Microslit Filter Membrane Segmentation for Low-Pressure Analyte Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current filtration methods for biological samples face challenges in achieving high yield and purity due to the high abundance of cellular and molecular species, which overwhelms typical polymeric filter membranes, requiring high pressure and leading to issues like filter fouling and contamination.
Innovation Solution
The use of microslit filters with specific characteristics, such as thinness, low permeation resistance, and cubic prism-like openings, allows for the efficient isolation of desired analytes by forming analyte-affinity moiety-capture particle complexes, enabling low-pressure operation and effective removal of undesired species while retaining desired analytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If typical polymeric filter membranes with cylindrical pores or tortuous paths are used, then high pressure can achieve filtration, but filter fouling occurs and permeation capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The filter membrane is segmented into multiple layers with different pore sizes and functions. The microslit filter layer provides coarse filtration with large openings to prevent fouling, while subsequent layers provide fine filtration. This segmentation allows high-pressure filtration without fouling by distributing the filtration load across multiple layers with different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses microslit filters with rectangular prism openings instead of traditional cylindrical pores. These porous materials have controlled pore size, shape, and distribution to achieve size-based separation. The rectangular prism geometry provides lower flow resistance and reduced fouling compared to cylindrical pores, enabling efficient filtration at lower pressures.
2Productivity
If high pressure is applied to overcome permeation resistance, then filtration effectiveness improves, but cell lysis and protein denaturation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration process is segmented into multiple stages with progressively smaller pore sizes. The microslit filter layer performs initial filtration at low pressure to remove large particles and cells, preventing them from clogging subsequent fine filtration layers. This staged approach maintains low operating pressure throughout the system, avoiding cell lysis and protein denaturation while achieving effective filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the filter openings from cylindrical to rectangular prism geometry, and optimizes pore size distribution across multiple layers. This parameter optimization reduces flow resistance and allows effective filtration at lower pressures, preventing harmful effects on biological samples.
3Manufacturing precision
If cylindrical pores with high aspect ratio are used, then membrane selectivity is achieved, but permeation capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses microslit filters with rectangular prism openings instead of cylindrical pores. The rectangular geometry provides lower flow resistance and higher permeation capacity while maintaining precise molecular cut-off through controlled opening dimensions. The porous structure is optimized with specific pore size, shape, and distribution to achieve both selectivity and high throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional cylindrical pore filtration to two-dimensional rectangular prism opening filtration. This dimensional change increases the effective filtration area and reduces flow resistance, thereby increasing permeation capacity while maintaining precise molecular cut-off through controlled opening dimensions in multiple directions.
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 enables high-yield, high-purity isolation of analytes with reduced fouling and contamination, allowing for precise molecular cut-off and efficient removal of undesired species, even under low-pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
filtering the sample to isolate and retain the analyte-affinity moiety-capture particle complexes, while removing or permeating undesired solutes
Implementation Method 2
low permeation resistance and high permeation capacity, which can operate under low pressure conditions
Implementation Method 3
forming analyte-affinity moiety-capture particle complexes
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods, devices, and kits for the isolation and detection of one or more analytes of interest from a biological sample using microslit filter membranes. In various examples, the methods use capture particles and binding agents for specific recognition of one or more analytes of interest.