Sol-Gel Kit for Biochip Fabrication with Delayed 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 of proteins, leading to denaturation, inactivation, and degradation, especially when using sol-gel processes that are prone to rapid gelation and non-uniform spot concentration.
Innovation Solution
A sol-gel kit and method involving sequential mixing and dispensing of specific silicate monomers, additives, and buffer solutions onto a substrate without pretreatment, controlling gelation rates and pH to create a uniform biochip with stable protein activity, using components like methyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminotrimethoxysilane, and PEG additives, and sodium phosphate buffer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proteins are immobilized on a surface-treated glass substrate using conventional methods, then the biochip can be fabricated, but the proteins undergo denaturation, inactivation, and degradation due to differences in physical and chemical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sol-gel derived coating materials as intermediary layers between the glass substrate and proteins. These coating materials (silicate-based polymers) provide a chemically compatible interface that prevents direct adverse interactions between proteins and the glass substrate surface, thereby maintaining protein activity while enabling fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the substrate surface by applying sol-gel derived coatings with specific compositions (containing silicate monomers, additives, and buffer solutions). This modifies surface chemistry to be more compatible with proteins, preventing denaturation and inactivation while allowing standard fabrication processes.
2Manufacturing precision
If sol-gel process is used to fabricate biochip, then protein immobilization is achieved, but rapid gelation occurs leading to non-uniform spot concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary preparation of sol-gel solutions with controlled compositions before dispensing. The sol solutions are pre-formulated with specific ratios of silicate monomers, additives, and buffer solutions to control gelation kinetics, ensuring uniform spot formation before gelation begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the gelation process dynamic and controllable by adjusting solution composition and dispensing parameters. The sol-gel system allows control over gelation rate through chemical composition, enabling the process to adapt to different fabrication requirements and achieve uniform spots.
3Reliability
If sequential mixing and dispensing of sol-gel components is performed, then uniform biochip with stable protein activity is achieved, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sol-gel system into separate components (silicate monomers, additives, buffer solutions) that are mixed sequentially during use. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for protein stability while simplifying storage and handling, as components can be stored separately and mixed only when needed.
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 enables the production of highly sensitive and uniform biochips with delayed gelation, preventing protein decomposition and ensuring consistent spot formation, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of protein detection.
Implementation Method 1
a sol-gel kit and method involving sequential mixing and dispensing of specific silicate monomers, additives, and buffer solutions onto a substrate without pretreatment, controlling gelation rates
Implementation Method 2
controlling gelation rates and pH to create a uniform biochip with stable protein activity, using components like methyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminotrimethoxysilane, and PEG additives, and sodium phosphate buffer
Data Source
AI summary
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.