Desalting Biosensor Architecture for Fast Low-Detection Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biosensors have slow response times and high limits of detection, which are unsuitable for point-of-care applications, and current methods fail to adequately address these issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a desalting unit, such as dilution, concentration/redispersion, or electrodialysis means, into the biosensor device to increase the binding rate between affinity probes and analytes, thereby reducing response time and improving signal detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the incubation time is reduced to achieve faster response time, then the response time is improved, but the limit of detection becomes higher (worsens)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the ionic strength parameter of the sample by introducing a desalting unit that reduces ionic strength before the sample reaches the affinity probes. This parameter change accelerates the hybridisation kinetics, allowing fast response times (within 10 minutes) while maintaining low limits of detection, thus resolving the contradiction between response time and detection sensitivity
2Measurement precision
If the concentration of analyte is increased to improve detection sensitivity, then the limit of detection is improved, but the response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By reducing the ionic strength through the desalting unit, the patent optimizes the kinetic parameters of the hybridisation reaction. This allows the system to achieve both high detection sensitivity and rapid response time, eliminating the need to compromise between these two parameters
3Loss of time
If the ionic strength of the sample is reduced to increase binding rate, then the response time is reduced, but the sample composition changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection system into distinct functional units: a desalting unit that modifies ionic strength, and a separate detection chamber with affinity probes. This segmentation allows the sample composition to be modified in one zone without affecting the stability and functionality of the detection system in another zone
Solution Approach 2:
The desalting unit acts as an intermediary component between the sample inlet and the detection chamber. It temporarily modifies the sample's ionic strength to accelerate binding kinetics, then allows the sample to maintain its integrity as it passes through the detection system, thus mediating between sample preservation and reaction acceleration
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
The desalting unit significantly reduces response time to minutes or seconds and lowers the limit of detection, making the biosensor suitable for point-of-care applications.
Implementation Method 1
a desalting unit for desalting the received sample so as to increase the binding rate between the affinity probes and the analyte
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) for sensing an analyte, the device (1) comprises at least a sample inlet (10) for receiving a sample, affinity probes (111) selected to have a preferential binding to the analyte, a transducer (11) sensitive to a characteristic of the analyte and/or a label attached to the analyte, the transducer not being a FET transducer, and a desalting unit (13) for desalting the received sample.