Microfluidic Optical Sizing And Sorting Of Single Biological Nanoparticles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow cytometers and sorters lack the sensitivity and throughput required for analyzing and sorting nanoscale biological systems such as sub-cellular organelles, and existing methods for concentrating bionanoparticles are time-consuming, expensive, and prone to contamination.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic chip system for analyzing biological nanoparticles, which includes illuminating and detecting nanoparticles in transit through microfluidic channels, assigning size values based on light intensity, and sorting them using flow displacement, without acoustic sorting or physical barriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional flow cytometers are used for cell sorting, then broad range biological research applications are enabled, but sensitivity is insufficient for analyzing nanoscale systems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the flow cytometry process into microfabricated chip components, dividing the sample stream into individual particle trajectories through microchannels. This segmentation enables single-particle analysis with high sensitivity while maintaining versatility through programmable microfluidic networks that can handle different particle types and sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical flow cytometry systems with microfabricated chip-based systems that use integrated optical detection and electrostatic sorting mechanisms. This substitution enables higher sensitivity for nanoscale particles while maintaining broad applicability through flexible chip design and multiple detection modalities.
2Measurement precision
If microfabricated flow cytometers are used, then cost is reduced and sensitivity is improved, but sorting speed and throughput are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements continuous flow sorting through microfabricated channels, where particles are continuously introduced, detected, and sorted without interruption. This continuous operation maintains high sensitivity for single-particle detection while achieving high throughput by processing particles at rates exceeding 10,000 particles per second through parallel microchannel arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses dynamic control of electrostatic fields and microfluidic flow rates to optimize both sensitivity and sorting speed. By dynamically adjusting field strengths and flow velocities, the system can switch between high-sensitivity detection mode and high-speed sorting mode, achieving both objectives across different operational requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If ultracentrifugation is used for concentration, then bionanoparticles are concentrated, but time consumption increases and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces ultracentrifugation with microfluidic-based concentration methods including deterministic lateral displacement, affinity-based capture on functionalized surfaces, and electrostatic focusing. These methods achieve particle concentration in minutes rather than hours, while the controlled microenvironment prevents contamination through closed-system operation and selective surface functionalization.
4Measurement precision
If bead-based capture is used, then specificity is improved, but sample contamination and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the capture function from discrete beads and integrates it directly into planar microchannel walls through surface functionalization. This extraction eliminates the need for bead handling, incubation, and removal steps, reducing operational complexity while maintaining the specificity of targeted particle capture through programmable surface chemistry.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the capture, concentration, and analysis functions into a single integrated microfluidic chip. By combining these functions that were previously performed by separate bead-based steps, the system achieves high specificity through targeted surface functionalization while dramatically reducing operational complexity through automated continuous-flow processing.
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 rapid, accurate, and efficient analysis and sorting of biological nanoparticles with high sensitivity and throughput, reducing contamination and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
illuminating in the at least one microfluidic channel at least one biological nanoparticle from the portion of the plurality of biological nanoparticles on a particle-by-particle basis; detecting a light intensity emitted from the at least one biological nanoparticle
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and devices for performing analyses of biological nanoparticles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and devices for performing single biological nanoparticle size determination on a sample while the biological nanoparticle is in transit through a microfluidic chip. In other aspects, the present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and devices for selectively capturing biological nanoparticles on a coated planar surface, the capturing being facilitated by centrifugation.