Chunzu, Shunsuke Fukakusa, Ryo Higuchi, Chiemi Iba, Kazuki Kawahara, Keigo Koizumi, Natsuko Kugiya, Shigekazu Mizukoshi, Takeshi Nakazawa, Ayako Ogawa, Katsuhiko Sano, Mina Shibata, Yoshiko Shimadzu, Tamaki Suzuki, Miho Takashima, Yoko Taniguchi, Jennifer Porter, Kunio Watanabe
  • Total Pages: 175
  • Publisher: Maeda Printing co.