Ureide Solid Phase for Selective Virus Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current purification methods for biological targets, such as viruses and endotoxins, face challenges in selectively separating large biological entities from samples due to non-specific binding with proteins and requiring extensive process development, while existing methods for specific virus binding are costly and limited in scope.
Innovation Solution
The use of solid surfaces bearing ureides, particularly allantoin at supersaturating concentrations, to selectively bind and separate large biological targets like cells, viruses, and endotoxins, allowing for their subsequent removal or recovery by disrupting the interaction with the ureide surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If classical precipitation methods are used to separate biological targets, then large amounts of additives are required to render species insoluble, but this results in traces of agents remaining that need to be removed and extensive processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes the co-precipitation capability of ureides, isolating this specific functional property to achieve selective precipitation of viruses and endotoxins without requiring the extensive additive systems of classical precipitation methods
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameter of the precipitating agent from conventional salts and polymers to ureides, which exhibit unique co-precipitation behavior that enables selective binding of large biological targets with minimal residual contamination
2Quantity of substance
If co-precipitation methods are used to selectively precipitate viruses or contaminants, then lower amounts of precipitating agent are used, but residual precipitating agent remains bound to the product requiring additional displacement steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs ureides as a disposable precipitating agent that can be easily removed or inactivated after serving its function, eliminating the need for complex displacement steps to remove residual agent from the purified product
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical properties of the precipitating agent to ureides, which have specific binding characteristics that allow for easier recovery of purified products without persistent residual binding
3Adaptability or versatility
If ion exchangers and hydrophobic interaction chromatography media are used to bind viruses, then diverse virus species can be bound at low cost, but a great number of proteins are also bound requiring extensive process development
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying the precipitating agent to have specific properties that confer selectivity for large biological targets, creating a localized functional characteristic that distinguishes it from conventional precipitation agents
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the binding agent to ureides, which exhibit size-selective co-precipitation behavior that differentiates between large biological targets and smaller proteins, reducing non-specific binding
4Measurement precision
If antibodies are immobilized on surfaces for specific virus binding, then high specificity is achieved for single virus species, but the cost is very high and only single virus species can be bound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using ureides as a multi-functional precipitating agent that can bind multiple types of large biological targets including viruses and endotoxins from different species, replacing the need for multiple specific antibodies
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 effectively separates large biological targets from samples with high affinity, minimizing the binding of smaller molecules like proteins, and enables efficient purification of viruses and organelles with reduced residual ureide contamination, enhancing the purification process by using ureides that are inert to most chromatography methods.
Implementation Method 1
Co-precipitation methods typically work by binding to a species to be precipitated and reducing its solubility to a point where it precipitates spontaneously
Implementation Method 2
Allantoin is in an aqueous liquid and is solid by virtue of being present at a supersaturating concentration
Data Source
AI summary
A method of selectively separating a biological target from a sample including the biological target material or suspected of including the biological target includes the steps of (i) providing a solid including ureide moieties at its surface, (ii) contacting the sample with the solid, whereby a substantial fraction of the biological target in the sample binds to the ureide moieties, and (iii) separating the solid from the sample.