Localized Heating Elements for Flexible Nucleic Acid Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for amplifying nucleic acids are not flexible and require complex functionalization of nanoparticles for each specific application, leading to increased effort and cost.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing local heating elements functionalized with compound nucleic acids, along with primer and primer complementary nucleic acids, allow for rapid and flexible nucleic acid amplification by localized heating, reducing the need for specific functionalization of nanoparticles for each application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nanoparticle-oligonucleotide conjugates are used with covalent bonds for each specific application, then primer detachment risk is reduced and PCR efficiency is increased, but device complexity and manufacturing effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a standardized thiol linker chemistry that can be used across different nanoparticle types and oligonucleotide sequences. The covalent bonding method through thiol groups creates a universal attachment mechanism that works for various applications without requiring custom functionalization for each specific case, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing the thiol linker configuration and bonding parameters to achieve stable covalent attachment. By adjusting chemical parameters such as linker length, bonding strength, and reaction conditions, the system achieves reliable primer attachment without increasing structural complexity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specific functionalization of nanoparticles is performed for each application, then application-specific performance is optimized, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves versatility through a universal thiol-based functionalization platform that can be applied across different nanoparticle types and target applications. This standardized approach allows the same manufacturing process to produce application-specific conjugates without requiring custom procedures for each case, thereby maintaining adaptability while improving ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by replicating the standardized thiol linker attachment process across different nanoparticle batches and applications. Once the optimal functionalization protocol is established, it can be copied and scaled for various applications without redeveloping the functionalization process, reducing manufacturing effort while maintaining application-specific performance.
3Temperature
If conventional PCR heating methods are used, then uniform heating is achieved, but heating time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the heating process into localized regions around individual nanoparticles rather than heating the entire sample uniformly. Each nanoparticle acts as an independent heating unit that can rapidly heat its immediate vicinity, reducing overall heating time while maintaining sufficient temperature uniformity in the localized reaction zones where primers and templates are concentrated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action through cyclic heating and cooling phases that exploit the thermal properties of nanoparticles. By applying periodic thermal pulses rather than continuous heating, the system achieves efficient temperature cycling for PCR amplification, reducing total heating time and energy consumption while maintaining effective temperature distribution during each cycle phase.
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 rapid and efficient nucleic acid amplification with reduced time and cost, allowing for universal use of local heating elements with adaptable primer nucleic acids, and supports multiplexing of different nucleic acids simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
transferring heat through the local heating element to an environment of the local heating element such that a nucleic acid connected to the at least one local heating element via the at least one compound nucleic acid and the at least one primer nucleic acid is heated to and/or above a denaturation temperature
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E
AI summary
The invention relates to a system (10) for multiply copying a nucleic acid (22), comprising at least one local heating element (12), which is functionalized with at least one linking nucleic acid (14), and at least one primer nucleic acid (16), which is designed to bind to the at least one linking nucleic acid (14) and to bind to the nucleic acid (22), and/or at least one primer complementary nucleic acid (30), which is designed to bind to the at least one linking nucleic acid (14), and to extend the linking nucleic acid (14) by one primer nucleotide sequence by means of an enzymatic reaction. The invention further relates to a primer nucleic acid (16), a primer complementary nucleic acid (30), a local heating element (12) and a method for multiply copying a nucleic acid (22).