Polysaccharide Nucleic Acid Isolation for Rapid Automated Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nucleic acid extraction methods are lengthy and not easily amenable to automation, requiring extensive sample processing and often include components that inhibit polymerase activity, making them unsuitable for rapid and accurate molecular diagnostics.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of an aqueous composition containing a polysaccharide with uronic acid units to isolate nucleic acids by precipitation or flocculation, which can be concentrated on a solid support, facilitating rapid and automated nucleic acid isolation compatible with detection methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional nucleic acid extraction methods are used, then nucleic acids can be isolated, but the process is lengthy and not easily amenable to automation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveisolation speedVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and isolates only the essential function of nucleic acid separation from complex traditional extraction protocols. By using a simplified aqueous composition with specific polysaccharides and salts, the method extracts nucleic acids directly without requiring multiple sequential steps of organic extraction, precipitation, and washing that characterize traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extraction medium by using aqueous compositions with specific polysaccharides (such as xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum) and salts at controlled concentrations. This parameter change enables nucleic acid isolation to proceed in a single step at room temperature, eliminating the need for organic solvents, high-speed centrifugation, and multiple washing steps required by traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traditional nucleic acid extraction methods are used, then nucleic acids can be isolated, but components that inhibit polymerase activity remain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassay accuracyVSAvoidisolation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of residual reagents into a beneficial outcome by selecting aqueous composition components that inherently do not inhibit polymerase activity. The use of food-grade polysaccharides and common salts replaces traditional organic extraction reagents that often leave inhibitory residues, thereby ensuring assay reliability without compromising isolation speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The aqueous composition acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates nucleic acid isolation without introducing harmful substances. The polysaccharides and salts in the composition mediate the separation process through selective binding and precipitation, avoiding the use of phenol, chloroform, or other organic reagents that can inhibit downstream polymerase reactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If extensive sample processing is performed, then nucleic acid quality improves, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenucleic acid qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-formulating aqueous compositions with optimized concentrations of polysaccharides and salts that are ready for direct application to samples. This pre-prepared composition eliminates the need for stepwise addition of reagents and intermediate processing steps, achieving high nucleic acid quality in a single incubation step followed by simple centrifugation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method allows for efficient and rapid isolation of nucleic acids from various samples, including blood and tissue, with high yields and compatibility with automated systems, without inhibiting subsequent detection processes.

Implementation Method 1

contacting a sample comprising a nucleic acid with an aqueous composition comprising a polysaccharide comprising one or more uronic acid units; and concentrating the nucleic acid on a solid support thereby isolating the nucleic acid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation