Biochip Substrate with Covalently Immobilized Polymer for Uniform Probe Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biochip substrates face challenges in achieving high probe immobilization rates and uniform density, leading to low detection sensitivity and reproducibility due to non-specific protein adsorption and uneven functional group distribution.
Innovation Solution
A substrate with covalently immobilized amino group-containing polymers, such as polyallylamine, on its surface, which provides a high and uniform density of amino groups for stable probe immobilization, reducing non-specific protein adsorption and enhancing detection sensitivity and reproducibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If covalent bonding is used to immobilize probes on substrate surface, then probe immobilization stability is improved, but functional group distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an amino group-containing polymer as an intermediary layer between the substrate and probes. This polymer coating serves as a mediator that provides uniform amino group distribution across the substrate surface, enabling stable covalent bonding of probes while resolving the issue of non-uniform functional group distribution that occurs when probes are directly coupled to the substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the substrate surface by coating it with an amino group-containing polymer. This polymer modification alters the surface chemistry to provide a uniform distribution of reactive amino groups, which then enable consistent covalent bonding of probes across the entire substrate surface, achieving both stability and uniformity.
2Measurement precision
If probe concentration on substrate is increased to improve detection sensitivity, then detection sensitivity is improved, but non-specific protein adsorption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality modification by using an amino group-containing polymer coating that creates a specific chemical environment on the substrate surface. This coating provides localized chemical functionality (amino groups) that selectively binds probes while resisting non-specific protein adsorption, allowing high probe concentration without the harmful effect of non-specific binding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of high protein concentration (which causes non-specific adsorption) into a benefit by using the amino group-containing polymer to selectively bind probes. The polymer coating creates a surface that prefers probe binding over non-specific protein adsorption, even at high protein concentrations, thus turning a harmful condition into a beneficial selective binding environment.
3Productivity
If functional group density on substrate is increased to improve probe immobilization rate, then probe immobilization rate is improved, but functional group distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The amino group-containing polymer acts as an intermediary that distributes functional groups uniformly across the substrate surface. This mediator ensures that high probe immobilization rates are achieved through numerous amino groups while maintaining uniform distribution, preventing the clustering of functional groups that would occur with direct substrate coupling.
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 substrate achieves high probe immobilization rates and uniform density, leading to improved detection sensitivity and reproducibility by preventing non-specific protein adsorption and ensuring a stable and uniform amino group distribution.
Implementation Method 1
an amino group-containing polymer covalently immobilized on its surface
Implementation Method 2
irradiating the surface of the substrate with light under reduced pressure or under an inert gas atmosphere
Implementation Method 3
probe immobilization rate is high and immobilizing density is uniform by immobilizing a probe composed of a biologically relevant substance such as a protein or nucleic acid by utilizing the amino groups
Implementation Method 4
detection sensitivity is high and reproducibility is high by inhibiting non-specific adsorption of proteins
Data Source
AI summary
A substrate for biochips which has a high probe loading amounts and a uniform immobilization density, and which further has a high detection sensitivity and a high reproducibility by preventing a non-specific adsorption of proteins, when used as a substrate for biochips for immobilizing probes composed of biologically relevant substances such as proteins and nucleic acids, is disclosed. Amino groups can be bound to the surface of the substrate uniformly, at a high density and stably by covalently immobilizing an amino group-containing polymer on the surface of the substrate. The probe immobilization rate is high and immobilizing density was uniform by immobilizing a probe composed of a biologically relevant substance such as a protein or nucleic acid by utilizing the amino groups. Further, detection sensitivity and reproducibility are high by inhibiting non-specific adsorption of proteins.