Nanopillar Array for Nanometer-Scale Bio-Entity Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for separating biological entities like DNA, RNA, and proteins at the nanometer scale, such as gel electrophoresis, are inefficient and often result in inconclusive results due to toxic reagents and size limitations, while existing silicon-based Lab-on-a-Chip technologies can only sort in the micron range, failing to access nanometer dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A nanopillar array with uniformly sized gaps less than 300 nanometers is used to sort entities by transporting smaller entities in one direction and larger entities in another, utilizing an oxide layer and chemical modifications to tune the gap size and enhance sorting efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gel electrophoresis is used for separation, then separation of biological entities can be achieved, but toxic reagents are required and results are often inconclusive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation reliabilityVSAvoidtoxic reagents

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical-based gel electrophoresis system with a physical nanopillar array system. The separation is achieved through physical size-based filtration as entities pass through the nanopillar array, eliminating the need for toxic gel matrices and chemical stains while providing reliable, continuous flow separation of biological entities including exosomes and proteins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nanopillar array with precisely controlled porous structure where the gap between pillars serves as the separation mechanism. The porous nanopillar array allows size-based sorting of entities as they flow through, providing a non-toxic alternative to gel electrophoresis while maintaining separation effectiveness for sub-100 nanometer entities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Manufacturing precision

If silicon-based Lab-on-a-Chip approaches are used, then sorting can be performed, but only in the micron range which does not access nanometer dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting precisionVSAvoidsorting range

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the critical parameter of pillar dimensions from micrometer scale to nanometer scale. By fabricating nanopillars with diameters and gaps in the nanometer range rather than micrometer range, the system achieves size-based separation at the nanometer scale for entities such as exosomes, proteins, and nucleic acids, extending the sorting capability beyond the micron range of conventional silicon-based approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If traditional separation methods are used, then separation can be performed, but continuous flow separation at nanometer scale is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidseparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous flow separation where entities are continuously introduced into the nanopillar array and separated in real-time as they flow through the device. This eliminates the batch processing nature of traditional methods, providing uninterrupted separation of biological entities including exosomes and proteins, thereby improving productivity and reducing overall separation time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 efficient size-based separation of entities down to 10 nanometers, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by providing continuous flow bio-separation and precise sorting at the nanometer scale, improving the separation of bio-markers, exosomes, and protein aggregates.

Implementation Method 1

The entities are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the entities less than a predetermined size in a first direction and by transporting the second population of the entities at least the predetermined size in a second direction different from the first direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10058895B2Continuous flow, size-based separation of entities down to the nanometer scale using nanopillar arrays

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A technique relates sorting entities. The entities are introduced into a nanopillar array. The entities include a first population and a second population, and the nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The nanopillars are ordered to have an array angle relative to a fluid flow direction. The entities are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the entities less than a predetermined size in a first direction and by transporting the second population of the entities at least the predetermined size in a second direction different from the first direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the entities having a sub-100 nanometer size.