Melezitose Substrate for Biomolecule Stabilization and Elution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preserving and extracting biomolecules from biological samples in dry formats require pre-purification and additional processing steps, leading to protein denaturation and inefficient recovery, especially at ambient temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A solid substrate comprising a trisaccharide like melezitose under a substantially dry state, which allows for the collection, stabilization, and elution of biomolecules without pre-purification, using reagents like lysis agents and buffers impregnated in the substrate for enhanced stability and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proteins are stored in solution state under refrigeration, then protein integrity is preserved, but storage complexity and cost increase due to refrigeration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition from liquid to solid state by drying proteins onto solid substrates. This transformation allows proteins to be stored in a stable dry state at ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for refrigeration while maintaining protein integrity through the stabilizing effects of the dry state and substrate interaction.
2Device complexity
If proteins are dried directly from biological samples, then storage simplicity improves, but protein denaturation and degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces solid substrates as intermediary carriers between the biological sample and the final storage state. These substrates provide a controlled interface that enables direct drying from biological samples while maintaining protein integrity through substrate-protein interactions, acting as a mediator that protects proteins during the drying process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the storage environment by transitioning from liquid to solid state and from refrigerated to ambient temperature conditions. This parameter change is enabled by the solid substrate, which allows proteins to withstand ambient conditions that would otherwise cause denaturation.
3Reliability
If chemical additives are used to prevent protein degradation, then protein stability improves, but downstream analytical techniques are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for chemical additives by utilizing the solid substrate and dry state environment itself to provide stabilization. This extraction of harmful chemical additives from the system maintains protein stability while avoiding interference with downstream analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry and immunoassays.
4Reliability
If pre-purification and concentration steps are performed before dry storage, then storage stability improves, but processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the collection, stabilization, and storage functions into a single step by applying biological samples directly to solid substrates. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate pre-purification and concentration steps, as the solid substrate performs all these functions simultaneously, reducing processing time while maintaining storage stability.
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 substrate effectively stabilizes and elutes biomolecules in an intact form at ambient temperatures, achieving higher recovery rates and prolonged storage without the need for refrigeration, as demonstrated by improved protein stability and elution efficiency compared to unmodified cellulose substrates.
Implementation Method 1
A solid substrate comprising a trisaccharide like melezitose under a substantially dry state, which allows for the collection, stabilization, and elution of biomolecules
Implementation Method 2
substrate effectively stabilizes and elutes biomolecules in an intact form
Data Source
AI summary
A solid substrate for the extraction, stabilization, and storage of proteins is provided. The substrate includes: a polysaccharide, such as melezitose under a substantially dry state. The substrate is configured to extract proteins from a sample and stabilize the extracted proteins in a dry format under ambient conditions for a prolonged period of time. Methods for collecting and recovering the proteins stored in the dry solid substrate are also described.