Moiré Hydrogel Intraocular Lens for Quantitative Analyte Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrogels face challenges in manufacturing a dynamic hydrogel with a volume change ratio of 70% or less, limiting their application in biosensors due to difficulties in quantifying volume changes and detecting target analytes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A moire intraocular lens (MIOL) is developed, comprising a reference polymer hydrogel with a reference pattern and target analyte-sensitive polymer hydrogels with comparison patterns, allowing for the detection of target analytes by analyzing moire patterns without the need for labeling materials, and enabling quantitative detection through amplified volume changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional hydrogels are used for biosensing, then they can detect target analytes through volume change, but it is difficult to manufacture a hydrogel with sufficient volume change ratio (70% or less) for effective detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intraocular lens as an intermediary carrier that pre-establishes a moire pattern structure. When the hydrogel swells or shrinks in response to target analytes, the moire pattern changes provide an amplified optical signal. This mediator (intraocular lens with moire pattern) enables effective detection even when the hydrogel's intrinsic volume change ratio is limited by manufacturing constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in the optical parameters (moire pattern interference signals) rather than relying solely on the physical volume change parameter of the hydrogel. By converting the hydrogel's volume change into amplified optical signal changes through moire interference, the system achieves high detection sensitivity even with limited volume change ratios.
2Ease of operation
If hydrogel volume changes are directly observed, then target analyte presence can be detected, but quantitative detection and easy visualization of volume changes remain challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs moire pattern interference signals that produce visible optical changes (fringe patterns) when the hydrogel volume changes. These optical signal changes provide both qualitative detection (presence/absence of target analyte) and quantitative information (concentration levels) in an easily observable form, eliminating the difficulty of directly measuring subtle hydrogel volume changes.
3Measurement precision
If labeling materials are used for detection, then target analytes can be detected with high sensitivity, but the detection system becomes more complex and requires additional materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the hydrogel-intraocular lens system to perform self-detection through moire pattern changes. The hydrogel's intrinsic volume change response to target analytes directly generates the detection signal via moire interference, eliminating the need for external labeling materials or complex detection systems. The system serves itself by converting its own physical response into a measurable optical signal.
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 MIOL facilitates easy detection and quantification of target analytes by converting hydrogel volume changes into optical signals, providing high sensitivity and control over detection signals, and allowing for the detection of various markers without additional labeling.
Implementation Method 1
when the polymer chains constituting a hydrogel undergo structural or chemical changes or the degree of crosslinking of the polymer chains varies due to external control factors (e.g., temperature, pH, ionic strength, etc.), the chemical energy equilibrium formed between the hydrogel and water molecules undergoes a change, and causes the occurrence of inflow or outflow of water molecules, thereby expanding or reducing the volume of the hydrogel
Implementation Method 2
the inventors of the present disclosure, while conducting research, converted and amplified the changes in volume of a hydrogel into an optical signal so that when a change in the volume of the hydrogel was detected
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an intraocular lens to which moire interference hydrogel is applied. The moire intraocular lens of the present disclosure can easily implement the presence and quantitative detection of target analytes by quantifying the volume change rate of the hydrogel through the moire signal.