Multisite Biosensor Using Differential Environmental Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Affinity-based diagnostic tests face challenges with cross-reactivity and background noise, leading to increased false negative/positive rates and higher development costs due to sensitivity issues and interference from other biomarkers, which complicates the detection of specific biomarkers.
Innovation Solution
A multisite biosensor system is employed, where a sample is exposed to multiple test sites with different environmental conditions, allowing for the determination of biomarker concentration by establishing unique test environments for each site, thereby distinguishing between the molecule of interest and interfering molecules based on varying binding efficiencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If affinity-based sensors are used to detect biomarkers, then detection sensitivity is improved, but cross-reactivity with other biomarkers increases leading to false positive/negative rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single detection site into multiple test sites (first test site, second test site, etc.), each with different environmental conditions. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between specific binding and cross-reactivity by comparing signals across multiple sites, thereby reducing false positives while maintaining detection sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each test site is given a distinct local quality through different environmental conditions (temperature, pH, ionic strength, etc.). This allows the same antibody-antigen interaction to produce different binding efficiencies at different sites, enabling the system to distinguish specific biomarker binding from cross-reactive binding patterns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple biomarkers are detected simultaneously, then diagnostic capability is improved, but assay complexity and development cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal detection platform where multiple test sites share common components (substrate, blocking agent, detection reagents) but differ in environmental conditions. This multi-functional design allows simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers using the same assay infrastructure, reducing development complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes (environmental conditions) as the differentiating factor between test sites rather than requiring different physical structures or reagents for each biomarker. By varying parameters like temperature or pH across test sites, the system can detect multiple biomarkers simultaneously with a single assay design, significantly reducing complexity.
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 reduces cross-reactivity and background noise, providing more accurate biomarker detection and reducing the complexity and cost of assay development by enabling precise concentration determination of multiple biomolecules simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
a primary antibody specific to a molecule of interest is identified
Implementation Method 2
a labeled secondary antibody with an affinity for the primary antibody is identified
Implementation Method 3
distinguishing between the molecule of interest and interfering molecules based on varying binding efficiencies
Data Source
AI summary
A method of detecting a biomarker in one embodiment includes identifying a quantity of biomolecule types in a sample, exposing the sample to a plurality of test sites, wherein the number of test sites in the plurality of test sites is equal to or greater than the identified quantity of biomolecule types, establishing, for each of the plurality of test sites, a respective test environment, wherein the test environment for each of the plurality of test sites is different from the test environment for each of the other of the plurality of test sites, obtaining a detection signal associated with each of the plurality of test sites, and determining the concentration of one of the biomolecule types based upon the obtained detection signals.