Fritted Column Cell Purification Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying cells, such as magnetic bead technologies and microfluidic devices, are slow and inefficient, resulting in low throughput and poor cell recovery, especially for rare circulating tumor cells, which are difficult to capture and process effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of a fritted column with a bed of medium that allows bidirectional flow, enabling high-speed cell purification and recovery of viable cells by capturing cells on a medium within the column and eluting them using an eluent, which is faster and more efficient than existing methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If magnetic bead methods are used for cell capture, then cell separation can be achieved, but the process is slow and has low throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic field-based cell separation with a mechanical filtration system using a fritted glass column. Cells are separated based on size exclusion through the frit structure, eliminating the need for magnetic beads and external magnetic fields, thereby significantly increasing throughput and reducing processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a fritted glass column with porous structure that allows differential passage of cells based on their size. The frit pores are designed to retain larger cells while allowing smaller particles and fluid to pass through, enabling rapid mechanical separation without magnetic components
2Measurement precision
If microfluidic devices are used for cell purification, then rare cells can be captured, but the flow rate must be very slow making processing time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell separation process into distinct functional zones within the fritted column structure, including an accumulation zone where rare cells are concentrated and a separation zone where they are isolated from the flow. This segmentation allows efficient capture of rare cells at higher flow rates compared to uniform microfluidic channels
3Productivity
If column frit is used to allow liquid flow through, then throughput increases, but cells may be trapped, damaged or killed by the frit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the frit pore size parameters to be sufficiently large to prevent cell trapping and damage while maintaining effective separation. The frit structure is designed with controlled porosity that allows liquid and small particles to pass freely while retaining intact cells, thus preserving cell viability and integrity during high-throughput processing
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 approach allows for the rapid purification of cells, including viable and cancer cells, with high purity and efficiency, capable of processing samples in under an hour, significantly improving throughput and maintaining cell integrity and viability.
Implementation Method 1
cells are captured on the medium within the column
Implementation Method 2
Cells are recovered by passing an eluent through the column
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to devices and methods for purifying biological cells. For example, viable tumor, stem, immune and sperm cells can be purified from a complex biological sample using a pipette tip column. Methods of the invention can aid research, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.