Nucleic Acid Data Recording by In-Flight Droplet Merging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for recording data in nucleic acids using base-to-base nucleotide synthesis are costly and slow, while block-by-block methods using nucleic acid components like oligonucleotides are inefficient in positioning and require high reaction volumes, leading to high costs, evaporation, and contamination risks.

Innovation Solution

A device and method for recording data in nucleic acids using a plurality of liquid dispensers to dispense drops that sequentially collide and merge with a carrier drop, positioning nucleic acid components in-flight before landing on a collecting element, minimizing reaction volumes and evaporation, and using immiscible liquids to protect the drops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If base-to-base nucleotide synthesis is used to record data in nucleic acids, then data can be recorded in nucleotide sequences, but the process is costly and slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata recording capabilityVSAvoidrecording speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the nucleic acid sequence into discrete blocks, where each block represents a unit of data. Instead of synthesizing nucleic acids base-by-base, the system uses pre-synthesized oligonucleotide blocks that can be rapidly assembled through droplet merging, dramatically improving recording speed while maintaining data integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary synthesis of oligonucleotide blocks separately before the actual data recording process. These pre-synthesized blocks are stored and ready for rapid assembly, eliminating the time-consuming base-by-base synthesis during the recording phase and enabling high-throughput data storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If block-by-block method with nucleic acid components is used, then recording becomes more accessible, but positioning multiple components together requires high reaction volumes leading to high costs, evaporation, and contamination risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata recording accessibilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses droplet-based microfluidics to position and merge nucleic acid components. Liquid dispensers create and manipulate discrete droplets containing individual oligonucleotide blocks, allowing precise positioning and merging in minimal volumes. This hydraulic approach eliminates the need for large reaction volumes, reducing evaporation and contamination risks while maintaining ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses droplets as flexible containment shells for nucleic acid components. Each droplet acts as an isolated micro-reaction chamber that can be precisely manipulated and merged with other droplets. This droplet encapsulation protects the nucleic acid components from contamination while enabling rapid mixing and assembly in minimal volumes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If multiple nucleic acid components are positioned together in high reaction volumes, then assembly and binding can occur, but costs increase and evaporation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly capabilityVSAvoidevaporation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses droplet-based microfluidics to perform assembly and binding reactions in nanoliter to picoliter volumes. The liquid dispensers precisely control droplet formation, merging, and transport, enabling efficient nucleic acid assembly without requiring large reaction volumes. This minimizes evaporation losses while maintaining ease of operation through automated droplet manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 rapid, high-throughput production of distinct carrier drops with minimal binding reagents, reducing contamination and evaporation risks, and lowering costs by minimizing reaction volumes and plastic consumables.

Implementation Method 1

A device and a method for recording data in nucleic acids using a plurality of liquid dispensers to dispense drops that sequentially collide and merge with a carrier drop

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrop collision and merging:

Implementation Method 2

using immiscible liquids to protect the drops

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImmiscibility:

Data Source

PatentUS20250218548A1A device and a method for recording data in nucleic acids

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 BIOSISTEMIKA D O O

AI summary

A device for recording data in nucleic acids that includes a liquid dispenser configured to dispense a carrier drop, a drop collecting element, wherein during operation of the device the carrier drop flies from the liquid dispenser towards the drop collecting element in a trajectory, and at least two other liquid dispensers, arranged such that the carrier drop's trajectory passes by the at least two other liquid dispensers. The at least two other liquid dispensers are configured to dispense two respective drops towards the trajectory of the carrier drop in a synchronized manner, such that the carrier drop sequentially collides with the two drops. Each drop of the two drops aggregately includes a subset of components from a set of nucleic acid components, thereby the subsets of components are located in the carrier drop during flight and before the carrier drop lands on the drop collecting element.