Vibrating Plate Aperture Cell Lysis Shear Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cell lysis, whether chemical or mechanical, are either costly, time-consuming, or introduce unwanted chemical species that can interfere with downstream applications, and often require multiple passes through devices, potentially damaging released matter and causing heat-induced denaturation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a vibratable plate with apertures, where a liquid sample containing cells, spores, or viruses is passed through to cause deformation or fragmentation, utilizing shear forces and mechanical impact to break biological structures without extensive degradation, allowing for efficient release of contents with minimal steps and no adverse effects on downstream applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical methods (enzymes or reagents) are used for cell lysis, then cell structure disruption is achieved, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming, and unwanted chemical species are introduced that may interfere with downstream applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical lysis methods with a mechanical approach using a vibratable plate with apertures. The vibration generates mechanical forces that physically disrupt cell membranes and walls, eliminating the need for enzymes or chemical reagents. This substitution achieves rapid cell lysis without introducing unwanted chemical species, directly resolving the contradiction between lysis effectiveness and process time.
Solution Approach 2:
The core mechanism employs mechanical vibration of a plate containing apertures. When the plate vibrates at appropriate frequencies and amplitudes, it generates shear forces and mechanical impact that efficiently lyse cells as they pass through the apertures. This vibration-based mechanical lysis achieves rapid and effective cell disruption without the time-consuming nature of chemical methods, directly addressing the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If multiple passes through the device are required for complete lysis, then cell disruption is enhanced, but released matter is subsequently damaged and heat-induced denaturation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The vibratable plate system achieves complete cell lysis in a single pass by applying sufficient vibration amplitude and duration during the brief transit time. The mechanical forces generated are adequate to fully disrupt cell structures without requiring repeated exposures. This single-pass approach prevents cumulative heat buildup and mechanical damage to released cellular contents, resolving the contradiction between lysis completeness and matter integrity.
3Productivity
If mechanical disruption methods (rotating blades, homogenisers) are used, then cell membranes are sheared and cells are lysed, but the process is expensive and requires multiple passes that can damage released matter
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the cell lysis function into a simple vibratable plate with apertures, separating the lysis mechanism from complex mechanical assemblies. Instead of using rotating blades or multi-component homogenisers, the invention uses a segmented plate structure that vibrates to create shearing forces at the aperture edges. This segmentation achieves effective lysis with a simpler, more cost-effective device, resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.
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 method efficiently achieves deformation or fragmentation with only one pass, maintaining the integrity of released contents and avoiding damage, allowing for effective processing and analysis, and can be tailored for deformation or fragmentation by adjusting aperture size and vibration parameters.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing shear forces and mechanical impact to break biological structures
Implementation Method 2
utilizing shear forces and mechanical impact to break biological structures
Implementation Method 3
causing the plate to vibrate; passing the sample of the cell, spore or virus through the at least one aperture in the vibrating plate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for the deformation and/or fragmentation of a cell, spore or virus, the method comprising: (i) bringing a liquid sample containing the cell, spore or virus into contact with a first surface of a vibratable plate having at least one aperture, and causing the plate to vibrate; and (ii) passing the sample of the cell, spore or virus through the at least one aperture in the vibrating plate so as to cause deformation and/or fragmentation of the cell, spore or virus. It also concerns a device for carrying out the method.