Vibration-Based Nucleic Acid Denaturation Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nucleic acid denaturation methods, such as thermal and alkali denaturation, require heat-resistant polymerases and complex handling procedures, limiting enzyme choices and increasing costs, while also being inefficient due to temperature variations and need for multiple reagents.
Innovation Solution
A nucleic acid denaturation apparatus that uses vibration to denature double-strand nucleic acids to single-strand nucleic acids, eliminating the need for heat and simplifying the process by employing a vibration generation part to apply audible frequency vibrations to the nucleic acid solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal denaturation is used to denature double strand nucleic acids, then the nucleic acids are effectively denatured to single strands, but heat-resistant polymerase is required which limits enzyme choices and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal field (heat) with a mechanical vibration field to achieve nucleic acid denaturation. The vibration generation part applies mechanical vibrations to the nucleic acid solution, causing the double-stranded nucleic acids to separate into single strands without requiring high temperatures, thus eliminating the need for heat-resistant polymerases and expanding enzyme selection options.
2Reliability
If thermal denaturation is used, then nucleic acids are denatured effectively, but the Taq polymerase is very expensive due to its high optimum temperature requirement
Solution Approach 1:
By substituting thermal energy with mechanical vibration energy for denaturation, the patent eliminates the requirement for expensive heat-resistant Taq polymerase. Ordinary polymerases with lower optimum temperatures can be used, significantly reducing the cost of the reaction system while maintaining effective denaturation.
3Reliability
If alkali denaturation is used to denature nucleic acids, then double strands are dissociated to single strands, but multiple reagents and complex manipulation are required making parallel amplification difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical denaturation methods (alkali treatment requiring multiple reagents including denaturation liquid, neutralization liquid, and polymerase) with mechanical vibration denaturation. This eliminates the need for multiple reagent additions and complex manipulation steps, enabling simplified parallel amplification of multiple samples simultaneously.
4Reliability
If thermal denaturation is used, then nucleic acids are denatured, but the temperature required varies depending on base composition and length making optimization complex
Solution Approach 1:
By using mechanical vibration instead of thermal energy for denaturation, the patent eliminates the problem of temperature optimization based on base composition and length. The vibration frequency and amplitude can be standardized across different nucleic acid samples, simplifying the amplification protocol and improving versatility without requiring separate optimization for each sample type.
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 allows for efficient denaturation of nucleic acids without heat, expanding enzyme choices, reducing costs, and simplifying the amplification process, making it suitable for various applications including PCR and gene expression studies.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration generation part for generating vibration to be given to a nucleic acid solution containing double strand nucleic acids
Data Source
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Figure 2~3(B)
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide an apparatus for denaturing double strand nucleic acids to single strand nucleic acids, and a method for denaturing double strand nucleic acids to single strand nucleic acids, which may become an alternative means to the thermal denaturation. [Solution] A nucleic acid denaturation apparatus 100 according to the present invention is provided with a vibration generation part 10 for generating vibration to be given to a nucleic acid solution containing double strand nucleic acids, which gives the vibration that occurs in the vibration generation part to the nucleic acid solution, thereby denaturing the double strand nucleic acids in the nucleic acid solution to single strand nucleic acids.