Microwell Target Molecule Detection for Surface and Internal Quantification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting target molecules, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time PCR, lack the sensitivity and accuracy needed for early disease detection and medication prediction, particularly in quantifying surface and internal target molecules within structures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a well array with micro-wells that allows structures to be introduced and sealed, enabling the extraction and detection of both surface and internal target molecules using a dispersion liquid and sealing solution, with reagents for detection, and employing techniques like digital counting and signal amplification reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods such as ELISA or real-time PCR are used for target molecule detection, then the detection process is simple and established, but the sensitivity and accuracy are insufficient for early disease detection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the sample into a large number of isolated micro-compartments (e.g., micro-wells, droplets, or chambers), each containing a small volume of liquid. This segmentation allows digital counting of target molecules in each compartment, significantly improving detection sensitivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated processing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates multiple copies of the sample distributed across many micro-compartments, allowing parallel processing and statistical analysis. By having many replicate measurements, the system achieves high precision through digital counting while the complexity is managed through standardized protocols
2Measurement precision
If digital counting is used to improve detection sensitivity, then the quantitativeness is enhanced, but the complexity of sample processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary actions by pre-dividing the sample into micro-compartments before target molecule detection. This pre-preparation enables subsequent digital counting to be straightforward and automated, reducing the actual detection complexity while maintaining high quantitativeness
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automated liquid handling and imaging systems that self-manage the complex processing steps. The micro-compartments are automatically filled, sealed, and processed, with the system itself managing the complexity through standardized workflows and digital data processing
3Measurement precision
If target molecules are detected without separating surface and internal molecules, then the detection process is simpler, but the accuracy of molecular quantification is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and separates surface target molecules from internal target molecules within the micro-compartments. Surface molecules are detected on the compartment boundaries while internal molecules are detected in the bulk liquid phase. This separation enables accurate quantification of each type without significantly increasing overall process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different detection methods or reagents to different locations within the micro-compartment - surface-specific reagents for surface molecules and bulk-phase reagents for internal molecules. This localized approach enables simultaneous detection of both molecule types with high accuracy while maintaining process simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting a target molecule of a structure body, including contacting a dispersion liquid including a structure body with a well array including wells such that the structure body is introduced into the wells, bringing a sealing solution into contact with the well array such that the structure body is sealed in at least one of the wells, extracting a content of the structure body in the well, detecting a surface target molecule present on a surface of the structure body in the well, and detecting an internal target molecule present inside the structure body in the well.