Support-Attached Nuclease Processing to Reduce Single-Cell Clustering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of extracellular nucleic acid molecules in biological samples complicates data analysis and causes cell clustering during single-cell analysis, leading to inaccurate results.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a support with an attached catalyst, such as a nuclease, to degrade extracellular nucleic acids, followed by separation of the support to obtain de-aggregated cells for use in single-cell systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extracellular nucleic acid molecules are present in the sample, then cell clustering occurs during single-cell analysis, but data accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes extracellular nucleic acid molecules from the sample using a support with attached catalysts (such as nucleases) that specifically degrade these extracellular molecules. This extraction process eliminates the harmful factor (extracellular nucleic acids) that causes cell clustering, thereby improving data accuracy in single-cell analysis without affecting the target cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of extracellular nucleic acids (which cause unwanted clustering) into a beneficial process by using catalysts that deliberately degrade these molecules. The presence of extracellular nucleic acids, which was initially harmful, is transformed into an opportunity to apply enzymatic degradation and achieve cleaner, more accurate single-cell data.
2Measurement precision
If extracellular nucleic acid molecules are present in the sample, then analysis complications arise, but sample processing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by treating the sample with support-attached catalysts before the actual single-cell analysis. This pre-treatment step degrades extracellular nucleic acids in advance, simplifying the subsequent analysis process and improving measurement precision without adding complexity during the main analysis phase.
3Reliability
If support with catalyst is used to degrade extracellular nucleic acids, then data accuracy improves, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using support-attached catalysts that automatically degrade extracellular nucleic acids when the sample is treated with the support. The catalysts are already positioned and ready to act, eliminating the need for additional manual intervention or complex processing protocols, thus maintaining high productivity while improving data accuracy.
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
Reduces the presence of extracellular nucleic acids, improving data accuracy and enabling proper cell clustering for single-cell analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The catalyst may be configured to degrade an extracellular nucleic acid in the sample
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, compositions and kits for contacting a sample containing a biological particle with a catalyst associated with or attached to a support. The biological particle may be cells and/or nuclei. The catalyst may be an enzyme configured to digest an extracellular molecule, such as an extracellular biological molecule, including extracellular nucleic acid molecules. In some examples, the biological particle is an aggregate of cells that is processed to single cells with a nuclease that is attached to a bead support. The bead and nuclease may subsequently be removed from the system. The single cells that result from the method can be used in single cell-based droplet systems for obtaining genome or transcriptome profiles of single cells.