Nanofluidic Biosensor Convection for Rapid Biomolecule Quantification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nanofluidic biosensors face challenges with slow diffusion rates and the need for highly concentrated solutions to detect biomolecular interactions, leading to long waiting times and reduced sensitivity in quantifying biomolecules.
Innovation Solution
The use of selectively functionalized nanochannels with a driving component to force convective flow, enhancing the interaction probability of biomolecules with immobilized biomarkers and employing photobleaching of fluorescent labels to differentiate interacting and diffusing molecules, thereby increasing sensitivity and reducing background noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple optical systems are used with nanofluidic biosensors, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to slow diffusion rates and long waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from diffusion-dominated to convection-dominated by introducing a driving component. This parameter change enables rapid transport of biomolecules through the nanochannel, achieving stable measurement conditions in seconds rather than hours, thereby maintaining measurement precision while using simple optical systems
2Measurement precision
If long waiting times are used to attain stable measurement conditions, then measurement precision improves, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic convective flow through the nanochannel using a driving component that periodically transports solution containing biomolecules through the detection zone. This periodic action ensures continuous replenishment of biomolecules at the measurement location, maintaining stable fluorescence signals and enabling rapid sequential testing of multiple samples, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If highly concentrated solutions are used to observe biomolecular interactions, then measurement precision improves, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and concentrates biomolecules of interest through convective flow through the nanochannel, where they interact with immobilized biomarkers on the channel walls. This extraction approach allows detection of biomolecules at ultra-low concentrations in the bulk solution (as low as 10^-15 M) by concentrating them at the interaction interface, thereby improving measurement precision while minimizing loss of substance in the bulk solution
4Productivity
If convective flow is forced through nanochannel, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases due to driving component
Solution Approach 1:
The driving component is designed to exploit capillary forces and surface tension effects to generate convective flow automatically without requiring external pumps or complex control systems. The nanochannel geometry and surface functionalization create self-driven flow that periodically transports samples through the detection zone, thereby improving productivity while maintaining simple device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses capillary action and surface tension (hydraulic principles) to drive convective flow through the nanochannel. The driving component creates pressure gradients through wetting/dewetting cycles or surface tension changes, enabling automatic sample transport without mechanical pumps, thereby improving productivity while keeping the device simple
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 allows for rapid and sensitive detection of fluorescently-labeled biomolecules at ultra-low concentrations, reducing background noise and enabling stable measurement conditions without complex manipulations.
Implementation Method 1
detection of fluorescently labeled biomolecules in selectively functionalized nanofluidic biosensors, using an optical system
Implementation Method 2
forcing a convective flow across a nanometer-sized confinement (nanochannel)
Implementation Method 3
monitoring the photobleaching of the fluophores attached to the biomolecules can be used to differentiate between biomolecules that have interacted with biomarkers
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A method and device for the rapid quantification of biomolecules (320) present in a nanochannel (210) is claimed. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel concept of liquid actuation and selectively functionalized surfaces in a nanochannel that create a concentration gradient of transitory immobilized biomolecules (340) across the nanochannel. The present concept enables the quantification of biomolecular interactions of interest (320).