Photodegradable Oligonucleotide Blockers for Selective Flow Cell Seeding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biotechnological applications face challenges in selectively seeding different DNA libraries onto a polymer-coated substrate surface, as primers attached to the surface are often permanently blocked, limiting their availability for molecular analyses.
Innovation Solution
The use of photodegradable oligonucleotide blockers that hybridize with primers on the polymer-coated substrate, allowing for temporary blocking until exposure to a specific wavelength of light, which triggers the removal of the blockers and activates the primers for seeding DNA library templates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If photodegradable oligonucleotide blockers are used to temporarily block primers, then the availability and versatility of primers for selective DNA library seeding is improved, but the device complexity and process steps increase due to requiring photodegradation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The photodegradable oligonucleotide blocker serves as an intermediary substance that temporarily prevents primer-DNA library binding. The blocker contains a photodegradable moiety that, upon light exposure, degrades to remove the blocking function, thereby activating the primer for selective DNA library seeding without requiring complex mechanical or chemical activation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical activation systems with a photochemical mechanism. By incorporating photodegradable moieties into the oligonucleotide blockers, the system uses light exposure to trigger blocker degradation and primer activation, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining selective control
2Ease of operation
If photodegradable oligonucleotide blockers are used for temporary blocking, then the controlled release and selective activation of primers is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and process steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The photodegradable oligonucleotide blockers are pre-synthesized with photodegradable moieties incorporated into their structure before being introduced to the flow cell. This preliminary incorporation of the photodegradable functionality simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for post-fabrication activation mechanisms or complex assembly steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in the chemical structure of the oligonucleotide blockers through photodegradation. The photodegradable moiety undergoes structural transformation upon light exposure, changing from a blocking state to an activated state, thereby enabling controlled primer availability without requiring complex manufacturing 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
This approach enables the selective and controlled seeding of different DNA libraries onto discrete regions of a polymer-coated substrate, enhancing the versatility and efficiency of molecular analyses.
Implementation Method 1
Upon selective exposure to a preselected wavelength of light, the oligonucleotide blockers undergo a structural change and become removable (or are removed) from the passivated primers
Data Source
AI summary
An example of a flow cell includes a substrate; a polymeric hydrogel applied over at least a portion of a surface of the substrate; and a plurality of primers attached to the polymeric hydrogel. The flow cell further includes a plurality of photodegradable oligonucleotide blockers respectively hybridized to at least some of the plurality of primers.