Polymer Replica Substrate for High-Sensitivity Sensor Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficiency of producing substrate sensors using molecularly imprinted polymers is low due to the high cost and instability of target molecules, and the surface information of the original target molecule is not accurately inherited in sequential molecular imprinting processes, resulting in sensors with low sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the creation of a polymer replica of a target molecule, where a vinyl group is introduced into binding groups on the target molecule, allowing for accurate copying of surface information through molecular imprinting, and subsequent use of this replica as a template to produce a second molecularly imprinted polymer with preserved surface information, enhancing sensor sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a purified target molecule is used as a template for molecular imprinting, then the molecular recognition accuracy is improved, but the production cost increases and the target molecule is consumed and degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a polymer replica (copy) of the target molecule that preserves the surface information including binding groups. This replica serves as a reusable template for molecular imprinting, eliminating the need to consume expensive purified target molecules while maintaining recognition accuracy. The copying process involves creating a first MIP with recesses matching the target molecule, then using that MIP as a template to create a second MIP (polymer replica) with protrusions that replicate the target's surface features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers and reuses the template function through the polymer replica. Instead of discarding the target molecule after single-use templating, the polymer replica is created as a durable substitute that can be reused multiple times for producing substrate sensors, thereby recovering the template's functional value.
2Productivity
If sequential molecular imprinting is performed to create a polymer replica, then the template reuse is improved, but the surface information inheritance accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vinyl groups into the binding groups of the target molecule before the molecular imprinting process. This preliminary modification ensures that the binding groups are properly incorporated into the polymer structure during imprinting, preserving their spatial and chemical information. This pre-preparation step is crucial for maintaining surface information accuracy through the sequential imprinting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material strategies by incorporating vinyl-functionalized monomers that specifically interact with the vinyl-modified binding groups. This creates a polymer matrix that selectively preserves the binding group information while providing structural support, thereby maintaining surface information fidelity during the replica creation process.
3Ease of manufacture
If the target molecule is used once and then decomposed, then the template cost is reduced for each production run, but the overall production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of repeatedly synthesizing or purifying target molecules for each production run, the patent creates a durable polymer replica copy that can serve as a template for multiple sensor production cycles. This eliminates the need for repeated target molecule preparation and disposal, significantly improving production efficiency while maintaining ease of manufacture through the reusable replica.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a polymer replica is created to replace the target molecule as template, then the target molecule stability is improved, but the surface information accuracy may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction of vinyl groups into binding groups before imprinting ensures that these critical surface features are chemically anchored into the polymer structure. This preliminary chemical modification guarantees that the polymer replica will stably preserve the binding group information throughout its使用寿命, preventing information loss while achieving compositional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical state of binding groups by introducing vinyl functionality, which allows them to participate in copolymerization. This parameter change (from native binding groups to vinyl-modified binding groups) ensures both stable incorporation into the polymer matrix and preservation of the original binding group's spatial and functional information in the replica.
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 allows for the accurate inheritance of surface information from the target molecule, resulting in a substrate sensor with high sensitivity and cost-effectiveness, enabling the mass production of molecular recognition materials.
Implementation Method 1
a vinyl group is introduced into binding groups on the target molecule, allowing for accurate copying of surface information through molecular imprinting
Implementation Method 2
copolymerizing the vinyl monomer with the vinyl monomer group of the functional monomer (I) and the vinyl monomer group of the functional monomer (II)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a polymer replica of a target molecule, the polymer replica being capable of accurately inheriting surface information possessed by the target molecule in a molecular imprinting technique. A polymer replica of a target substance, the target substance having multiple types of binding groups including at least a binding group BG1 and a binding group BG2 on the surface, wherein: the polymer replica is configured from a second molecularly imprinted polymer having, as a template, a first molecularly imprinted polymer having the target substance as a template; the polymer replica has on the surface thereof at least a binding group bg1 at a position corresponding to the position of binding group BG1 and a binding group bg2 at a position corresponding to the position of the binding group BG2 on the surface of the target substance; and the polymer replica of the target substance can be used as a template during synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer having a specific recognition site for the target substance because the polymer replica accurately inherits the surface information possessed by the target molecule.