Tapered Well Sample Prep Device for Affinity Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Affinity chromatography devices face inefficiencies in elution steps, leading to higher elution volumes and lower concentrations of purified samples, particularly in dispersive devices, while flow-through devices require additional equipment and have long sample loading times.
Innovation Solution
A sample preparation device with a tapered well and filter element design that allows for efficient sorbent bed formation and elution, combining dispersive and flow-through principles, enabling controlled contact times and reduced elution volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If dispersive devices are used for affinity capture, then contact time during binding can be easily controlled, but elution efficiency is poor resulting in higher elution volumes and lower sample concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the sorbent bed into discrete segments within a column structure, allowing fluid to flow through defined pathways. This segmentation enables efficient mass transfer during elution while maintaining controlled contact time during binding, resolving the contradiction between easy contact time control and poor elution efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from the traditional dispersive approach (mixing in solution) to a column-based flow-through approach where separation occurs in the spatial dimension of the column bed. This dimensional change enables efficient elution with reduced volumes while maintaining controllable binding contact time through flow rate regulation.
2Quantity of substance
If flow through devices with long and narrow sorbent beds are used, then elution efficiency is improved with smaller elution volumes, but sample loading time becomes long at optimal binding flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a tapered column geometry where the cross-sectional area varies along the length, creating different flow velocity zones. The narrower section provides efficient elution with small volumes, while the broader section allows faster sample loading by increasing flow capacity, thus resolving the time-volume tradeoff.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of flow rates during different operational phases. During sample loading, higher flow rates are permitted to reduce time loss, while during elution, flow rates are optimized to maintain efficiency with minimal volumes. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between loading time and elution volume.
3Reliability
If flow through devices are used to control binding kinetics, then incomplete binding can be prevented, but extra equipment is required to control flow
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates passive flow control features such as gravity-assisted flow, capillary action, or simple pressure differential mechanisms that eliminate the need for complex external pumping equipment. The column design itself enables reliable binding completeness through its geometry and sorbent bed configuration, resolving the contradiction between binding reliability and device complexity.
4Duration of action of moving object
If dispersive devices are used, then elution steps are inefficient, but the contact time during binding can be easily controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The column-based segmented sorbent bed enables efficient elution by creating defined flow pathways that maximize mass transfer, while the overall column structure maintains the ability to control contact time during binding through flow rate management, thus resolving the productivity-contact time contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes fluid flow dynamics through the column bed to achieve efficient elution. By controlling the hydraulic flow rate and pressure, the system optimizes both elution efficiency and binding contact time, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
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 device achieves efficient sample preparation with controlled binding, washing, and elution, maximizing purified sample concentration and flexibility in workflow, while minimizing equipment requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a filter element that blocks passage of the affinity sorbent particles
Implementation Method 2
target analytes are bound to the sorbent particles
Implementation Method 3
An elution step is then conducted, commonly at a lower pH, to release and collect the purified target analyte
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure pertains to sample preparation devices useful for affinity capture and purification that include one or more internal structures that comprise a reservoir, a well, a fluid passageway, sorbent particles, and a filter element that blocks passage of the affinity sorbent particles, which sample preparation devices combine the attributes of both dispersive and flow through designs into a single sample preparation device. The present disclosure also pertains to kits that contain and methods that use such sample preparation devices.