Bead Sealing in Micro-Array Detection via Solvent Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting low-concentration target molecules, such as disease markers, are inefficient due to the difficulty in sealing a large number of beads into arrays, requiring significant time and effort, especially when dealing with millions of arrays.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the introduction of hydrophilic and hydrophobic solvents into a layered array structure with hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces to efficiently seal beads into receptacles, allowing for high-density bead storage and sensitive target molecule detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional methods are used to seal beads into arrays, then bead sealing can be achieved, but it requires significant time and effort especially when dealing with millions of arrays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the solvent system by introducing a hydrophobic solvent that reacts with the hydrophilic solvent to form a precipitate. This parameter change enables automated high-speed bead sealing by creating a clear phase separation between the hydrophobic phase containing sealed beads and the hydrophilic phase, eliminating manual intervention and dramatically increasing productivity while reducing time loss.
2Measurement precision
If a large number of arrays are processed for detecting low-concentration target molecules, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the complexity of sealing beads into millions of arrays increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing a system where the hydrophobic solvent automatically reacts with the hydrophilic solvent to form a precipitate, and the phase separation naturally occurs without external intervention. The beads are spontaneously sealed into arrays through this self-organizing process, eliminating the need for complex manual sealing operations and reducing device complexity while maintaining high detection sensitivity through large-scale array processing.
3Ease of operation
If hydrophilic solvent containing beads is introduced into the array space, then bead distribution is achieved, but the beads remain unsealed and require additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first introducing the hydrophilic solvent containing beads into the array space to achieve uniform bead distribution, then subsequently introducing the hydrophobic solvent to complete the sealing process. This two-step preliminary action sequence simplifies the overall operation by separating bead distribution and sealing into distinct phases, while the automated chemical reaction between solvents ensures complete sealing without additional manual processing steps.
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
Enables the detection of target molecules at low concentrations (e.g., 0.1 aM) with high sensitivity by efficiently sealing a large number of beads into arrays, facilitating the detection of low-concentration disease markers.
Implementation Method 1
introducing a hydrophobic solvent into the space, the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i)
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides a technique enabling to detect target molecules of low concentration with high sensitivity. This invention includes (i) a step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent (42) containing beads (40),(41′) into a space (30) between (a) a lower layer section (10) including a plurality of receptacles (13) each of which is capable of storing only one of the beads (41),(41′) and which are separated from each other by a side wall (12) having a hydrophobic upper surface and (b) an upper layer section (20) facing a surface of the lower layer section (10) on which surface the plurality of receptacles (13) are provided; and (ii) a step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent (43) into the space (30), the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).