Hydrogel Microwell Detection for Biological Particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting and analyzing biological particles, such as nucleic acids and proteins, are often complex, time-consuming, and require expensive equipment, limiting their accessibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method using isothermal amplification in a hydrogel with inducible curing and patterned illumination to create liquid compartments within the hydrogel, allowing for rapid and quantitative analysis of biological particles while maintaining them in a liquid environment, facilitating faster reagent movement and reaction rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If chemical curing is used to solidify the hydrogel, then the hydrogel structure is formed, but the processing time increases and the impact on biological particles is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical curing mechanisms with photopolymerization initiated by light exposure. The hydrogel contains photoinitiators that remain dormant until illuminated, at which point they trigger rapid polymerization. This substitution of chemical initiation with optical control eliminates prolonged chemical processing while achieving the same structural stabilization, directly resolving the contradiction between hydrogel formation and processing time.
2Ease of operation
If isothermal amplification is run as an all-in-one-pot reaction, then the reaction is simple to conduct, but only qualitative and no quantitative information is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single reaction pot into multiple discrete microwells within the hydrogel matrix. Each microwell functions as an independent reaction chamber that can be individually addressed and detected. This segmentation maintains the simplicity of isothermal amplification while enabling quantitative analysis through spatial distribution and counting of amplification events across multiple compartments, directly resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and quantitative information.
3Strength
If biological particles are placed in a solid hydrogel phase, then the hydrogel provides structural support, but the movement of reagents toward biological particles is slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local liquid microenvironments within the solid hydrogel matrix by forming microwells that trap liquid reaction mixtures. The hydrogel provides overall structural support while the localized liquid compartments within them enable rapid reagent diffusion and movement. This local quality differentiation—solid matrix with liquid interiors—resolves the contradiction between structural support and reagent mobility by allowing both properties to coexist in different spatial zones.
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 reduces processing time, minimizes the impact on biological particles, and enables efficient multiplex reactions, providing quantitative results with improved reaction rates and reduced equipment costs.
Implementation Method 1
curable polymer hydrogel reagents comprising a photoinitiator; illuminating the sample with a light pattern to induce gelling in illuminated parts
Data Source
AI summary
Detection and analysis of biological particles can provide useful information with respect to a wide range of applications. Those include but are not limited to analysis of disease markers in diagnostic samples, quantification of bacteria and/or viral particles in environmental samples, and detection of specific proteins in cell culture samples. The methods presented herein provide simple, rapid and reliable means of detecting and analyzing biological particles in a hydrogel, and are especially suitable for quantification of for example nucleic acids, viral particles, bacteria, yeast, animal cells, and proteins. The invention also relates to a kit of parts and to a system for detection and analysis of biological particles in a hydrogel.