Cell Lysis via Endothermic Cooling and Heating Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell lysis methods, such as ultrasonication and chemical methods, face issues like non-uniform energy distribution, protein denaturation, and the need for additional reagents or expensive apparatuses, making them inefficient and inconvenient, especially for lysing gram-positive bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing repeated cooling and heating processes through endothermic and exothermic reactions, without requiring separate devices, to efficiently lyse cells using a portable apparatus that alternates between heating and cooling phases, effectively disrupting cell membranes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ultrasonication is used for cell lysis, then cell disruption is achieved, but non-uniform ultrasonic energy distribution causes inconsistent results and requires a large amount of time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes phase transitions of materials with high latent heat of fusion (such as paraffin) to achieve rapid and uniform temperature changes. By melting and solidifying the phase change material, the system generates controlled thermal cycles that uniformly heat and cool cell samples, ensuring consistent cell lysis results while significantly reducing processing time compared to conventional ultrasonication methods.
2Productivity
If chemical methods using detergents are used for cell lysis, then cell membrane disruption is achieved, but protein denaturation occurs and additional reagent removal steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces chemical methods with a physical method using controlled thermal cycles. By applying repeated heating and cooling through phase change materials, the system achieves cell membrane disruption through thermal stress without using detergents or chemicals. This eliminates protein denaturation issues and removes the need for additional reagent removal steps, simplifying the overall process while maintaining high efficiency.
3Productivity
If freezing-thawing method is used for cell lysis, then cell disruption efficiency is improved, but expensive rapid cooling apparatus is required and sample moisture easily vaporizes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses inexpensive phase change materials (such as paraffin wax) that can be easily manufactured and disposed of after use. These materials provide rapid cooling through their solidification process, achieving effective cell lysis without requiring expensive rapid cooling apparatus. The phase change materials are contained in simple containers that can be easily handled and replaced, making the system cost-effective and suitable for portable applications.
4Ease of operation
If simple heating method is used for cell lysis, then process simplicity is achieved, but cell lysis effect on gram positive bacteria is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies periodic heating and cooling cycles using phase change materials. The repeated thermal stress from melting and solidifying the phase change material creates mechanical stress on cell walls, particularly effective for gram-positive bacteria with thick cell walls. This periodic action maintains process simplicity while dramatically improving cell lysis effectiveness compared to simple continuous heating.
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 achieves efficient cell lysis without additional equipment, prevents PCR inhibition, and is suitable for lab-on-a-chip applications, particularly effective for gram-positive bacteria, with improved efficiency and convenience compared to traditional heating methods.
Implementation Method 1
cooling the cell sample by causing an endothermic reaction near the cell sample
Implementation Method 2
heating the cell sample
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cell lysis method including: preparing a cell sample to be lysed; heating the cell sample; and cooling the cell sample by causing an endothermic reaction near the cell sample. According to the method, cell lysis can be simply and conveniently performed without regard to location and without additional devices since a separate energy source is not required and the apparatus is portable. In particular, when cell lysis is performed in a biochip using a small amount of sample, a greater cell lysis effect can be obtained. In addition, cell lysis efficiency is significantly improved, compared to when only heating is performed.