Non-cellulosic Contact Sheets for Uniform Electrophoretic Staining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically-driven staining methods using cellulosic materials like blotting paper result in high and non-uniform backgrounds due to non-uniform and rigid surfaces, leading to undesirable staining effects in electrophoresis gels, which compromise both speed and precision in biopolymer staining and destaining processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of fluid-permeable, non-cellulosic sheets, such as polyester or polyester blends, as source and sink contact sheets in an electric field to maximize contact with the matrix, ensuring uniform staining and destaining by applying a DC current, thereby reducing background issues and enhancing staining efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cellulosic materials like blotting paper are used in electrically-driven staining, then staining speed is improved, but background uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from cellulosic to non-cellulosic polyester, which fundamentally alters the surface properties and fluid interaction characteristics, thereby achieving both rapid staining and uniform background without the trade-off present in cellulosic materials
Solution Approach 2:
The use of polyester blends or composite non-cellulosic materials combines the benefits of high fluid permeability with uniform surface properties, enabling simultaneous achievement of fast staining speed and homogeneous background appearance
2Quantity of substance
If cellulosic materials are used as contact sheets, then fluid absorption is improved, but contact uniformity with matrix deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition from cellulosic to non-cellulosic polyester, which modifies the fluid absorption mechanism while maintaining uniform contact with the gel matrix through superior pliability and conformability
3Manufacturing precision
If passive diffusion-driven staining is used, then background uniformity is improved, but staining time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive diffusion with active electrophoretic transport driven by electric field, accelerating the staining process from hours to minutes while the non-cellulosic material ensures uniform background that was previously only achievable with lengthy diffusion processes
Solution Approach 2:
The introduction of electric field as a driving force parameter fundamentally changes the transport mechanism, enabling rapid stain migration through the gel matrix while the non-cellulosic contact sheets maintain uniformity through their superior surface properties
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 significantly reduces staining time while achieving low and uniform stain backgrounds, improving the precision and accuracy of electrophoretic separation processes, including fingerprint detection and quantitation methods.
Implementation Method 1
a DC voltage is applied to the electrodes and across the assembly. The voltage difference between the electrodes causes the stain to migrate out of the solution-containing blotting paper and into the gel
Implementation Method 2
The disclosed method stains biopolymers using an electric field employing these source and sink contact sheets
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Staining compositions and methods for use with a matrix, such as an electrophoretic gel, containing separated biopolymers. The compositions including an acid, an organic solvent, and a generally planar, fluid-permeable gel contact sheet consisting primarily of a non-cellulosic material. The acid and organic solvent may be sorbed to the fluid-permeable gel contact sheet, or may be sorbed to a layers contactable with a non-gel contact side of the gel contact sheet. In one embodiment, the composition is a source electrophoretic stain composition including a staining reagent. In one embodiment, the composition is a sink electrophoretic stain composition including a sorbent. 955606