Actuated Surface Structures for Nucleic Acid Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques for isolating or extracting components from fluids are prone to clogging, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity, cost, and time in analytical processes, particularly in microfluidic systems where diffusion-based reactions result in long reaction times and low analyte utilization.

Innovation Solution

A flow cell system with surface-attached structures that are movable in response to magnetic or electric actuation, enhancing fluid flow and mixing, and incorporating binding agents for efficient analyte capture, thereby minimizing clogging and reducing reaction times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional steric filters and packed bead columns are used for isolation or extraction, then separation capability is improved, but clogging occurs and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamically movable surface-attached structures that can change position in response to fluid flow conditions. These structures are attached to the channel surface but can move to disrupt clogs and maintain separation capability without requiring complex pre-separation systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and position parameters of the surface-attached structures by exposing them to magnetic or electric fields. This allows the structures to move between different positions to prevent clogging while maintaining the separation function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pre-separation techniques such as pre-filters and guard columns are added, then clogging is reduced, but system complexity, cost, and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecloggingVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surface-attached structures serve themselves by automatically moving in response to fluid flow to disrupt forming clogs. This self-service mechanism prevents clogging without requiring additional pre-filters or guard columns, thereby avoiding increased system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the clog-prevention function from separate pre-separation components and integrates it directly into the channel surface through movable structures. This eliminates the need for additional pre-filters and guard columns while maintaining clog resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If diffusion-based reactions are used in microfluidic chambers, then analyte capture occurs, but reaction times become very long and analyte utilization is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyte captureVSAvoidreaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamically movable surface-attached structures that actively move to enhance mixing and bring analytes into contact with capture sites much faster than passive diffusion. This dramatically reduces reaction time while improving analyte utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable surface-attached structures create mechanical disturbances and mixing actions that accelerate analyte transport to capture sites. This mechanical action replaces slow diffusion-based reactions with rapid mixing-enhanced reactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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

The system effectively isolates and extracts targets from fluids with reduced clogging, enhancing analyte capture efficiency and reaction speed, making it suitable for point-of-care devices and improving sensitivity in low-concentration analyte detection.

Implementation Method 1

each surface-attached structure comprising a flexible body and a metallic component disposed on or in the body, wherein application of a magnetic or electric field actuates the surface-attached structure into movement relative to the corresponding attachment site

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field actuation: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field actuation: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS20240316549A1Systems and methods for nucleic acid purification using flow cells with actuated surface-attached structures

Publication Date: 2024.09.26 REDBUD LABS INC

AI summary

A flow cell is provided that includes surface-attached structures in a chamber. The structures are movable in response to an actuation force. The flow cell may be utilized to extract or isolate nucleic acids from a sample flowing through the flow cell, wherein some portion of the flow cell comprises nucleic acid adsorbant material (e.g. the outer surface of the surface-attached structures, an inside surface of the chamber of the flow cell, beads attached to the outer surface of the surface-attached structures, or beads integrated into the outer surface of the surface-attached structures). Further, systems and methods for extraction of nucleic acids using such flow cells are also provided.