Blood Diagnostic Kit for Alzheimer's Using EPPS Dissociation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders related to protein misfolding and aggregation are invasive, costly, and lack accuracy, particularly in detecting abnormal β-amyloid concentrations in blood, which are inconsistent across studies due to difficulties in accurately determining protein levels.
Innovation Solution
A blood diagnostic kit that measures protein concentrations in plasma before and after administering a protein monomerizing composition, specifically using EPPS to dissociate β-amyloid oligomers, profibrils, and plaques into monomers, allowing for indirect measurement of protein aggregates and predicting disease onset by calculating concentration differences or ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current methods are used to measure β-amyloid concentration in blood, then diagnosis can be performed, but measurement precision is poor due to inconsistent results across studies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by treating the blood sample with a protein monomerizing composition (such as EPPS) before measurement. This pre-treatment dissociates aggregated β-amyloid proteins into monomers, ensuring that the subsequent measurement reflects total β-amyloid levels accurately. By performing this dissociation step beforehand, the method eliminates the inconsistency caused by variable aggregation states in different studies, thereby improving both measurement precision and diagnostic reliability.
2Measurement precision
If invasive methods like brain imaging or cerebrospinal fluid analysis are used, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to invasiveness and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses blood as an intermediary medium to indirectly assess brain pathology. Instead of directly examining the brain through invasive imaging or cerebrospinal fluid analysis, the method measures β-amyloid levels in blood, which serves as a accessible proxy for brain β-amyloid aggregation. This intermediary approach maintains diagnostic accuracy while dramatically improving ease of operation, as blood sampling is minimally invasive, cost-effective, and suitable for routine clinical use.
3Device complexity
If β-amyloid concentration is measured without dissociation, then the measurement process is simple, but measurement precision is poor due to inability to detect aggregated forms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by altering the physical-chemical state of β-amyloid proteins through treatment with a protein monomerizing composition. This treatment changes the aggregation state parameter from various forms (oligomers, profibrils, fibrils, plaques) to monomers, which can then be accurately quantified. The additional treatment step increases device complexity slightly but is necessary to achieve precise measurement of total β-amyloid levels, including aggregated forms that would otherwise be undetectable.
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 kit provides a less invasive, accurate method for diagnosing and predicting diseases related to protein misfolding and aggregation, including Alzheimer's, by measuring protein concentrations before and after treatment, enabling early detection and monitoring of protein accumulation in the brain.
Implementation Method 1
administering a protein monomerizing composition, specifically using EPPS to dissociate β-amyloid oligomers, profibrils, and plaques into monomers
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a diagnostic kit capable of accurately diagnosing diseases or disorders related with abnormal aggregation or misfolding of proteins, including disorders or diseases caused by aggregation of β-amyloid such as Alzheimer's disease as well as disorders or diseases caused by aggregation of other proteins, based on concentration analysis of the aggregated proteins before and after dissociation.