Mass-Sensitive Chemical Sensor with Inactivated Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass-sensitive chemical sensors struggle to accurately detect and monitor binding interactions between cells and analyte ligands due to interference from cellular changes and morphological alterations, which limits their effectiveness in analyzing biochemical interactions.
Innovation Solution
A mass-sensitive chemical sensor is developed with inactivated cells adhered to a sensing surface, allowing for the detection of analyte ligand binding by measuring changes in mass, where cells are fixed to prevent growth and morphological changes, and the sensor is integrated into a flow cell to minimize interference and enhance sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If live cells are used on the sensing surface, then the sensor can detect binding interactions, but cellular changes and morphological alterations cause interference and reduce measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by inactivating cells before they are adhered to the sensing surface. This prevents cellular changes and morphological alterations from occurring during the measurement process, thereby eliminating interference and improving detection accuracy without sacrificing the ability to detect binding interactions.
2Measurement precision
If cells are fixed to prevent growth and morphological changes, then measurement accuracy improves, but the cells become more resistant to shear forces which may affect binding interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by inactivating and fixing cells before adhesion to the sensing surface. This fixation process stabilizes the cellular structure, preventing morphological changes during measurement while simultaneously making the cells more resistant to shear forces, thus improving both measurement precision and structural stability.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor is integrated into a flow cell, then sensitivity and stability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the sensor directly into the flow cell structure. This combination creates a unified device where the sensor and flow cell work together as a single system, improving sensitivity and stability for detecting binding events while reducing the need for separate components and interfaces.
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
The sensor accurately detects and monitors binding events in real-time with reduced interference, providing a more direct measurement of mass changes at the sensing surface, and is more resistant to shear forces, improving sensitivity and stability.
Implementation Method 1
A QCM system utilizes the piezoelectric effect of a quartz crystal. In such a system a quartz crystal that is placed between two electrodes, which are connected to an AC-potential, begins to oscillate if the frequency of the AC-potential is close to the resonance frequency of the oscillation mode for the quartz crystal.
Implementation Method 2
a quartz crystal that is placed between two electrodes, which are connected to an AC-potential, begins to oscillate if the frequency of the AC-potential is close to the resonance frequency of the oscillation mode for the quartz crystal
Implementation Method 3
When material is added to or removed from one of the electrodes, it becomes thicker or thinner, i.e. the associated weight of the electrode changes. As a consequence of the mass change of the electrode, the resonance frequency of the crystal plate will either decrease or increase and hence the change of resonance frequency can be measured to detect the mass change of the electrode.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed an analytical method and a sensor suitable for carrying out the method. More specifically, there is disclosed a method for preparing a mass sensitive chemical sensor capable of detecting binding analyte species to a surface comprising cells.