Affinity Dye Hydrogel Particles for Serum Biomarker Capture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current biomarker detection methods face challenges with low abundance and instability of disease-relevant proteins in body fluids, leading to slow biomarker pipeline progression and limited clinical availability, despite efforts in diagnostics research.

Innovation Solution

Hydrogel particles incorporating novel non-triazine organic dye chemistries as affinity baits capture and stabilize proteins, enhancing analyte yield and measurement sensitivity through affinity capture and stabilization, allowing for the identification of new biomarkers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional biomarker detection methods are used, then measurement sensitivity is limited, but the ability to detect low abundance proteins is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiomarker detection sensitivityVSAvoidlow abundance protein concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing affinity capture of low abundance proteins from complex body fluid samples before analysis. Hydrogel particles with dye affinity baits are introduced to the sample to pre-concentrate target proteins, removing them from the complex matrix and increasing their effective concentration for subsequent detection, thereby enabling sensitive detection of low abundance biomarkers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If proteins are extracted from body fluids without stabilization, then analyte yield is reduced, but protein degradation occurs due to endogenous or exogenous proteinases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalyte yieldVSAvoidprotein stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing affinity capture and stabilization of proteins immediately after blood or body fluid collection. The hydrogel particles with affinity baits bind target proteins and protect them from degradation by endogenous or exogenous proteinases, preserving analyte integrity and yield for subsequent analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses hydrogel particles with dye affinity baits as an intermediary system between the complex body fluid sample and the detection method. These particles selectively bind target proteins, isolating them from the complex matrix and protecting them from degradation, thereby enabling sensitive and accurate detection of low abundance biomarkers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If affinity baits are incorporated into hydrogel particles, then analyte capture efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the detection system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiomarker detection efficiencyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing hydrogel particles with dye affinity baits that can capture multiple different protein targets simultaneously. The same particle system can be used for detecting various low abundance biomarkers in different body fluids, reducing the need for multiple specialized detection systems and simplifying the overall approach despite the sophisticated chemistry involved

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 use of hydrogel particles with unique affinity dye compounds effectively concentrates and stabilizes low abundance proteins, improving biomarker detection sensitivity and precision, enabling the identification of new biomarkers and increasing the clinical utility of biomarker tests.

Implementation Method 1

hydrogel particles are used to concentrate, partially purify and protect small and labile analytes from degradation in blood and other body fluids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAffinity binding: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

protect small and labile analytes from degradation in blood and other body fluids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment and stabilization: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP2443101B1Bait chemistries in hydrogel particles for serum biomarker analysis
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 ESPINA VIRGINIA
  • EP2443101B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2443101B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2443101B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

This invention describes the identification of novel organic dye chemistries that can be used as affinity baits to capture proteins and other biomolecules useful in the fields of medical diagnostics, environmental science, toxicology, and infectious disease. Incorporation of unique affinity dye compounds within hydrogel capture particles improves analyte yield and preanalytical precision, and stabilizes the analyte against degradation, while increasing measurement sensitivity. The particles in this invention can be used for routine clinical testing as well as for discovery of low abundance disease biomarkers. Example hydrogel particles containing new high affinity bait chemistries were used to identify a new set of human serum biomarkers.