Bacteriophage Sorting Device Using Electric Field Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sorting bacteriophages, such as biopanning, are time-consuming and costly due to the lengthy process of repeated capture, wash, and amplification steps, requiring more than a month to achieve desired sorting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sorting device and method utilizing a porous material with an antigen specific to the target bacteriophage, combined with a driving module generating a first and second electric field with different intensities and directions, to sort bacteriophages based on affinity, expelling unbound phages and collecting bound ones efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biopanning process is used for sorting bacteriophages, then sorting can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional biopanning mechanical/chemical process with an electric field-based sorting system. The electric field acts on the bacteriophages to separate bound from unbound phages, eliminating the need for repeated capture-wash-amplification cycles and reducing sorting time from over a month to approximately one day.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and parameters of the sorting process by applying electric fields with specific intensities and directions. By controlling electric field parameters (intensity, direction, alternation), the system achieves rapid separation of bacteriophages based on their binding state, transforming a slow biochemical process into a fast physical separation process.
2Reliability
If multiple repeated rounds of capture, wash, and amplification are performed, then sorting efficiency is improved, but the process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple repeated biopanning cycles with a single electric field-based sorting operation. The electric field system can achieve equivalent or superior sorting efficiency in one pass, eliminating the need for complex repeated cycles of capture, wash, and amplification steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and utilizes the electrical properties of bacteriophages for sorting, separating the sorting function from the biochemical amplification process. This extraction allows for direct separation of bound and unbound phages without requiring repeated rounds of the complete biopanning protocol.
3Reliability
If traditional biopanning and subsequent analysis processes are used, then bacteriophage sorting is achieved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces costly biochemical analysis processes (ELISA, DNA sequencing) with electric field-based detection and sorting. The electric field system provides both separation and detection functions, eliminating or reducing the need for expensive subsequent analysis steps while maintaining sorting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric field sorting system performs multiple functions simultaneously: separation of bound/unbound phages, detection of sorting efficiency, and preparation for downstream applications. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate analysis steps and associated costs.
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 significantly reduces sorting time to approximately 40 minutes per cycle, achieving high throughput and accuracy, allowing direct application of sorted bacteriophages without additional testing, and reducing the need for extensive amplification and evaluation processes.
Implementation Method 1
a driving module generating at least one driving force in the porous material so as to sort the biological sample based on the affinity for the antigen and the driving force; The driving force is a stream force, an electric field force, or a combination thereof
Implementation Method 2
the porous material contains an antigen having specificity to a target biological analyte; sorting the target biological analyte from the biological sample through an affinity between the target biological analyte and the antigen
Data Source
AI summary
A sorting device is provided. The sorting device includes: a carrier substrate; an input unit disposed on the carrier substrate for inputting a biological sample into the sorting device; a porous material disposed on the carrier substrate and adjacent to the input unit, wherein the porous material contains antigen molecules having specificity to a target biological analyte; a driving module generating at least one driving force in the porous material so as to sort the biological sample based on the affinity for the antigen and the driving force; and an output unit disposed on the carrier substrate and adjacent to the porous material for collecting the sorted target biological analyte. A sorting method is also provided.