Cerium Oxide Nucleic Acid Detection Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nucleic acid detection methods require complex operations or organic solvents, and existing methods without these limitations, such as using magnetic inorganic components, suffer from reduced nucleic acid purity due to elution of inorganic components, and lack sensitivity in detecting nucleic acids with higher order structures.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing cerium oxide as a support with carboxylic acid to adsorb and elute nucleic acids, enhancing the sensitivity of detection, particularly for nucleic acids with higher order structures, through a hybridization or amplification reaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If magnetic inorganic components are used to collect nucleic acid without organic solvents, then the operation complexity is reduced, but the purity of collected nucleic acid decreases due to elution of inorganic components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material consisting of iron oxide particles coated with silica. The iron oxide core provides magnetic properties for easy separation without organic solvents, while the silica coating prevents elution of inorganic components into the collecting solution, thereby maintaining nucleic acid purity. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional collection methods are used, then nucleic acid purity is maintained, but the detection sensitivity for nucleic acids with higher order structures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the collection method by using magnetic silica particles with specific surface properties. This allows efficient adsorption of nucleic acids including those with higher order structures, and enables their collection in a form that maintains both purity and high detection sensitivity for downstream applications like PCR and hybridization.
3Manufacturing precision
If phenol-chloroform extraction is used to collect nucleic acid, then the purity of collected nucleic acid is improved, but the operation complexity increases and organic solvents are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical extraction system (phenol-chloroform) with a magnetic separation system. Magnetic silica particles are used to adsorb nucleic acids directly from the sample, and a magnetic field is applied for separation. This mechanical/magnetic approach eliminates the need for organic solvents and complex multiple-step procedures, while maintaining high purity and improving ease of operation.
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 improves the sensitivity of nucleic acid detection, allowing for the effective collection and analysis of nucleic acids with higher order structures without complex operations or organic solvents, achieving higher PCR and hybridization efficiencies.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a solution containing a carboxylic acid and/or a salt thereof, a cerium oxide support and a sample containing a nucleic acid to adsorb the nucleic acid to the cerium oxide support
Implementation Method 2
separating the cerium oxide support on which the nucleic acid was adsorbed from the mixture obtained in the step a)
Data Source
AI summary
A method of detecting a nucleic acid including a) mixing a solution containing a carboxylic acid and/or a salt thereof, a cerium oxide support and a sample containing a nucleic acid to adsorb said nucleic acid to said cerium oxide support, b) separating said cerium oxide support on which said nucleic acid was adsorbed from the mixture obtained in a), c) collecting said nucleic acid by adding an eluent to said cerium oxide support on which said nucleic acid was adsorbed and separated in b), and d) detecting said nucleic acid collected in c) by a hybridization reaction or a nucleic acid amplification reaction.