Silica Surface Co-Isolation of Nucleic Acids and Proteins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for isolating DNA, RNA, and proteins from biological samples require large sample volumes, are time-consuming, use toxic chemicals, and can lead to contamination, with high equipment costs and limited sample processing capacity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a silica-containing surface with a high salt, low pH buffer binds RNA and proteins simultaneously, allowing for their co-isolation from a single sample, followed by sequential or simultaneous elution using specific buffers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate isolation protocols are used for DNA, RNA, and proteins, then isolation reliability is improved, but processing time increases and sample volume requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple isolation protocols into a single unified method that simultaneously isolates DNA, RNA, and proteins from the same sample using a silica-containing surface. The buffer conditions are specifically optimized to enable concurrent binding of all three biomolecule types, eliminating the need for sequential processing and reducing overall processing time while maintaining isolation reliability through controlled elution conditions for each biomolecule type.
Solution Approach 2:
The silica-containing surface serves multiple functions by enabling the binding and isolation of different biomolecule types (DNA, RNA, and proteins) under the same conditions. This universal approach allows a single reagent system to perform what previously required multiple specialized protocols, thereby reducing processing time and sample volume requirements while maintaining the reliability needed for each specific biomolecule isolation.
2Reliability
If large sample volumes are used, then isolation reliability is improved, but sample availability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the isolation of DNA, RNA, and proteins into a single protocol applied to one sample, the method maximizes the utilization of available sample material. This eliminates the need to divide samples into multiple aliquots for separate isolations, thereby reducing the total sample volume required while maintaining isolation reliability through the optimized buffer chemistry that ensures efficient binding of all biomolecule types simultaneously.
3Reliability
If phenol-based extraction is used, then isolation reliability is improved, but safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the toxic phenol-based extraction system with a silica-containing surface-based method that uses safer buffer reagents. This substitution eliminates the need for hazardous chemicals while maintaining isolation reliability through the physical adsorption properties of silica, which selectively binds biomolecules under controlled buffer conditions without requiring toxic solvents.
4Reliability
If ultracentrifuges are used, then isolation reliability is improved, but equipment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive ultracentrifuge equipment with a simpler silica-containing surface-based system that can be processed using standard centrifugation or filtration equipment. The silica surface provides the necessary separation functionality through chemical adsorption rather than requiring high-speed centrifugal forces, thereby significantly reducing equipment costs while maintaining isolation reliability through the specific buffer conditions that ensure complete biomolecule binding to the silica surface.
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
Enables efficient co-isolation of DNA, RNA, and proteins from small sample volumes, reducing processing time and avoiding contamination, while using safer reagents and lower equipment costs.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the sample with a silica-containing surface in the presence of a high salt, low pH buffer having a pH of less than or equal to 4.0 and a salt concentration of greater than 1M, whereby the silica-containing surface binds substantially all of the RNA and protein present in the sample
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided are methods for isolating biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, from a sample using a silica-containing surface and/or a high salt, low pH buffer.