Plastic Gene Sequencing Substrate with Protective Metal Oxide Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing high-throughput sequencing chips with nano wells on glass substrates are costly and complex to manufacture, making them unaffordable for ordinary consumers.
Innovation Solution
A gene sequencing substrate with concave structures on a plastic base substrate, such as PMMA, PDMS, or PET, and a protective metal oxide layer, formed using nanoimprinting or exposure etching processes, which reduces production costs and simplifies the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nano wells are directly formed on a glass base substrate, then sequencing function is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the base substrate from glass to plastic, which fundamentally alters the manufacturing approach. Plastic substrates can be formed using injection molding or extrusion processes that are inherently more cost-effective and scalable than the specialized processes required for glass substrates with nano wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a master template with raised structures to imprint concave patterns onto the plastic substrate. This copying approach allows for high-volume production of identical sequencing wells through replication, significantly reducing per-unit manufacturing cost compared to direct formation methods on glass.
2Reliability
If nano wells are directly formed on a glass base substrate, then sequencing function is achieved, but manufacturing process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Changing the substrate material from glass to plastic enables the use of conventional plastic forming processes such as injection molding or extrusion with integrated molding inserts, replacing complex multi-step glass processing procedures with a more streamlined single-step forming operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates the well-forming master template directly into the molding process, creating the concave structures during the initial substrate formation. This preliminary action eliminates subsequent separate steps for creating the sequencing wells, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If a protective layer is added on the plastic substrate, then chemical resistance is improved, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure by depositing a thin protective layer (such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or parylene) onto the plastic substrate. This composite approach combines the cost-effective plastic base material with a chemically resistant coating, achieving both low cost and chemical stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is applied specifically to the regions requiring chemical resistance (the concave sequencing wells and flow channels) rather than uniformly across the entire substrate. This localized protection minimizes the added structural complexity while providing necessary chemical resistance where needed.
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
The use of a plastic substrate with a protective metal oxide layer for gene sequencing substrates lowers production costs and simplifies the manufacturing process, making high-throughput sequencing more accessible and cost-effective while maintaining sequencing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
softening the plastic base substrate by heating
Implementation Method 2
cooling the base substrate
Implementation Method 3
forming a first protective layer on the base substrate which at least covers the concave structures
Data Source
AI summary
A gene sequencing substrate and a method for manufacturing the same, and a gene sequencing device are provided. It belongs to the technical field of gene sequencing, and can solve the problem of high cost of the high-throughput sequencing chip in the prior art. The gene sequencing substrate of the present disclosure comprises a plastic material with concave structures as base substrate, and the concave structures serve as reaction cells. Since the base substrate has plasticity, the concave structures can be formed by a simple process to reduce the cost of the gene sequencing substrate. Meanwhile, a first protective layer may be provided on the inner wall of the concave structures for preventing the inner wall of the concave structures from being corroded by the reaction liquid.