Automated Plant Infiltration Device for Recombinant Protein Production
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing recombinant proteins in plants face challenges such as low transcription rates, protein instability, and high costs, making them inefficient and laborious for commercial production, particularly for vaccine development and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs).
Innovation Solution
A high-throughput plant-based recombinant protein production system using an automated plant infiltration device that rapidly and efficiently processes plants with various inoculums, enabling the expression, purification, and testing of recombinant proteins like VLPs-based vaccines, utilizing a robotic arm and vacuum infiltration tank for standardized and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional cell culture or egg-based systems are used for vaccine production, then protein production capability is achieved, but production time is extended and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional biological incubation systems (cell culture, egg-based systems) with a plant-based infiltration system. Plants are infiltrated with recombinant DNA directly through their leaves, bypassing the need for extended cell culture incubation periods. This substitution of the production system fundamentally changes the timeline from weeks of cell culture to much shorter plant growth and infiltration cycles.
2Ease of operation
If manual plant infiltration methods are used, then infiltration capability is achieved, but productivity remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the infiltration process into discrete, automated steps using a robotic system. The robotic arm divides the task of infiltrating multiple plants into individual actions, with each plant being handled, positioned, and infiltrated in a systematic sequence. This segmentation enables high-throughput processing while maintaining precise control over the infiltration operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated robotic system enables continuous infiltration operations without the interruptions inherent in manual methods. The robotic arm continuously moves between plants, performs infiltration actions, and progresses through the batch without pause, maximizing productivity while maintaining consistent infiltration quality across all samples.
3Quantity of substance
If complex production systems like cell culture are used, then protein production capability is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of recombinant protein production from complex cell culture systems and transfers it to a simpler plant-based system. By taking out only the necessary genetic material and delivering it directly to plants through infiltration, the system eliminates the need for complex cell culture infrastructure, bioreactors, and associated processing equipment, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining production capability.
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 system accelerates the discovery and development of new vaccines by allowing rapid screening and production of multiple antigen strategies, reducing production time and costs, and improving the quality control and standardization of plant-based vaccine production.
Implementation Method 1
an infiltration tank operable to receive the plant and at least one inoculum from the inoculum reservoirs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
It is provided a plant infiltration device for infiltrating plants with an inoculum and method of using same, the device comprising a frame having one or more tray racks adapted for receiving at least one tray of plants to be infiltrated; an automated manipulation mechanism mounted to the frame and operable to displace the plant trays within the device; a plurality of inoculum reservoirs mounted to the frame and containing one or more inoculum fluids; an infiltration tank mounted to the frame and within which the plant trays are received when disposed in the infiltration position; and a vacuum generating device in communication with the infiltration tank to apply a negative pressure within the infiltration tank, thereby opening pores of the plant leaves immersed in the inoculum within the infiltration tank and causing the inoculum fluid to infiltrate into the plant leaves.