Carboxylated Surfaces for Cell Immobilization and Nucleic Acid Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining the presence of target nucleic acids in samples, particularly in cervical cells, face challenges in efficiently isolating and detecting nucleic acids due to limitations in cell immobilization and biomolecule release techniques.

Innovation Solution

The use of carboxylated surfaces for immobilizing cells, followed by separation, lysis, and detection of nucleic acids through binding with specific probes, allows for effective concentration and isolation of cells and release of biomolecules, enabling the detection of nucleic acids in a sample.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional cell immobilization methods are used, then cell isolation can be achieved, but the efficiency and reliability of nucleic acid detection is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenucleic acid detection reliabilityVSAvoidcell isolation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the surface charge parameter of the magnetic particles by coating with carboxymethyl dextran, creating a negative charge that enables electrostatic attraction to positively charged cellular components. This parameter change allows direct cell binding without complex chemical activation steps, improving both isolation efficiency and detection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by coating magnetic particles with carboxymethyl dextran, combining the magnetic properties of the core particles with the electrostatic binding capabilities of the polysaccharide coating. This composite material enables simultaneous cell capture, magnetic separation, and subsequent nucleic acid extraction, resolving the contradiction between isolation efficiency and detection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If carboxylated surfaces are used for cell immobilization, then cell binding is achieved, but the release of biomolecules from cells may be incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiomolecule recoveryVSAvoidcell binding stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs cell lysis directly on the magnetic particle surface after immobilization, before separation. This preliminary action ensures that biomolecules are released from cells that are already stably bound to the carboxylated surface, maximizing biomolecule recovery while maintaining binding stability through the strong electrostatic interactions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical cell disruption methods with chemical lysis using detergents and enzymes that act directly on the immobilized cells. This substitution allows complete biomolecule release without disrupting the electrostatic binding between the carboxylated surface and cellular components, resolving the contradiction between binding stability and biomolecule recovery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enhances the efficiency of nucleic acid detection by facilitating cell immobilization, isolation, and biomolecule release, improving the accuracy and reliability of nucleic acid detection in cervical cell samples.

Implementation Method 1

contacting a carboxylated surface with a sample, the sample comprising the cell and a fixative, for a sufficient time to permit the cell to bind to the carboxylated surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentEP2773745B1Materials and method for immobilizing, isolating, and concentrating cells using carboxylated surfaces
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 QIAGEN GAITHERSBURG INC
  • EP2773745B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2773745B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2773745B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to immobilization of a cell using a carboxylated surface by contacting the carboxylated surface with a sample comprising the cell for a sufficient time to permit the cell to bind to the carboxylated surface. The immobilized cell may then be separated from the remainder of the sample and further manipulated to isolate, concentrate, and/or analyze the cell or a component thereof.