Lyophilisate Dissolution in Microfluidic Phase Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic point-of-care systems face challenges in storing and supplying chemicals, particularly sensitive reagents like enzymes and nucleic acids, which require complex pre-storage methods and are prone to bubble formation during dissolution, leading to inaccuracies in solution concentration.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a lyophilisate stored in a nonpolar solvent dispersion, where the lyophilisate is dissolved in a polar solvent through phase extraction, allowing for controlled dissolution and separation, avoiding prewetting and bubble formation, and utilizing a microfluidic device with specific geometries and temperature control for efficient emulsion formation and separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sensitive reagents are stored in soluble form, then they are readily available for use, but they require complex pre-storage methods and are prone to degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the reagent from soluble to lyophilisate (freeze-dried) form. This parameter change enables the reagent to be stored in a stable, dry state without complex pre-storage requirements, while still allowing rapid dissolution and availability for use when needed.
2Productivity
If lyophilisate is dissolved directly in aqueous solution, then the solution is quickly prepared, but bubbles form leading to inaccuracies in solution concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a nonpolar solvent as an intermediary medium between the lyophilisate and the aqueous solution. The lyophilisate is first dispersed in the nonpolar solvent, then this dispersion is mixed with the aqueous solution. This intermediary step prevents direct contact between the lyophilisate and aqueous solution, thereby preventing bubble formation while still enabling rapid dissolution and accurate concentration preparation.
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 storage and controlled dissolution of sensitive reagents, ensuring accurate solution concentration and minimizing errors in biochemical processes within microfluidic devices, such as 'lab-on-a-chip' systems, by using a lyophilisate in a nonpolar solvent and dissolving it in an aqueous phase, facilitating precise biochemical reactions.
Implementation Method 1
the lyophilisate is dissolved in a polar solvent through phase extraction
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a microfluidic device with specific geometries and temperature control for efficient emulsion formation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a solution of a substance in a microfluidic device includes providing a dispersion of a first medium and of a lyophilizate of the substance, the lyophilizate being insoluble in the first medium, and adding a second medium to the dispersion, the lyophilizate being soluble in the second medium. The method further includes dissolving the lyophilizate in the second medium such that the solution of the substance in the second medium is obtained, and separating the solution obtained by the dissolving of the lyophilizate from the first medium.