SPR Sensor Substrate Immobilization via Covalent Bonding and Controlled Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for immobilizing physiologically active substances on substrates for surface plasmon resonance measurement devices often result in substance inactivation due to covalent bonding and require large amounts of solution, making it challenging to achieve high concentration immobilization without electrostatic attraction.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the formation of a thin film of a solution containing a physiologically active substance on a sensor substrate, followed by controlled drying to prevent inactivation, using a hydrophilic polymer layer for covalent bonding, and applying the solution at a high concentration without pH restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If electrostatic attraction is used to immobilize physiologically active substances at high concentration, then immobilization concentration is improved, but large amounts of solution are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental mechanism from electrostatic attraction to covalent bonding, allowing immobilization without pH restrictions and reducing solution consumption. The covalent bonding mechanism enables high-concentration immobilization through direct chemical attachment rather than relying on electrostatic fields that require large solution volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrostatic field-based immobilization mechanism with a chemical bonding mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for maintaining electrostatic fields in large solution volumes, thereby reducing solution consumption while achieving high immobilization concentration through covalent attachment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If covalent bonding is used to immobilize physiologically active substances, then immobilization stability is improved, but substance inactivation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient in crosslinking density within the hydrogel layer. The region closer to the substrate has higher crosslinking density for stability, while regions farther away have lower density to preserve substance activity. This spatial variation in bonding characteristics allows simultaneous achievement of immobilization stability and substance reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials combining hydrogel networks with embedded physiologically active substances. The hydrogel provides a stable matrix for immobilization while its hydrophilic nature and porous structure protect the embedded substances from inactivation, maintaining both stability and activity.
3Loss of substance
If solution is applied in small amount for immobilization, then solution consumption is reduced, but drying causes inactivation or spontaneous drying occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes controlled phase transition of water from liquid to vapor through gradual drying. The hydrogel matrix maintains water retention during this transition, preventing spontaneous drying and inactivation. The controlled phase change allows small solution amounts to be applied without causing harmful drying effects.
4Productivity
If pH is restricted to maintain charge for electrostatic attraction, then immobilization efficiency is improved, but pH flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pH-dependent electrostatic attraction with pH-independent covalent bonding. This substitution eliminates the need to maintain specific pH ranges for charge generation, thereby achieving high immobilization efficiency without pH restrictions and fully restoring pH flexibility for various applications.
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 high-concentration, uniform immobilization of physiologically active substances on substrates, reducing the risk of inactivation and minimizing the amount of substance used, while allowing for arbitrary pH settings and efficient production.
Implementation Method 1
a layer for immobilizing a physiologically active substance, capable of forming a covalent bond with a physiologically active substance
Implementation Method 2
drying the solution within 10 minutes
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for production of a physiologically active substance-immobilized substrate, which can prevent the inactivation of a physiologically active substance and/or can immobilize a physiologically active substance at a high concentration onto a substrate surface without use of electrostatic attraction. The present invention provides a method for production of a physiologically active substance-immobilized substrate, which comprises steps of applying, to a metal substrate having a layer for immobilizing a physiologically active substance, a solution containing a physiologically active substance capable of forming a covalent bond with a molecule constituting the layer for immobilizing a physiologically active substance; and then drying the solution.