Elastic Membrane Microfluidic Device for Biomolecule Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microfluidic systems for biomolecule analysis face challenges in efficiently capturing and processing target materials like cells and nucleic acids due to difficulties in manufacturing microstructures with high surface area and surface-to-volume ratio, particularly with packed bead structures, which are costly and lack reproducibility.

Innovation Solution

A microfluidic device with a first chamber containing a solid support and an elastic membrane that can be deflected by pressure changes, allowing for efficient binding, washing, and elution of target materials through controlled pressure applications, utilizing a material with a water contact angle of 70-95 degrees or amino groups for binding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If micropillars or packed beads are used to increase surface area and surface-to-volume ratio, then biomolecule capture efficiency and capacity are improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiomolecule capture efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous solid support material that provides high surface area and surface-to-volume ratio within a simple chamber structure. The porous structure allows biomolecules to be captured throughout the bulk volume rather than requiring complex micropillar or packed bead assemblies, thereby achieving high capture efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention divides the solid support into porous structures that create numerous internal surfaces and binding sites throughout the chamber volume. This segmentation approach increases the effective surface area available for biomolecule capture without requiring complex external microstructures, resolving the contradiction between capture efficiency and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If packed bead structures are used to increase surface area, then capture capacity is improved, but manufacturing precision and reproducibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapture capacityVSAvoidreproducibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a porous solid support with controlled pore size and distribution that provides consistent capture capacity across different manufacturing batches. The porous structure is formed through reproducible manufacturing processes, eliminating the variability associated with manual or automated bead packing while maintaining high surface area and capture capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Productivity

If elastic membrane with pressure control is used, then operational flexibility and processing efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an elastic membrane as a simple yet effective component that enables pressure-driven fluid control for sample introduction, washing, and elution operations. The membrane provides operational flexibility through pressure control without requiring complex valve or pump systems, achieving high processing efficiency with minimal structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If conventional SPE methods are used, then target material separation is achieved, but operational time and procedural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the capture, washing, and elution operations into a single integrated porous solid support chamber. This merging of functions allows all separation steps to occur simultaneously within one structure, dramatically reducing operational time while maintaining reliable target material separation, unlike conventional SPE methods that require sequential processing of multiple components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables efficient processing of target materials by enhancing the surface-to-volume ratio, improving biomolecule capture and release efficiency, and reducing operational complexity and costs.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic membrane disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber and forming a wall of at least part of the first and second chambers, wherein the first chamber comprises or contains a material that binds to a target material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a first chamber with at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a second chamber operatively connected with a pressure supply unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

at least one of the introducing of the sample and a subsequent operation is performed while the elastic membrane is extended toward the first chamber by applying a positive pressure to the second chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS9176095B2Method of processing target material in a sample

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An efficient method of processing a target material in a sample using a microfluidic device including an elastic membrane.