Microfluidic Assay Kit for Ion Concentration Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the concentration of target materials in samples, such as electrolyte ions, face challenges in accurately measuring individual ion concentrations due to interference from other materials present in the sample, which affects the reliability of measurement results.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a reagent composition with an enzyme activated by the target material and a capturing material that specifically captures the target material, allowing for two separate reactions to be measured: one without and one with the capturing material, enabling the calculation of the target material's concentration by determining the difference in reaction characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional enzyme reaction methods are used to determine target material concentration, then the measurement process is simple, but the reliability of measurement results deteriorates due to interference from other materials in the sample
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is divided into two separate reactions: one without capturing material and one with capturing material. This segmentation allows the system to isolate and measure the specific contribution of the target material by comparing the two reactions, thereby improving reliability without requiring a single complex measurement system
Solution Approach 2:
A capturing material is introduced as an intermediary substance that specifically binds to the target material. This intermediary enables the system to selectively remove or capture the target material in the second reaction, allowing differentiation between the target material's contribution and interference from other sample components
2Measurement precision
If a single reaction system is used to measure target material concentration, then the measurement process is simple, but measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from non-target materials
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement is segmented into two distinct reaction systems: one measuring total enzyme activity without capturing material, and another measuring activity with capturing material that specifically binds the target. This segmentation enables precise calculation of the target material's contribution by subtracting the second measurement from the first
Solution Approach 2:
The capturing material extracts or removes the target material from the reaction system in the second measurement. By taking out the target material through specific binding, the system can isolate and measure its specific contribution to enzyme activity, thereby improving precision despite the added complexity of the extraction step
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
This approach enhances the reliability of measurement results by minimizing the impact of non-target materials, allowing for precise determination of individual ion concentrations by calculating the difference in reaction characteristics between the two reactions.
Implementation Method 1
a capturing material specifically capturing the target material
Implementation Method 2
an enzyme activated by the target material and at least one substrate, reaction of which is catalyzed by the activated enzyme
Data Source
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AI summary
An assay method enhances reliability of assay of a target material by removing interfering influence of non-target materials through controlling the concentration of the target material in a sample. A reagent kit, a microfluidic device, and a test apparatus are disclosed. The method includes capturing a target material using a capturing agent which selectively binds the target material and determining measured values of reaction products of an enzyme which is activated by the target material, wherein enzyme reactions are conducted in the presence and absence of the capturing agent.