Boron Carbide Nucleic Acid Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for isolating nucleic acids, particularly microRNAs, are inefficient and require additional steps like acid phenol and chloroform extraction, which are time-consuming and costly, and fail to isolate smaller nucleic acids effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a boron carbide composition that forms a boron carbide-nucleic acid complex, allowing for the selective binding and isolation of nucleic acids, including small RNAs, without the need for organic extraction, using varying concentrations of alcohols like isopropanol and ethanol to discriminate between different sizes and types of RNA.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If silica-based methods are used to isolate nucleic acids, then larger RNA molecules can be isolated, but small nucleic acids like microRNAs are excluded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the binding mechanism parameter from silica-based size exclusion to boron carbide-based selective binding. By using boron carbide particles with specific surface properties and controlling binding conditions (such as alcohol concentration), the method achieves selective binding of small nucleic acids like microRNAs that were previously excluded by silica-based methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite approach by combining boron carbide particles with alcohol-based binding conditions. This composite system enables selective binding of different nucleic acid sizes through controlled alcohol concentration, allowing isolation of both small and large RNA molecules using a single platform.
2Quantity of substance
If acid phenol and chloroform extraction is added to isolate both large and small RNA molecules, then complete RNA isolation is achieved, but additional time and expense are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the boron carbide-based system universal by demonstrating that it can isolate both small and large RNA molecules using the same platform. By controlling alcohol concentration, the single system replaces the need for multiple extraction steps (acid phenol/chloroform), achieving complete RNA isolation without additional time and expense.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes in alcohol concentration to control the binding specificity of different nucleic acid sizes to boron carbide particles. This parameter control enables a single extraction step to isolate both small and large RNAs, eliminating the need for separate acid phenol and chloroform extraction steps.
3Quantity of substance
If acid phenol and chloroform extraction is used, then comprehensive nucleic acid isolation is achieved, but organic waste disposal requirements are necessitated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for acid phenol and chloroform from the isolation protocol. By using boron carbide particles with alcohol-based binding, the method achieves comprehensive nucleic acid isolation without requiring organic extraction agents, thereby removing the associated waste disposal requirements and simplifying the overall process.
4Reliability
If silica-based methods are used, then standard isolation protocol is maintained, but microRNAs and small RNAs are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the binding parameter from silica-based non-specific binding to boron carbide-based selective binding. This parameter change enables the protocol to reliably recover small RNAs and microRNAs while maintaining the simplicity and consistency of the isolation process, improving both reliability and small RNA recovery simultaneously.
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
This method enables efficient and cost-effective isolation of nucleic acids, including small RNAs, without the need for additional extraction steps, while maintaining compatibility with existing acid phenol/chloroform/guanidine isocyanate extraction methods, thereby improving the efficiency and reducing time and expense.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the sample with a boron carbide composition under conditions sufficient to form a boron carbide-nucleic acid complex
Implementation Method 2
Selective binding may be dependent upon a concentration of an alcohol. The alcohol may be isopropanol or ethanol.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method for isolating a nucleic acid from a sample. The method includes contacting the sample with boron carbide under conditions sufficient to form a boron carbide-nucleic acid complex. The complex is separated from the sample.