Nanoporous Membrane Microbial Cultivation Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microbial cultivation techniques fail to isolate and grow a majority of microbial species found in diverse environments, limiting the discovery of new microbes.
Innovation Solution
Development of high-capacity, low-cost devices with a planar composite structure and nanoporous membranes for cultivating microbial cells in their natural environments, allowing for mass production using inexpensive materials and convenient assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional microbial cultivation techniques are used, then existing microbial species can be grown, but the majority of microbial species including unexplored species cannot be isolated and cultivated
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the cultivation environment into multiple discrete chambers (e.g., 96, 384, or 1536 individual chambers) that can be independently populated and cultivated. This segmentation allows parallel processing of numerous microbial samples simultaneously, dramatically increasing the capacity to isolate and cultivate diverse microbial species from environmental samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the cultivation environment by using nanoporous membranes with specific pore sizes (e.g., 0.02 to 10 micrometers) that allow selective permeability. This enables the maintenance of sterile conditions while allowing nutrient and gas exchange, thereby improving the reliability of cultivating previously unculturable species.
2Productivity
If high-capacity cultivation devices are developed, then more microbial species can be cultivated, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs universal components that can be mass-produced and reused across multiple cultivation chambers. The nanoporous membranes serve multiple functions: they act as barriers to contamination, allow gas and nutrient exchange, and can be sterilized autoclavely. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each chamber, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining high capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of nanoporous membranes as a key component simplifies the device structure by providing a single material solution for multiple requirements: sterility barrier, nutrient exchange, and gas permeability. These membranes can be mass-produced using standard manufacturing processes, reducing device complexity and cost while enabling high-capacity cultivation.
3Reliability
If sterile and controlled environment is provided for microbial cultivation, then previously unknown species can be isolated, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is pre-assembled with sterile nanoporous membranes and adhesive layers in a controlled manufacturing environment before deployment. The adhesive layers are pre-positioned on the substrate, and nanoporous membranes are pre-sterilized and sealed to the adhesive layers. This preliminary action ensures sterility is maintained throughout the device's lifecycle while simplifying field assembly requirements and reducing overall manufacturing complexity through standardized pre-assembly processes.
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
Enables the growth of monocultures of novel, previously unknown microbial species by providing a sterile and controlled environment that mimics their natural habitat, facilitating the isolation and cultivation of previously unexplored species.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive layer; a first removable protective layer in contact with a first side of the adhesive layer; and a second removable protective layer in contact with a second side of the adhesive layer
Implementation Method 2
one or more nanoporous membranes. In one embodiment, the one or more nanoporous membranes comprise nanopores having a diameter in the range from about 10 nm to about 50 nm
Data Source
AI summary
High capacity, low cost devices for use in growing monocultures of novel, previously unknown microbial species contain adhesive layers with wells covered by nanoporous membranes. The devices are placed in natural environments for cultivation of unknown microbial species.