Ionic Liquid Nucleic Acid Purification via Solid Phase Adsorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for nucleic acid isolation from complex sample materials are inefficient due to the presence of concomitant substances, which often require amplification steps and the use of chaotropic agents to suppress degrading enzymes, complicating the purification process.

Innovation Solution

The use of a water-soluble ionic liquid, such as 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate, in conjunction with a solid phase capable of reversibly binding nucleic acids, such as silica or glass, to adsorb and elute nucleic acids, enhancing purification efficiency without the need for chaotropic agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional methods are used to isolate nucleic acids from complex sample materials, then nucleic acids can be obtained, but the presence of concomitant substances reduces purity and requires additional amplification steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of isolated nucleic acidVSAvoidefficiency of nucleic acid isolation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the isolation system by introducing ionic liquids with specific properties (water solubility, cationic charge) to alter the adsorption behavior of nucleic acids on solid phases, enabling effective isolation without chaotropic agents and achieving both high purity and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses ionic liquids as intermediary substances that facilitate the interaction between nucleic acids and solid phases. These ionic liquids act as mediators that enhance adsorption through electrostatic interactions, enabling pure nucleic acid isolation without requiring amplification steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If chaotropic agents are used to suppress degrading enzymes during nucleic acid isolation, then enzyme activity is suppressed, but the purification process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuppression of degrading enzyme activityVSAvoidcomplexity of purification process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts or removes chaotropic agents from the purification process by using ionic liquids as an alternative mechanism. The ionic liquids provide both enzyme suppression and nucleic acid adsorption functions, simplifying the overall process while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The ionic liquids serve multiple functions simultaneously: they suppress degrading enzyme activity through their chemical properties and facilitate nucleic acid adsorption on solid phases. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate chaotropic agent steps, reducing process complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If amplification steps are required due to low nucleic acid concentration, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the overall process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection sensitivity of nucleic acidVSAvoidtotal process time for nucleic acid isolation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary concentration and purification of nucleic acids through enhanced adsorption on solid phases in the presence of ionic liquids. This preliminary action achieves sufficient concentration and purity directly, eliminating the need for subsequent amplification steps and reducing total process time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1983051B1Isolation and purification of nucleic acid molecules with solid phase
Publication Date: 2014.11.26 ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS GMBH
  • EP1983051B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1983051B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1983051B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are water-soluble ionic liquids suitable for promoting adsorption of nucleic acids to a solid phase. The use thereof, particularly methods for the isolation of nucleic acids from an aqueous solution, as well as kits for performing those methods are disclosed.