Swab-Based Nucleic Acid Isolation via Dual-Liquid Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current molecular biology procedures for nucleic acid purification are often complex, time-consuming, and require harsh chemicals, making it difficult to efficiently isolate nucleic acids from biological samples, especially when multiple target nucleic acids or unknown sequences are involved.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a swab that transfers a biological sample into a wash liquid to release a first portion of the sample, followed by transfer into a carrier liquid to release a second portion, allowing for the separation of nucleic acids from other sample components without the need for pipetting, using a swab with flocked or wrapped fibers and specific liquids to facilitate the release of desired materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional nucleic acid purification methods are used, then nucleic acids can be isolated, but the procedures become complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The method segments the nucleic acid isolation process into distinct functional zones within a single tube: a capture zone with magnetic beads for nucleic acid binding, a wash zone for removing impurities, and an elution zone for recovering purified nucleic acids. This spatial segmentation allows complex purification steps to occur sequentially in one vessel, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining isolation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic beads serve as an intermediary carrier that facilitates nucleic acid purification. The beads capture nucleic acids from the sample, can be magnetically separated for washing, and then release the purified nucleic acids in the final step. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall procedure by replacing multiple manual manipulation steps with a single magnetic separation-based workflow
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional nucleic acid purification methods are used, then nucleic acids can be isolated, but harsh chemicals and long processing times are required
Solution Approach 1:
The method replaces traditional mechanical manipulation steps (pipetting, centrifugation, filtration) with magnetic field-based separation. Magnetic beads functionalized with nucleic acid-binding compounds allow rapid capture and separation of nucleic acids from complex samples without requiring harsh chemicals or extended processing times, significantly reducing the overall isolation time while maintaining efficiency
3Manufacturing precision
If specialized oligonucleotides are used for each target, then specific nucleic acids can be isolated, but the design and optimization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic beads are functionalized with universal nucleic acid-binding compounds that can capture various types of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) regardless of their specific sequences. This universal binding approach allows the same basic platform to be used for isolating different target nucleic acids, eliminating the need for redesigning specialized oligonucleotides for each target while maintaining isolation specificity through subsequent selective amplification steps
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 method simplifies the nucleic acid isolation process, reducing complexity and time, and effectively separates nucleic acids from other sample components, enabling downstream analytical procedures such as amplification and detection.
Implementation Method 1
transferred a swab with which an aliquot of a biological sample is associated into a wash liquid, wherein a first portion of the aliquot is released into the wash liquid
Implementation Method 2
transferred the swab into a carrier liquid, wherein a second portion of the aliquot is released into the carrier liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for processing a biological sample. Exemplary methods comprise transferring a swab associated with an aliquot of the biological sample into a wash liquid, wherein a first portion of the aliquot is released into the wash liquid; and transferring the swab into a carrier liquid, wherein a second portion of the aliquot is released into the carrier liquid. The methods can provide efficient transfer of analyte such as cells or nucleic acid into the carrier liquid while releasing particulate matter, viscous polymers, or other undesired material into the wash liquid. Alternatively or in addition, the methods can also release desired material into the wash liquid, e.g., cells, which can be used in applications such as culturing.