Charged Porous Separation Medium for Biomolecule Purification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current chromatography methods for biomolecule separation often require large porosity to separate large molecules, limiting their versatility and efficiency in handling molecules of various sizes.
Innovation Solution
A novel separation medium with an inner core and outer lid of differently charged porous materials, where the charge of the ligands in the core is opposite to that in the lid, allowing for charge repulsion to prevent large molecules from entering while allowing small molecules to penetrate and be eluted, with adjustable porosity for specific molecular weight ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If large porosity is used to separate large molecules, then large molecules can be separated, but the medium cannot effectively separate small molecules
Solution Approach 1:
The separation medium is divided into two distinct segments: an inner core with large porosity for small molecule separation and an outer lid with small porosity for large molecule separation. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its function for different molecular sizes, resolving the contradiction between handling large and small molecules simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the separation medium are assigned different properties: the inner core has large porosity and specific charge characteristics optimized for small molecules, while the outer lid has small porosity and opposite charge characteristics optimized for large molecules. This local differentiation enables the medium to handle diverse molecular sizes with high resolution
2Productivity
If charge repulsion is used to prevent large molecules from entering, then large molecule separation is improved, but small molecule penetration may be hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The outer lid is charged with the opposite polarity to the inner core, creating an inverted charge structure. This inversion causes large molecules to be repelled by the outer lid's charge while small molecules can penetrate through, reversing the typical charge interaction pattern to achieve selective separation based on molecular size
Solution Approach 2:
The outer lid acts as an intermediary layer that mediates between the sample mixture and the inner core. It selectively interacts with large molecules through charge repulsion, preventing them from entering the inner core, while allowing small molecules to pass through to the inner core for separation
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
Enables efficient separation of both large and small biomolecules by preventing large molecules from entering the core through charge repulsion, allowing for effective purification of molecules like monoclonal antibodies and small proteins, with adjustable porosity for specific applications.
Implementation Method 1
Large molecules are separated from the medium by charge repulsion
Implementation Method 2
small molecules are eluted from inner core of the separation medium
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a separation medium, comprising an inner core of a porous material provided with charged ligands, and an outer lid comprising a porous material provided with charged ligands, wherein the charge of the ligands in the inner core is opposite that of the charge of the ligands in the lid. The present invention also relates to a method for biomolecule separation comprising applying a sample to the above separation medium, wherein large molecules are prevented from entering the medium by charge repulsion from the medium and small molecules are captured in the inner core.