3D Functional Surface for In Vivo Sample Enrichment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for enriching sample materials, such as circulating tumor cells from blood, are inefficient due to low concentration and potential damage from paramagnetic nanoparticles, and in vivo enrichment methods face challenges like thrombosis from cylindrical catheters.
Innovation Solution
A detection device with a three-dimensionally structured functional surface featuring mutually facing sections that form spaces for sample liquid enrichment, equipped with detection receptors, which reduces flow velocity and protects ligands from abrasion, and can be designed for both in vivo and in vitro applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a cylindrical catheter design is used for in vivo enrichment, then friction resistance is reduced and blood flow is facilitated, but the risk of thrombosis increases due to constriction in small blood vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter functional surface is transformed from a traditional two-dimensional cylindrical surface to a three-dimensional structured surface with mutually facing sections that form spaces. This dimensional change increases the functional surface area without significantly increasing the catheter's outer diameter, thereby maintaining blood flow facilitation while reducing thrombosis risk through enhanced enrichment capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional surface is designed with a space-forming three-dimensional structure that can be filled with sample liquid. This porous-like structure allows sample liquid penetration and enrichment while maintaining biocompatibility and reducing thrombogenicity compared to a solid cylindrical surface.
2Quantity of substance
If paramagnetic nanoparticles are used for cell enrichment, then circulating tumor cells can be enriched from blood samples, but the nanoparticles bind to cells and may damage them or complicate diagnosis
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful paramagnetic nanoparticles are extracted/removed from the enrichment process. Instead, the patent uses a nanoparticle-free functional surface with detection receptors that directly capture target cells, eliminating the binding and potential damage caused by nanoparticles while maintaining enrichment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional surface with detection receptors serves as an intermediary structure that enables cell enrichment without direct nanoparticle-cell contact. The detection receptors on the functional surface mediate the capture of target cells, replacing the nanoparticle-mediated approach and preserving cell integrity.
3Device complexity
If a smooth or cylindrical functional surface is used in conventional detection devices, then the device structure is simple, but the functional surface area is limited and enrichment efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The functional surface transitions from a two-dimensional smooth or cylindrical surface to a three-dimensional structured surface with mutually facing sections. This dimensional transformation significantly increases the functional surface area available for detection receptor placement and sample liquid interaction, thereby enhancing enrichment efficiency while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
4Speed
If the functional surface has high flow velocity to maintain natural blood flow direction, then thrombosis risk is reduced, but ligands are more exposed to abrasion and enrichment efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The functional surface is designed with locally differentiated zones: the mutually facing sections create spaces that provide sheltered environments for ligand-detection receptor interactions, protecting ligands from abrasion. Meanwhile, the overall catheter design maintains flow velocity to reduce thrombosis risk, achieving local protection without sacrificing global flow characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the enrichment of sample materials by increasing the functional surface area, reducing thrombosis risk, and improving ligand protection, allowing for more effective capture of target molecules and cells with minimal impact on natural flow.
Implementation Method 1
detection device comprising a functional surface equipped with detection receptors... the ligands docking to the detection receptors can be retained in the spaces
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention refers to a detection device for the in vivo and/or in vitro enrichment of sample material, the detection device comprising a functional surface equipped with detection receptors. To further improve the enrichment of sample material by using a detection device of the aforementioned type, it is provided according to the invention that the functional surface has a three-dimensional structure with mutually facing functional sections which form spaces that can be filled with a sample liquid. Furthermore, the present invention provides for a use and for a method for the use of the detection device.