Saliva Filtration and Ethanol Stabilization for Ambient Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting nucleic acids and proteins from saliva require immediate processing with specialized instrumentation and trained personnel, and involve the use of stabilizers and low-temperature storage, making them impractical for user-friendly, point-of-care applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for stabilizing RNA and protein samples from saliva using filtration and ethanol solutions, allowing for storage at room temperature for extended periods without significant degradation, enabling non-professional collection and analysis of biomarkers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current standard procedures for salivary transcriptomic diagnostics are used (requiring immediate processing with specialized instrumentation), then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-stabilizing nucleic acids and proteins in the saliva sample immediately after collection through the addition of stabilization reagents. This preliminary stabilization step preserves the sample's integrity for extended periods without requiring immediate complex processing, thereby enabling point-of-care applications while maintaining diagnostic reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses stabilization reagents as intermediary substances that mediate between sample collection and analysis. These reagents act as protective intermediaries that prevent degradation of nucleic acids and proteins, allowing the sample to be stored and transported without specialized equipment while maintaining its diagnostic quality.
2Measurement precision
If immediate processing with specialized instrumentation is required, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary stabilization of the sample immediately after collection, which prevents time-dependent degradation. This allows the sample to be stored for extended periods without losing measurement precision, effectively eliminating the need for immediate processing while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
3Reliability
If low-temperature storage and stabilizers are used, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation and device complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the sample by adding stabilization reagents that modify the molecular environment of nucleic acids and proteins. This chemical parameter change enables the sample to remain stable at ambient temperatures without requiring complex low-temperature storage systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
4Measurement precision
If specialized instrumentation and trained personnel are required, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the sample to serve itself by incorporating stabilization reagents that automatically preserve the sample's integrity without requiring skilled intervention. The stabilization process is self-executing upon addition of reagents, eliminating the need for trained personnel to maintain sample quality during storage and transport.
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 stable storage and analysis of saliva samples at ambient temperature for up to two weeks, facilitating user-friendly, point-of-care diagnostics and reducing the need for specialized equipment and trained personnel.
Implementation Method 1
adding an alcohol solution to the first receiving device to produce an alcohol-containing filtered sample comprising a protein sample
Implementation Method 2
filtering the saliva sample to produce a filtered sample that is free of cells
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is an all-in-one saliva collection apparatus that collects saliva to allow for the filtration of saliva in order to separate saliva components, such as extracellular proteins and nucleic acids that are not present in intact cells, from the intact cells and debris remaining in the extracted sample. The filtered saliva samples can be aliquoted into two fractions for protein and/or nucleic acid analysis. The present invention further describes long term storage at ambient temperatures of filtered salivary nucleic acids, and long term storage at ambient temperatures of filtered salivary proteins added to an ethanol solution. The filtered cell-free saliva samples have diagnostic usefulness.