Bodily Fluid Container Primer Coating for Biomarker Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for storing bodily fluids, such as blood collection tubes, face issues with protein absorption, cell adhesion, and clotting due to hydrophobic materials like polypropylene, which hinder the stabilization of biomarkers and lead to incorrect analysis results, and previous coatings like perfluorophenyl azides are moisture-sensitive and unsuitable for liquid media.
Innovation Solution
A container with a primer coating formed from perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA) and a copolymer of poly(N-vinylamine-co-N-vinyl acetamide) that bonds irreversibly to the surface, allowing for a second coating that prevents adhesion and absorption of biological substances, using a method involving UV radiation and plasma treatment to ensure complete wetting and stable bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polypropylene containers are used for storing bodily fluids, then the containers are chemically inert and easy to manufacture, but protein absorption, cell adhesion, and clotting occur due to hydrophobic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a multi-layer coating system on polypropylene containers: a primer layer containing perfluorophenyl azide groups that bonds to the hydrophobic polypropylene surface, and a second layer containing hydrophilic polymers that prevent protein absorption and cell adhesion. This composite structure combines the chemical inertness and ease of manufacture of polypropylene with the biomarker stabilization properties of hydrophilic coatings.
2Reliability
If hydrophilic polymer coatings are applied to prevent adhesion and absorption, then biomarker stabilization is improved, but the coatings are moisture-sensitive and unsuitable for liquid media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces perfluorophenyl azide groups as an intermediary substance between the polypropylene container wall and the hydrophilic polymer coating. The perfluorophenyl azide forms a stable covalent bond with the polypropylene surface and provides anchoring points for the hydrophilic polymer, creating a stable primer layer that is not moisture-sensitive and can serve as a foundation for the hydrophilic coating in liquid media.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If additives like EDTA, citrate, or heparin are added to prevent clotting, then clotting is impeded, but numerous other degradation processes are not prevented and additive selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clotting prevention function from chemical additives and transfers it to the container wall coating system. The hydrophilic polymer coating on the primer layer creates a non-adhesive surface that prevents protein absorption and cell adhesion, thereby preventing clotting without requiring additives like EDTA, citrate, or heparin. This eliminates the need for additive selection and avoids the limitation that additives can only impede clotting but not other degradation processes.
4Strength
If perfluorophenyl azide is used as a primer coating to improve bonding, then adhesion of second coating is improved, but the azide group is moisture-sensitive and reacts with water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the perfluorophenyl azide primer coating to the polypropylene container wall before applying the hydrophilic polymer coating. The perfluorophenyl azide is first activated by UV irradiation to form covalent bonds with the polypropylene surface, creating a stable primer layer. This preliminary action ensures strong bonding of the subsequent hydrophilic polymer coating while the perfluorophenyl azide remains protected from moisture sensitivity during the coating application process.
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 solution effectively stabilizes bodily fluids by preventing degradation processes, ensuring accurate diagnostic results and reducing the need for additives that can impede clotting, while being suitable for use in liquid media.
Implementation Method 1
a first covalent bond with a contact surface (6) of the container is formed through activation of an azide group
Implementation Method 2
through activation of an azide group, in particular through UV irradiation
Implementation Method 3
a copolymer made from poly(N-vinylamine-co-N-vinyl acetamide) is bonded to the functional group of the primer coating
Implementation Method 4
using a method involving UV radiation and plasma treatment to ensure complete wetting and stable bonding
Data Source
AI summary
A container (1) for storing a bodily fluid, for example a blood collection tube (2), comprising: an interior space (4) configured to store the bodily fluid; and a wall (5) enveloping the interior space, wherein a surface of the wall (5) facing the interior space (4) of the container (1) forms a contact surface (6), wherein at least a portion of the contact surface (6) is provided with a primer coating (7), wherein the primer coating (7) is formed from a perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA) including an azide group (9) and a functional group (10), and wherein a co polymer made from poly (N-vinylamine-co-N-vinyl acetamide) is bonded to the functional group (10) of the primer coating (7). The invention also relates to a method for coating a contact surface (6) of a container (1) for storing a bodily fluid.