Antigen Analysis Microchip Using Magnetic Capture and Bead Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antigen analysis methods using microchips suffer from irregular fluid movement patterns due to capillary force, leading to decreased sensitivity and accuracy in antigen-antibody reactions, especially for low antigen concentrations, and require sensitive sensor calibration, which can increase complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A fluid drag and magnetism-based microchip using magnetic particles and beads with countable sizes forms immune complexes, allowing for optical counting and capture in wells, combined with a digital inline microscope for rapid and accurate quantitative analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If capillary force is used as the main driving force for fluid movement in microchannels, then the microchip structure is simple and passive, but the fluid movement pattern becomes irregular and nonuniform, decreasing antigen-antibody reaction efficiency and detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive capillary force-driven fluid movement with an active acoustic field-driven system. An acoustic wave generator produces acoustic waves that propagate through the microchannel, creating acoustic radiation pressure and acoustic streaming effects to drive fluid flow. This substitution of mechanical/acoustic field for capillary action enables uniform fluid movement patterns, improving antigen-antibody reaction efficiency and detection sensitivity while maintaining microchip simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of fluid movement by introducing acoustic wave frequency and intensity as controllable parameters. By adjusting acoustic wave parameters (frequency, power), the system achieves uniform fluid flow rates and movement patterns, resolving the irregularity issue inherent in capillary-driven systems while maintaining the passive microchip structure.
2Reliability
If fluorescent labels are used for antigen detection, then detection sensitivity is enhanced, but errors occur from fluorescent probes not bound to antigens or floating without immobilization, and sensor calibration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the fluorescent labeling step from the detection system. Instead of using fluorescently labeled antibodies or probes, the system employs label-free detection based on acoustic wave interactions with immune complexes. This elimination of fluorescent labels removes the source of errors from unbound or floating probes and eliminates the need for complex sensor calibration, while maintaining detection sensitivity through acoustic signal measurement.
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 method provides highly sensitive and accurate quantitative analysis of antigens by effectively capturing and counting immune complexes, reducing errors from fluorescent labels and improving detection sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
when magnetism is applied, the immune complexes may move to the detection channel and may be captured and immobilized in a plurality of wells formed in the detection channel
Implementation Method 2
a fluid drag and magnetism-based microchip for quantitatively analyzing an antigen to highly, sensitively detect immune complexes formed by an antigen-antibody reaction between a target antigen, magnetic particles and beads
Data Source
AI summary
A method of quantitatively analyzing an antigen includes a step of mixing an assay sample comprising a target antigen, magnetic particles on which a first antibody subjected to an antigen-antibody reaction with the target antigen is immobilized, and beads on which a second antibody different from the first antibody is immobilized; a step of adding dropwise the mixed assay sample to a microchip for quantitatively analyzing an antigen; a step of introducing the microchip into a digital inline microscope-based detector comprising a magnetic force applicator and applying magnetism to the magnetic force applicator; and a step of detecting the beads using images acquired in the detector to count the number of the target antigens.