Chip-Based Immunological Assay Using Sample Solution Self-Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional immunological assays on chips require external wash solutions like Tris-HCl buffer for effective washing, which is time-consuming and difficult to retain on the chip, limiting their efficiency and practicality.
Innovation Solution
The method uses a chip with a reaction chamber, wash solution retaining chamber, and effluent chamber, where the sample solution itself is used for washing, allowing the antigen-antibody complex to be separated without external wash solutions, enabling accurate detection of the antigen-antibody complex or unbound antibodies within the reaction chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external wash solutions like Tris-HCl buffer are used for washing in chip-based immunological assays, then effective separation of antigen-antibody complexes from unbound antibodies is achieved, but the operation becomes time-consuming and the device complexity increases due to the need for external solution supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by enabling the sample solution to wash itself through the chip's internal structure. The sample solution that has already passed through the reaction chamber is redirected back through the same chamber via the second and third channels, creating a self-washing mechanism that eliminates the need for external wash solutions while maintaining effective separation of antigen-antibody complexes from unbound antibodies.
2Measurement precision
If external wash solutions are supplied from outside the chip, then effective washing is achieved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the difficulty of retaining and supplying wash solutions on the chip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the washing function with the sample solution itself rather than using a separate external wash solution. The sample solution serves dual purposes: as the reactant in the antigen-antibody reaction and as the washing medium. This integration is achieved through the chip's channel configuration where the sample solution is circulated back through the reaction chamber, simplifying operation by eliminating the need for separate wash solution supply systems.
3Ease of operation
If the chip structure includes multiple chambers and channels for self-washing, then the ease of operation improves by eliminating external wash solutions, but the device complexity increases due to the additional structural components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the sample solution to perform multiple roles: it serves as the reactant for antigen-antibody binding, as the medium for carrying samples through the chip, and as the washing solution for removing unbound antibodies. The first, second, and third channels collectively create a circulation system that enables the sample solution to wash the reaction chamber without requiring separate wash solution pathways, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 approach allows for accurate measurement of antigens in sample solutions with high precision, comparable to using a wash solution like Tris-HCl buffer, without the need for external wash solutions, enhancing the efficiency and practicality of chip-based immunological assays.
Implementation Method 1
the sample solution injected from the injection port is divided into the reaction chamber and the wash solution retaining chamber
Implementation Method 2
an antigen-antibody complex is obtained by allowing an antigen to be measured that is contained in the sample solution to bind to an antibody that specifically binds to the antigen to be measured
Implementation Method 3
the sample solution retained in the wash solution retaining chamber is injected into the reaction chamber to wash the reaction chamber including the antigen-antibody complex, thereby separating the antigen-antibody complex and an antibody that has not bound to the antigen to be measured from each other
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an immunological assay suitable to be carried out on a chip. After an antigen-antibody complex in which an antigen to be measured and an antibody have bound to each other was obtained in a reaction chamber, the reaction chamber is washed using a sample solution and thereby the antigen-antibody complex and the antibody that has not bound to the antigen to be measured are separated from each other. According to the present invention, the reaction chamber can be washed to an extent that allows a signal reflecting the amount of the antigen to be measured to be detected with accuracy comparable to the case of using a wash solution without using a wash solution that is typified by Tris-HCl buffer that does not contain any antigens to be measured such as protein. Thus, it is not necessary to supply a wash solution from the outside of the chip or to allow a wash solution to be retained on the chip beforehand. Accordingly, an immunological assay can be carried out easily on a chip.