Mechanical Loading Beads for Flow Cell Nanostructure Occupancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biological sequencing technologies face challenges in efficiently loading and clustering functionalized nanostructures within flow cells, leading to suboptimal sequencing metrics due to inefficient occupancy of reaction chambers.
Innovation Solution
The use of functionalized nanostructures and mechanical loading beads to displace and load nanostructures into depressions within flow cells, increasing the number of occupied depressions and enhancing amplicon presence for improved sequencing data generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If functionalized nanostructures are loaded into flow cells using conventional methods, then the loading process is simple, but the occupancy of depressions is low resulting in suboptimal sequencing metrics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mechanical loading beads as an intermediary agent to facilitate the loading of functionalized nanostructures into depressions. These beads physically interact with the nanostructures and transfer them into the depressions, achieving high occupancy rates that directly improve sequencing data generation while maintaining process simplicity
2Quantity of substance
If mechanical loading beads are used to displace functionalized nanostructures into depressions, then the number of occupied depressions increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical loading beads perform the loading function through their own mechanical properties and interactions with the nanostructures. The beads self-organize and automatically transfer nanostructures into depressions based on physical principles, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms while achieving high occupancy rates
3Loss of time
If pre-clustered nanostructures are used for off-flow cell preparation, then the sequencing process is accelerated, but the flexibility for on-flow cell library preparation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic selection between pre-clustered and non-pre-clustered nanostructure modes. The system can adapt its configuration based on whether pre-clustered nanostructures are introduced (accelerating the process) or non-pre-clustered nanostructures are used with on-flow cell library preparation (providing flexibility), allowing optimization for different experimental requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A kit for biological sequencing operations includes a flow cell including a plurality of depressions having a first diameter. The kit further includes a suspension including: a liquid carrier; and a plurality of functionalized nanostructures dispersed throughout the liquid carrier. Each of the plurality of functionalized nanostructures has a second diameter that is equal to or less than the first diameter. Each of the plurality of functionalized nanostructures includes: a nanostructure core; and a plurality of primers attached to the nanostructure core. The kit further includes a plurality of mechanical loading beads having a third diameter that is greater than the first diameter.