Fluidic Capture Module Using Tunable Electrode Force Wells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biomolecule manufacturing processes face challenges in selectively removing impurities with similar composition and physicochemical properties to desired biomolecules, leading to high-yield processes struggling with undesirable biomolecule removal and low-yield processes failing to concentrate therapeutic agents effectively. Additionally, production, purification, and analysis are often performed using disconnected tools, increasing contamination and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A module and system for separating analytes from contaminants using a fluidic channel with capture sites and electrodes that generate tunable attractive and repulsive forces, creating a local potential minimum to capture target particles, allowing for selective capture and detection of various types of target particles in a single module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional purification techniques relying on single property separation are used, then the process is simple and easy to operate, but the ability to selectively remove impurities with similar composition and physicochemical properties is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The purification process is segmented into multiple independent separation steps, each targeting different properties (charge, size, hydrophobicity). Multiple purification modules can be connected in series to achieve cumulative separation效果, allowing high selectivity without requiring a single complex separation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs multiple purification modules with different separation mechanisms (ion exchange, size exclusion, hydrophobic interaction) that can be universally applied to different impurity types. Each module is designed to handle specific property-based separation, and their combination provides universal purification capability for diverse impurity profiles.
2Productivity
If high-yield purification processes are used, then the concentration of desired biomolecules is maintained, but the ability to selectively remove rare undesirable biomolecules is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The purification process is designed to be dynamic and adaptable. Flow rates, buffer compositions, and operational parameters can be adjusted in real-time based on the specific impurity profile and desired yield requirements. This allows optimization of each separation step to balance yield preservation with selective impurity removal.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple separation parameters (pH, ionic strength, temperature, flow rate) can be independently controlled and changed between purification steps. By optimizing parameters for each specific separation task, the system achieves high selectivity for rare impurities while maintaining high overall yield through parameter adjustment rather than sacrificing one for the other.
3Quantity of substance
If low-yield purification processes are used, then rare desirable therapeutic agents can be concentrated, but the ability to selectively remove contaminants is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary concentration of therapeutic agents in early purification steps before final contaminant removal steps. By concentrating the target molecules first, subsequent selective removal steps work on a more concentrated sample, improving the efficiency and selectivity of contaminant removal while preserving the concentrated therapeutic agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The purification process maintains continuous useful action through multiple sequential steps where each step builds on the previous one. Concentration and purification occur in an integrated continuous process rather than discrete batch operations, allowing therapeutic agents to be concentrated while contaminants are progressively removed with high selectivity throughout the continuous flow.
4Reliability
If multiple disconnected tools and systems are used for production, purification and analysis, then each tool can be optimized for its specific function, but product handling and sampling increase contamination and error risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges production and analysis functions into a single integrated platform. The same physical system used for purification also performs analysis functions, eliminating the need for product transfer between disconnected tools. This integration directly reduces contamination risks and handling errors while maintaining functional optimization through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The purification module is designed with universal functionality to perform both separation and analysis tasks. The same device can switch between purification mode and analysis mode, allowing optimized performance for each function while eliminating the need for multiple disconnected specialized tools, thereby reducing contamination risks.
5Productivity
If multiple disconnected tools and systems are used for production, purification and analysis, then each tool can be independently optimized, but manufacturing costs and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging production and analysis into a single integrated system, the total manufacturing time is reduced as operations can proceed without interruption for product transfer. Although the device complexity increases, the elimination of intermediate handling steps and the ability to perform operations in sequence without downtime results in net productivity improvement and cost efficiency.
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 system enables efficient, selective capture and detection of target particles from complex mixtures, reducing contamination risks and manufacturing costs by integrating production, purification, and analysis into an all-in-one solution.
Implementation Method 1
by operating the electrodes both an attractive force and a repulsive force acting on a target particle can be realized, the attractive force and/or repulsive force being tuneable so that the forces acting on the target particle create a local potential minimum at one of the capture sites, thereby capturing the target particle at said capture site
Implementation Method 2
still further forces and/or effects-such as electrophoretic and electro-osmotic forces-may be leveraged
Implementation Method 3
a fluidic channel for flowing therethrough a liquid comprising the analyte and the contaminant
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a module (5) for separating an analyte (201) from a contaminant (202), comprising: i) a fluidic channel (31) for flowing therethrough a liquid comprising the analyte (201) and the contaminant (202); ii) a plurality of capture sites (71) in the fluidic channel (31); and iii) a plurality of electrodes (43, 44) arranged near the capture sites (71), such that by operating the electrodes (43, 44) both an attractive force and a repulsive force acting on a target particle (20) can be realized, the attractive force and/or repulsive force being tuneable so that the forces acting on the target particle (20) create a local potential minimum at one of the capture sites (71), thereby capturing the target particle (20) at said capture site, the target particle (20) being either the analyte (201) or the contaminant (202).