Sol-Gel Kit for Biochip Fabrication with Controlled Gelation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biochip fabrication methods face challenges in maintaining protein activity and uniformity due to differences in physical and chemical properties between proteins and DNA, leading to denaturation, inactivation, and degradation, especially when using sol-gel processes that are complex and prone to non-uniform gelation and decomposition.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a sol-gel kit where specific silicate monomers and additives are mixed sequentially and dispensed onto a substrate without pretreatment, controlling gelation rate and pH to create a uniform biochip with high sensitivity, using a sol composition comprising SolB1, SolB2, SolB3, SolBH, and SolBS, which includes HCl, H2SO4, and CH3COOH, and a buffer solution to stabilize the biological material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If proteins are immobilized on a surface-treated glass substrate using conventional DNA chip fabrication methods, then the biochip can be manufactured with existing technology, but the proteins undergo denaturation, inactivation and degradation due to differences in physical and chemical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the substrate surface by introducing sol-gel coating layers with different compositions (TEOS, TMOS, MTES, etc.) and pH conditions. This creates a chemical environment that is compatible with protein immobilization, preventing denaturation while maintaining manufacturability through controlled chemical transformations during the sol-gel process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures consisting of multiple sol-gel coating layers with different chemical compositions applied sequentially on the glass substrate. Each layer provides specific functional properties that collectively create an optimal surface for protein immobilization, combining the mechanical stability of glass with the biochemical compatibility of organic-inorganic hybrid materials
2Reliability
If a sol-gel process is used to immobilize biomolecules, then protein activity can be maintained through mild immobilization conditions, but the process becomes complex and prone to non-uniform gelation and decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sol-gel process into distinct sequential stages: first applying a TEOS-based coating layer, then applying additional sol-gel layers with specific compositions (TMOS, MTES, GPTMS, etc.). Each stage is controlled independently to achieve uniform gelation at each step, reducing overall process complexity while maintaining protein activity through mild conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary surface treatment by applying sol-gel coating layers before protein immobilization. This preliminary action creates a pre-conditioned surface that facilitates subsequent protein attachment while maintaining uniform gelation and preventing decomposition, thereby simplifying the overall process
3Ease of manufacture
If sequential mixing and dispensing of sol compositions is performed without pretreatment, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but uniformity and sensitivity of the biochip may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls critical parameters including pH (adjusted to specific ranges for each sol composition), solvent ratios (water/ethanol proportions), and curing temperatures during sequential dispensing. These parameter controls ensure uniform gelation and consistent biochip performance while maintaining the simplicity of the sequential mixing and dispensing approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms by monitoring gelation progress and adjusting subsequent dispensing parameters based on previous layer characteristics. This ensures uniformity across multiple layers while maintaining process simplicity through adaptive control rather than complex pre-planning
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 enables the fabrication of biochips with high sensitivity and uniformity, preventing protein decomposition and denaturation, and allows for accurate detection of target biological materials without the need for complex pretreatment processes.
Implementation Method 1
a sol-gel process is a technology which has been used to make a micro-structure by microprocessing. Particularly, it is a technology comprised of forming a binding net by a mild process and immobilizing biomolecules within the binding net
Implementation Method 2
the sol-gel reaction is used as a method for forming and patterning a microstructure on a solid support
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(A)~2(B)
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a protein chip by gelation of a sol composition. In the method, a mixture of specific silicate monomers, such as SolB1, SolB2 and SolB3, SolBH, and a mixture of SolBS, distilled water and a detector protein are mixed sequentially, so that the gelation rate of the sol composition can be delayed, thus inducing the stable gelation of the composition. Also, the biochip can be fabricated in a simple and easy manner by dispensing the sol composition by hand using an arrayer or a tool such as a pipette. In addition, a uniform biochip can be prepared by dispensing the sol composition, solution I (SolBH) and solution II (a mixture of buffer, SolBS, distilled water and a detector protein) sequentially onto a substrate without needing a conventional pretreatment process such as mixing.