UV-Cured Polymer Barrier for Blood Fraction Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for separating whole blood into cell-containing and cell-depleted fractions face challenges such as contamination due to inadequate separation barriers, instability of analytes over time, and prolonged centrifugation times, which are critical in life-threatening situations.
Innovation Solution
A polymerizable composition with a density between 1.02 and 1.06 g/cm3 is used in blood collection tubes, which forms a rigid barrier upon UV irradiation, creating a stable and permanent separation between the cell-depleted and cell-enriched phases without substantial cell entrapment, shrinkage, or heat generation, allowing for quick and effective separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flowable substance is used as separator, then the substance allows easy flow with whole blood during centrifugation, but the substance remains flowable after centrifugation causing risk of contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The separator composition exhibits dynamic viscosity changes based on shear rate and time. During centrifugation, the high shear force causes the composition to flow easily, allowing rapid separation. After centrifugation, the shear force decreases and the composition transitions to a more viscous, gel-like state that maintains a stable barrier, preventing contamination while preserving the benefits of initial flowability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state parameters of the separator composition from a low-viscosity flowable state during centrifugation to a high-viscosity gel state after centrifugation. This parameter transformation allows the same substance to provide both ease of operation during separation and reliability as a stable barrier afterward, resolving the contradiction between flowability and barrier stability.
2Ease of operation
If a thixotropic gel is used as separator, then the gel can flow during centrifugation, but the gel does not form a sufficiently permanent separation barrier
Solution Approach 1:
The separator composition uses dynamic rheological properties to be flowable during the high-shear centrifugation process but transitions to a more permanent, gel-like state after centrifugation when shear forces decrease. This dynamic behavior allows the substance to provide both ease of operation during separation and sufficient barrier permanence to prevent contamination during sample handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition provides more than sufficient barrier permanence after centrifugation by forming a stable, long-lasting separation layer that maintains its position and prevents mixing of blood fractions during extended storage and handling periods, while still allowing easy flow during the centrifugation process itself.
3Reliability
If the separator substance is formulated with high viscosity to provide a solid barrier, then the separation barrier becomes permanent, but the substance is no longer suitably flowable with whole blood resulting in prohibitive centrifuge times
Solution Approach 1:
The separator composition dynamically adjusts its viscosity based on the shear conditions. During centrifugation, high shear forces cause the composition to become more fluid, allowing rapid separation with short centrifuge times. After centrifugation, when shear forces decrease, the composition transitions to a higher viscosity state that provides a stable, permanent barrier, thus resolving the contradiction between barrier stability and centrifugation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the viscosity parameter of the separator composition from low during centrifugation to high after centrifugation. This parameter transformation allows the substance to provide both rapid separation (short centrifugation time) and reliable, long-term barrier stability, eliminating the need to choose between these conflicting requirements.
4Shape
If moveable solid barriers are used for separation, then the barrier provides physical separation, but the barriers do not provide a sufficient seal and tend to leak
Solution Approach 1:
The separator composition changes its physical state from flowable during centrifugation to a gel-like solid after centrifugation. This parameter change allows the separator to conform to the tube geometry and form a complete, leak-proof barrier that maintains its position and provides sufficient seal between blood fractions during storage and handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator composition functions as a composite material that combines properties of both liquids and gels. During centrifugation, it behaves as a flowable liquid that can move and separate. After centrifugation, it transforms into a gel-like composite that provides structural integrity and forms a complete, non-leaking barrier, thus resolving the contradiction between barrier structure and seal completeness.
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 solution ensures rapid and stable separation of blood fractions, preventing contamination and maintaining analyte stability, while enabling short centrifugation times, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
A polymerizable composition with a density between 1.02 and 1.06 g/cm3 is used in blood collection tubes, which forms a rigid barrier upon UV irradiation
Implementation Method 2
whole blood separation can be carried out through centrifugation by disposing whole blood into a blood collection tube, placing the tube into a centrifuge, and spinning down the blood
Implementation Method 3
the composition has a predetermined density and flowability effective to allow sedimentation of the composition under a centrifugal force to a position between the cell-depleted phase and the cell-enriched phase
Implementation Method 4
The composition may include a thixotropic agent to provide flowability to the composition while the composition is subjected to centrifugation
Data Source
AI summary
Contemplated compositions and methods allow for in-situ formation of a rigid seal layer in a blood collection tube between a cell-depleted phase and a cell-enriched phase. Preferably, the seal layer is formed upon brief UV irradiation and comprises an acrylate, a methacrylate, an epoxy, a urethane, and/or a thiol-ene polymer.