Development Of Biological Sample Processing Equipment And Ground Verification

With the progress of space technology, life science has become an important field of space science research. For this reason, many scientists are working hard in putting their biology laboratories to the space environment. However, biology experiment can hardly finish without biological samples. In order to meet the analysis and determination, biological samples are often required to be dealt with a series of operation for obtaining targets. Especially in the space cabin, there are many adverse conditions including narrow working place, limited energy supply and microgravity, et al. Above all, the short preservation time of biological samples makes the related researches more difficult in commuting between the earth and space environment. Therefore, the development of biological sample processing device with the properties of miniaturization, low power consumption and automation becomes the requirement for space life science research.Cell is the basic unit of organism structure and function. Some intracellular important compounds including proteins and nucleic acids are vital to space life science research. Under the special space environment, some common processing in ground environment are very difficult to apply in microgravity condition. Hence, the biological samples are required to be treated by certain apparatus for extraction of target substance. At present, there are fewer systematic and automatic device applied in biological samples processing, especially the extraction and separation of intracellular materials. Based on the manned space flight project and major national instruments development, and the relevant technology principles, an automation and integrative device is developed for biological samples processing and separation on the premise of considering the space environment. The space biological sample processing device will be of great significance and research value for space online analysis of biological samples.Based on the development of the space biological sample processing principle prototype, this study was carried out from several aspects including the key technologies, design fabrication, integration and performance qualification of the space biological sample processing device. The conclusions were obtained as followings:(1) In order to supply the theoretical basis and technical support for development of space biological sample processing device, the research was focused on the related key technologies for biological sample processing using Jurkat and SH-SY5 Y cells as samples. The conditions of cell washing and cell lysis were investigate. The effective lysis buffer for simultaneously extraction of intracellular proteins and nucleic acids was obtained by optimizing the chemical composition of the lysis buffer. The study proposed a chemical and mechanical lysis method using mechanical vibration imposed on the membrane. The result indicated that this lysis approach enhanced the concentration of the intracellular nucleic acids. The optimum separation conditions for extraction of intracellular biological macromolecules was determined by exploring the effects of ultrafiltration membrane on the biological macromolecules content. Subsequently, the off-line methods for separation and determination of free flow electrophoresis chip and boric acid temperature-sensitive affinity chromatography column. The results showed that the intracellular proteins and nucleic acids as well as DNA and RNA were effectively separated on their principles by optimizing the separation performance.(2) The functions and principles of the device system, module units and key components were discussed systematically. The space layout, tube connection, module fixing method and running process were designed detailedly. The space biological sample processing device was composed of five principal modules, such as cell pretreatment unit, ultrafiltration membrane unit, free flow electrophoresis chip unit, boric chromatography column unit and the communication unit. The comprehensive design in material flow and information flow of different module units were conducted. The research designed the devices of liquid storage, switching and transportation, and the connection style for the materials flow. Finally, the communication module and the circuit board were designed for adjusting and controlling different functions and long distance transmission of parameters information.(3) The fabrication, assembling and integration of different modules and components in this device were achieved. The sealability, working stability, controllability and treatment properties of the device were detected and verified. The results showed that the device had rational structure, good sealability and steady running performance. It also can realize the online real-time monitoring in the processing of separation. The effective products were obtained from different sample collection bags by continuous and automatic processing. Finally, the prototype device was developed for the continuous and automatic separation of biological samples. Through the verification in ground environment, the optimal condition of operation processings and parameters were established.