Nucleic Acid Extraction Cartridge Ultrasonic Electrophoresis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nucleic acid extraction methods are inefficient, often requiring harmful solvents, complex processes, and prone to clogging, making them inconvenient and time-consuming, especially when dealing with samples containing low concentrations of nucleic acid.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines ultrasonic processing, adsorption using a cation exchange resin or zeolite, and electrophoresis in the same cell, eliminating the need for sample transfer and reducing the risk of contamination, using a nucleic-acid extraction cartridge with electrodes, a damming section, and an ultrasonic-wave generation section to efficiently extract nucleic acids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If phenol, chloroform or ethanol are used for nucleic acid extraction, then extraction efficiency is improved, but harmful organic solvents are required and complex centrifugal separation processes are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical extraction methods using phenol, chloroform, or ethanol with a physical method combining ultrasonic vibration and electrophoresis. The ultrasonic wave generation section disrupts cell membranes to release nucleic acids, and the electrophoresis process separates nucleic acids from proteins and other contaminants through electric field-driven migration, eliminating the need for harmful organic solvents and complex centrifugal separation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and isolates nucleic acids from complex biological samples by utilizing the selective migration properties of nucleic acids under electrophoresis. The nucleic acids are separated from proteins, metabolites, and other cellular components based on their charge and size, allowing pure nucleic acid extraction without chemical solvents
2Ease of operation
If columns or filters are used to adsorb nucleic acid, then nucleic acid extraction is simplified, but the column and filter are prone to clogging causing operation inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical filtration through columns and filters with a field-based separation method using electrophoresis. Nucleic acids are separated from contaminants through electric field-driven migration in a gel or solution medium, eliminating physical contact with filters that are prone to clogging while maintaining operational simplicity
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate cells are used for ultrasonic process, adsorption process and electrophoresis process, then each process can be optimized independently, but sample transfer between cells is required increasing operation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines three separate processing functions (ultrasonic treatment, adsorption, and electrophoresis) into a single integrated cell structure. The cell contains all necessary components including ultrasonic wave generation section, adsorption carrier, and electrophoresis electrodes, allowing the sample to undergo all processing steps in sequence without transfer, thereby simplifying operation while maintaining process optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The single cell structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the reaction vessel for ultrasonic treatment, the adsorption chamber for removing contaminants, and the electrophoresis chamber for nucleic acid separation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate cells and sample transfers
4Reliability
If traditional extraction methods are used, then complete extraction procedures can be achieved, but the process takes a long time and is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic ultrasonic vibration to rapidly disrupt cell membranes and release nucleic acids, followed by periodic electrophoresis cycles that quickly separate and concentrate nucleic acids. This periodic action replaces lengthy traditional extraction protocols with rapid, time-efficient processing steps that maintain complete extraction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming chemical extraction steps with rapid physical processes. Ultrasonic vibration quickly breaks down cellular structures, and electrophoresis rapidly separates nucleic acids from contaminants based on their physical properties, dramatically reducing total extraction time while ensuring complete nucleic acid recovery
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 method allows for easy operation, rapid extraction of nucleic acids with high efficiency, reducing the risk of contamination and eliminating the need for harmful solvents and complex processes, while effectively handling samples with low nucleic acid concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
performing an ultrasonic process on a sample containing a nucleic acid
Implementation Method 2
adsorbing substances contained in the sample by making use of an adsorption carrier
Implementation Method 3
condensing the nucleic acid by damming the nucleic acid moving in an electrophoresis phenomenon
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a nucleic-acid extraction method for carrying out the following procedures in the same cell, the procedures including: performing an ultrasonic process on a sample containing a nucleic acid; adsorbing substances contained in the sample by making use of an adsorption carrier; and condensing the nucleic acid by damming the nucleic acid moving in an electrophoresis phenomenon. In accordance with the nucleic-acid extraction method, it is possible to carry out an ultrasonic process, an adsorption process and an electrophoresis process in the same cell. Thus, it is possible to eliminate an operation to transfer the sample from one cell to another one for each of the processes.