Chromatographic Column System for Rapid Viable Cell Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell purification methods, such as magnetic bead technologies, are slow, often result in non-viable cells, and fail to capture high concentrations of viable cells quickly and at high purity, while also being susceptible to contamination and mechanical stress in chromatographic systems.
Innovation Solution
A sealed column system that uses a bed of medium to capture and purify cells, allowing for rapid flow-through and reversible attachment of cells, enabling their manipulation and analysis without causing harm, and utilizing a cell-based stationary phase for liquid chromatography to interact with analytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnetic bead methods are used for cell capture and purification, then cells can be isolated from complex biological samples, but the process is slow and cell viability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic bead-based mechanical cell manipulation with a chromatographic system where cells passively flow through a column containing a stationary phase. This eliminates the need for magnetic field manipulation and repeated washing steps, thereby maintaining cell viability while significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-prepares the chromatographic column with a stationary phase that is specifically designed to capture target cells. This preliminary preparation allows cells to be captured immediately upon entering the column, eliminating the stepwise manipulation required in magnetic bead methods and enabling rapid purification while preserving cell viability.
2Quantity of substance
If magnetic bead methods are used for cell isolation, then cells can be captured, but high concentrations of viable cells cannot be captured quickly at high purity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the stepwise magnetic bead isolation process with continuous flow chromatography, allowing high concentrations of cells to pass through the column rapidly. The stationary phase captures target cells in a single pass, achieving both high cell concentration capture and high purity while minimizing isolation time.
3Manufacturing precision
If cells are subjected to chromatographic processing, then purification can be achieved, but cells are vulnerable to shear forces and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the chromatographic system parameters including flow rate, column packing density, and stationary phase characteristics to minimize shear forces. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves high purification purity while maintaining gentle conditions that protect cell integrity and viability.
4Reliability
If a chromatographic system is sealed to prevent contamination, then cell purity is maintained, but cells may be subjected to additional stress and harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a sealed chromatographic system that maintains an inert, contamination-free environment for cell processing. The system is designed with sterile barriers and controlled access points that prevent contamination while minimizing mechanical stress on cells through optimized flow paths and gentle handling mechanisms.
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 the rapid and effective capture, purification, and analysis of viable cells with high purity, maintaining cell integrity and viability, while preventing contamination and mechanical stress, and allowing for the use of cells as a stationary phase for chromatographic interactions.
Implementation Method 1
a column which contains a bed of medium. A sample containing cells is passed through the column and cells are captured on the column medium
Implementation Method 2
gases may leave the chromatographic device by means of one directional check valves or similar one directional means
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to devices and methods for purifying, detecting and using biological cells. A variety of cell types including viable tumor, stem, immune and sperm cells can be purified from a complex biological sample using a column, including a pipette tip column. Methods of the invention can aid research, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Purified viable cells can be detected on the column or eluted from the column and detected. Cells on a column can be used as a stationary phase for liquid chromatography. Cells may be removed, recovered and analyzed.