Plasma Treatment Process for Bacteriophage Immobilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for immobilizing bacteriophages on substrates are limited by the need for direct plasma application, which damages heat-labile substrates and restricts treatment to small, planar objects, and do not allow for efficient covalent attachment on complex surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Generating plasma at a location separate from the substrate and applying a biological macromolecule to the substrate using a carrier fluid, enabling covalent attachment and retaining activity, particularly using secondary plasmas that can treat a wider range of substrates, including powders and complex surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct plasma application is used to immobilize bacteriophages on substrates, then covalent attachment is achieved, but heat-labile substrates are damaged and treatment is restricted to small planar objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a plasma-generating electrode as an intermediary that creates plasma in a separate chamber rather than directly applying plasma to the substrate. This mediator approach allows the substrate to be treated with activated species without direct exposure to harsh plasma energy, thus achieving covalent attachment while protecting heat-labile substrates from damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the plasma generation and substrate treatment into separate spatial zones - a plasma generation chamber and a treatment chamber. This segmentation allows independent optimization of plasma generation conditions for covalent bonding while maintaining gentler conditions for substrate exposure, resolving the contradiction between attachment efficiency and substrate protection
2Reliability
If direct plasma application is used for phage immobilization, then covalent binding is achieved, but treatment is limited to small planar objects
Solution Approach 1:
By using a plasma-generating electrode as an intermediary that creates plasma in a separate chamber, the system can treat substrates of various shapes and sizes without direct plasma contact. The activated species are transported to the substrate through the chamber environment, enabling treatment of complex geometries while maintaining covalent binding efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional direct plasma contact to a three-dimensional plasma environment where activated species diffuse through the chamber. This dimensional change allows plasma-generated reactive species to reach and bind to substrates of various geometries including powders, particles, and complex shapes, greatly enhancing adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If secondary plasma is used to treat substrates, then a wider range of substrates can be treated, but covalent attachment efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary plasma generation in a separate chamber to activate the substrate surface before the actual phage immobilization step. This preliminary action creates reactive groups on the substrate that enable subsequent covalent bonding, allowing secondary plasma treatment to achieve both broad substrate compatibility and effective covalent attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous plasma generation and activated species transport throughout the treatment process. The plasma is continuously generated in the chamber and transported to the substrate, ensuring consistent activation and covalent bonding conditions while accommodating various substrate types without compromising attachment efficiency
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 efficient, covalent immobilization of bacteriophages on diverse substrates, including heat-sensitive materials and those with complex geometries, while maintaining biological activity and increasing binding efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
exposing said substrate to plasma
Implementation Method 2
applying said biological macromolecule to said substrate using a carrier fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for producing products with molecules or macromolecules attached thereto and apparatus for carrying out this method. The method comprises the steps of: (a) generating a plasma at a location separated from the substrate; and (b) contacting the substrate exposed to the plasma with the biological macromolecule. Suitably the macromolecule is a bacteriophage. Thus, products of methods of the invention are for prevention and amelioration of bacterial contamination of the product or materials in contact with said product or products.