Glass Surface Nucleic Acid Extraction for Platelet Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting microbial contamination in platelet transfusions are inadequate, leading to potential patient harm due to delayed detection of bacterial contamination, with existing nucleic acid testing methods not efficiently extracting and amplifying nucleic acids from complex biological samples like platelet concentrates.
Innovation Solution
A device and method involving a fluorescence-based system that includes a vessel with a glass surface for binding nucleic acids, lysing cells, transferring the liquid medium, extracting nucleic acids, and using a fluorescent compound to measure their concentration, allowing for rapid detection and amplification of microbial DNA in platelet samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional nucleic acid testing methods are used on platelet concentrates, then testing can be performed, but extraction and amplification of nucleic acids from complex biological samples is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple functional chambers including a first chamber for cell lysis and a second chamber with glass surface for nucleic acid binding, allowing sequential processing steps to occur in dedicated zones within a single integrated device
Solution Approach 2:
A glass surface in the second chamber serves as an intermediary binding surface that selectively captures nucleic acids from the liquid medium, facilitating efficient extraction and concentration of nucleic acids from complex platelet concentrate samples
2Reliability
If microbial contamination detection is delayed, then current testing protocols can be followed, but patient harm occurs due to delayed detection of bacterial contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables preliminary extraction and concentration of nucleic acids from platelet samples before amplification and detection steps, allowing rapid microbial contamination detection within hours rather than days, thereby preventing patient harm from contaminated transfusions
Solution Approach 2:
The method replaces conventional culture-based detection with nucleic acid amplification and fluorescence detection, enabling rapid and sensitive detection of microbial contamination without requiring lengthy incubation periods
3Productivity
If glass surface is used for nucleic acid binding, then extraction efficiency improves, but the process requires precise control of binding conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes changes in ionic strength and pH conditions to control nucleic acid binding to and release from the glass surface, with high salt concentration promoting binding and low salt concentration enabling release, providing simple and effective control over the extraction process
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 efficient extraction and amplification of nucleic acids from platelet samples, providing rapid and accurate detection of microbial contamination, thereby ensuring safer transfusions by reducing the risk of bacterial transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a second chamber having at least a portion of one surface effective for binding nucleic acids... extracting the nucleic acids from the liquid medium by binding the nucleic acids to the surface of the second chamber
Implementation Method 2
contacting the isolated nucleic acids with a fluorescent compound having a fluorescence intensity dependent on the concentration of nucleic acids; and measuring the fluorescence of the fluorescent compound to determine the quantity of isolated nucleic acids
Data Source
AI summary
Device and methods for extracting and analyzing nucleic acids from biological samples.