Ultrafiltration Device for Rapid, High, Through-put Sample Preparation

描述(申请人提供)：该项目的目标是开发用于样品制备的先进超滤(UF)设备，该设备比现有设备更快、更容易使用。基于专利概念的新技术使超滤能够在低压力下进行，而不需要离心机或其他复杂的设备，从而产生了一种单程切向流超滤方法。该项目的具体目标是： 1.设计制作了单样切向流、中空纤维、超滤装置样机。2.以牛血清白蛋白或牛血清白蛋白与多肽的混合物为模型，研究了处理时间和浓缩系数与纤维几何形状、设备结构和蛋白质溶液真空度的关系。 3.评估该设备在生命科学研究中的超滤应用中的性能，并将该性能与已公布的传统设备的性能数据进行比较。 现有的超滤设备具有固有的局限性，导致过滤速度慢、变化性高，需要使用离心机，离心机笨重，与许多实验室使用的机器人样品处理系统不兼容，是高通量筛选所必需的。该项目开发的超滤过滤技术结合了新的流体和几何结构，提供了更高的处理能力和与机器人系统的兼容性。作为拟议项目的结果而开发的技术有望消除现有方法中的障碍，促进采用新的诊断程序，并降低现有方法的成本。这项研究将导致改进的技术和新的、低成本的生物样品纯化和分离设备的开发。该项目开发的技术的潜在应用包括用于单个和多个样品处理的一次性设备，以及用于生物制药制造的大型系统。这项拟议的研究预计将产生对公众健康有重大好处的技术和设备。这项研究与心血管疾病状态和生物标记物监测能力的提高以及NHLBI预防、检测和控制高血压的国家努力特别相关。该项目的技术有望改进涉及血液和尿液等生理液体的临床诊断方法，这些液体需要在临床测试方案之前进行快速处理。 这项拟议的研究预计将产生对公众健康有重大好处的技术。与国家预防、检测和控制高血压的努力相比，这项研究尤其与心血管疾病状态监测能力的提高有关。该项目的技术有望改进涉及血液和尿液等生理液体的临床诊断方法，这些液体需要在临床测试方案之前进行快速处理。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this project is to develop advanced ultrafiltration (UF) devices for sample preparation that are faster and easier to use than existing devices. New technology based on proprietary concepts enables ultrafiltration to be practiced at low pressure, and without the need of centrifuges or other complex apparatus, resulting in a single-pass, tangential-flow ultrafiltration method. The specific aims of the project are: 1. Design and construct prototypes of single sample tangential flow, hollow fiber, ultrafiltration devices. 2. Characterize the operating parameters in terms of the processing time and concentration factor as function of fiber geometry, device configuration and vacuum levels for protein solutions, using BSA or mixtures of BSA and peptides as a model. 3. Evaluate the performance of this device on an ultrafiltration application in life science research and compare this performance with published data on the performance of conventional devices. Existing UF devices have inherent limitations which result in slow filtration, high variability, and require the use of centrifuges which is cumbersome and not compatible with the robotic sample handling systems used in many laboratories and necessary for high-throughput screening. The UF filtration technology developed in this project combines novel fluidic and geometrical configurations that provide higher throughput and compatibility with robotic systems. The technology developed as a result of the proposed project is expected to remove barriers in current methods, facilitate the adoption of new diagnostic procedures, and reduce the cost of existing methods. This research will lead to the development of improved technology and new, lower cost devices for the purification and isolation of biological samples. Potential applications of the technology developed in this project include disposable devices for single and multiple sample processing, as well as for large-scale systems for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The proposed research is expected to produce technology and devices which will provide significant benefits to public health. The research is particularly relevant to improved capabilities for the monitoring of cardiovascular disease states, and biomarkers in general, and the NHLBI's national efforts to prevent, detect and control hypertension. The technology from this project is expected to improve clinical diagnostic methods involving physiological fluids such as blood and urine, which need to be processed quickly in advance of a clinical testing protocol. The proposed research is expected to produce technology for significant benefits to public health. The research is particularly relevant to improved capabilities for the monitoring of cardiovascular disease states relative to national efforts to prevent, detect and control hypertension. The technology from this project is expected to improve clinical diagnostic methods involving physiological fluids such as blood and urine, which need to be processed quickly in advance of a clinical testing protocol.