Device for collecting and triggered release of a biological sample
Inventors
Hanselle, Thomas • Sprenger-Haussels, Markus • Lenz, Christian • Groelz, Daniel • Oelmueller, Uwe
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8911680-B2
Publication Date
2014-12-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to a system for collecting a biological sample comprising a container having at least one open end, a closure fitting on or in said at least one open end, a holding element connected to said closure and a solid matrix on which said biological sample is deposited, and optionally at least one processing agent, wherein said solid matrix is at least partially transferable into a liquid or dissolved state by changing at least one physico-chemical property of the environment of said matrix without disintegration of the biomolecules comprised in said biological sample deposited on said matrix.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a system for collecting a biological sample directly from a source. The system includes a container having at least one open end, a closure fitting on or in the at least one open end, and a holding element connected to the closure, with a solid matrix on which the biological sample can be deposited while the solid matrix is at least substantially solid under collection conditions.
The solid matrix comprises a low melting agarose with a melting point below 65°C and is associated with at least one chaotropic substance. The material of the solid matrix is at least partially transferable into a liquid state and/or can be dissolved in the presence of the at least one chaotropic substance, and the transfer into liquid and/or dissolved state is enabled by changing a physico-chemical property of the environment of the matrix.
The change in physico-chemical property is performed without disintegration of biomolecules comprised in the biological sample when the sample is deposited on the matrix. The system further comprises at least one element for changing the environment selected from at least one solvent in which the solid matrix material is soluble, at least one reagent, at least one enzyme, and at least one pH modifier, and can further include a device for local heating and/or cooling of the solid matrix.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims. Across these claims, the core coverage is a direct biological sample collection system using a low melting agarose solid matrix combined with at least one chaotropic substance, with the matrix transferable into a liquid and/or dissolved state by changing physico-chemical conditions while avoiding disintegration of biomolecules.
Direct biological sample collection system with container, closure, and holding element
A system for collecting a biological sample directly from a source comprising a container having at least one open end, a closure fitting on or in said at least one open end, and a holding element connected to said closure, wherein said holding element is adapted to hold said solid matrix.
Low melting agarose solid matrix with chaotropic substance
A solid matrix on which said biological sample can be deposited, the solid matrix comprising a low melting agarose with a melting point below 65°C, and wherein the system comprises at least one chaotropic substance and the material of said solid matrix is at least partially transferable into a liquid state and/or can be dissolved in the presence of the at least one chaotropic substance.
Physico-chemical property change enabling liquid or dissolved transfer without biomolecule disintegration
Material of said solid matrix is at least substantially solid under collection conditions, and wherein material of said solid matrix is at least partially transferable into a liquid and/or dissolved state by changing at least one physico-chemical property of the environment of said matrix without disintegration of biomolecules comprised in said biological sample when said sample is deposited on said matrix.
Transfer elements selected from solvent, reagent, enzyme, and pH modifier
Further comprising at least one element for at least partially transferring said material of said solid matrix from a solid state into a liquid and/or dissolved state selected from the group consisting of at least one solvent in which the material of said solid matrix is soluble, at least one reagent, at least one enzyme, and at least one pH modifier.
Local heating and/or cooling for meltable transfer
The system optionally further comprises a device for local heating and/or cooling of the solid matrix; and wherein the material of said solid matrix is at least partially meltable by increasing the temperature.
Across the independent claims, the system is directed to collecting a biological sample directly onto a low melting agarose solid matrix combined with at least one chaotropic substance, where the matrix remains substantially solid under collection conditions and is made transferable into a liquid and/or dissolved state by changing physico-chemical properties, optionally using solvent, reagent, enzyme, pH modifier, and local heating/cooling, without disintegration of biomolecules.
Stated Advantages
Allows at least partially transferring the solid matrix into a liquid and/or dissolved state in the presence of a chaotropic substance.
Enables the physico-chemical state change without disintegration of biomolecules comprised in the biological sample when deposited on the matrix.
Supports transferring a low melting agarose solid matrix from solid at physiological temperatures to a liquid state.
Provides local heating and/or cooling of the solid matrix.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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