Food Matrix Fluidization for Rapid Bacteria Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting pathogenic bacteria in complex food matrices like milk, meat, and chocolate are lengthy and require on-site sampling followed by outsourced analysis, often failing to use a sufficiently large sample volume for reliable detection without prior enrichment, leading to inefficiencies and prolonged detection times.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the preparation of a food matrix sample using a surfactant compound, heating, and filtration through a microfluidic component to isolate target biological species, followed by DNA release and amplification for rapid analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bacterial enrichment by culture is performed, then detection reliability is improved, but analysis time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the enrichment phase from the traditional detection workflow. By using a microfluidic system with direct lysis and DNA amplification, the method skips the time-consuming bacterial enrichment step while maintaining detection reliability through direct detection of bacterial DNA in the food matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary lysis of bacterial cells and extraction of DNA before the detection step. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent enrichment phases, as the DNA is already prepared and concentrated in the microfluidic chamber ready for immediate amplification and detection.
2Reliability
If sample volume is increased for reliable detection, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the sample preparation process. By optimizing lysis conditions, DNA extraction parameters, and concentration factors within the microfluidic system, the method achieves reliable detection with controlled sample volumes without requiring complex device configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary DNA amplification step that acts as a mediator between the food matrix sample and the detection system. This intermediary step concentrates and prepares the DNA target, enabling reliable detection with manageable sample volumes and simplifying the overall device requirements.
3Productivity
If heating temperature is increased to facilitate sample fluidization, then processing speed is improved, but biological species degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the heating temperature parameter to a specific range that balances fluidization efficiency with biological species preservation. By controlling the temperature within this optimized range and managing heating time, the system achieves rapid sample fluidization without degrading the target bacterial DNA.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous heating at the optimized temperature throughout the sample fluidization process, ensuring consistent and uniform heating that prevents localized overheating and degradation. This continuous action at controlled temperature levels maintains processing speed while protecting biological integrity.
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 reliable, rapid, and robust analysis of large food samples without prior enrichment, facilitating easy deployment in the field with improved detection reliability and reduced time.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a sample (S1) of said food matrix with a solution comprising a surfactant compound of the type Secondary Alcohol Ethoxylate
Implementation Method 2
heating said sample obtained, or of preheating before mixing the solution containing said surfactant compound and the sample of said food matrix, to a temperature suitable to avoid any degradation of target biological species
Implementation Method 3
filtering said sample obtained, carried out through a filter in order to isolate said target biological species
Implementation Method 4
lysis step of the said isolated biological species, implemented in order to release the DNA molecules
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for obtaining a sample (S3) of food matrix, this method consisting of making a mixture of a sample (S1) of said food matrix with a solution (S2) comprising a surfactant compound of the type Secondary Alcohol Ethoxylate, said method also comprising a step of heating said sample (S3) obtained, or of pre-heating before mixing the solution (S2) containing said surfactant compound and the sample (S1) of said food matrix, to a temperature suitable to avoid any degradation of target biological species (E) in the sample.