Partitioned Sample Preparation Using Disruptable Beads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biological samples in partition-based systems face incompatibility issues between reagents, leading to ineffective biochemical reactions due to inhibition, competing reaction mechanisms, and disparate reaction conditions, which hinder successive operations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of disruptable beads that contain reagents for conducting reactions, generating reaction products, and further using these products to create additional beads for subsequent reactions, allowing for successive operations in partition-based systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If reagents are introduced into partition-based systems for biochemical reactions, then reactions can be conducted in parallel, but reagent incompatibility occurs due to inhibition, competing reaction mechanisms, or disparate reaction conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments reagents into separate compartments (partitions) before introducing them to the target. Each partition contains specific reagents that are introduced sequentially rather than simultaneously, preventing incompatibility between reagents while maintaining parallel processing capability across multiple partitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary separation of reagents into different partitions before the actual biochemical reaction. This preliminary action ensures that incompatible reagents are kept separate until needed, allowing successive operations to be performed without interference from competing reaction mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If successive biochemical operations are performed in partition-based systems, then multiple reactions can be conducted, but reagent incompatibility renders partition merging techniques ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate partitions for different reagents and performs operations sequentially by introducing reagents one at a time to the same partition. This eliminates the need for partition merging while enabling successive operations, as each reagent is introduced in a controlled manner without requiring merging of incompatible partitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically controls the introduction of reagents into partitions through controlled fluid delivery. Reagents are introduced sequentially in a dynamic manner, allowing the system to adapt to different reaction requirements without requiring static partition merging configurations.
3Productivity
If multiple reagents are introduced simultaneously into a partition, then reaction efficiency increases, but inhibition and competing reaction mechanisms reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary separation of reagents into different partitions before introducing them to the target. This preliminary action allows reagents to be pre-organized in a way that prevents inhibition and competing reactions, while still enabling efficient successive operations through controlled sequential introduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by sequentially introducing reagents to the same partition without requiring partition merging. Each reagent is introduced and allowed to react completely before the next reagent is added, ensuring continuous productive operation while preventing harmful interactions between reagents.
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 feasible biochemical reactions with compatible reagents by disrupting beads to generate precursors for subsequent reactions, enhancing the efficiency of sample preparation and analysis in microfluidic partition-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
using the one or more precursors to generate a second bead, which second bead comprises the one or more reaction products
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for sample preparation and/or analysis. Samples may be cells, or may be derived from one or more cells. Sample preparation may comprise conducting one or more reactions on a target. Such reactions may be conducted in one or more partitions. One or more reactions may be performed in one or more successive operations.