Dextran Hydrogel Contrast Agent for Lung Lesion Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluorescent contrast agents have a low detection rate for lung cancer due to the deep location of cancer tissue, with indocyanine green (ICG) showing only a 10% detection rate when injected intravenously, as it spreads easily and has low penetration, making it difficult to accurately identify lung lesions during surgery.
Innovation Solution
A multi-imaging contrast agent composition is developed, comprising a hydrogel formed by crosslinking dextran polymers with substituted hydroxyl groups, loaded with a cyanine-based fluorescent dye like ICG and iodized oil, which allows for rapid gelation and improved retention at the lesion site, enhancing detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If intravenous injection of fluorescent contrast agent is used, then the contrast agent can be easily administered, but the detection rate is very low due to easy spreading and low penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific carrier system (liposome or nanoparticle) as an intermediary between the fluorescent contrast agent and the bloodstream. This carrier protects the contrast agent from rapid clearance, enables active targeting of lung cancer cells through surface functionalization, and facilitates deep tissue penetration while maintaining high concentration at the target site, thereby resolving the contradiction between easy administration and low detection rate
2Measurement precision
If high concentration of fluorescent contrast agent is injected, then detection sensitivity improves, but the contrast agent spreads quickly and loses localization accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluorescent contrast agent into multiple individual carrier units (liposomes or nanoparticles), each containing the contrast agent. This segmentation prevents rapid diffusion and clearance while maintaining high local concentration at the target site. The carriers can be functionalized with targeting moieties that enable specific binding to lung cancer cells, thereby maintaining localization accuracy even at high concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses liposome or nanoparticle carriers with flexible membrane structures that can protect the encapsulated fluorescent contrast agent from rapid clearance. These flexible shells allow the contrast agent to remain localized at the target site while still enabling cellular uptake through membrane fusion or endocytosis, thus maintaining both detection sensitivity and localization accuracy
3Reliability
If surgical resection is performed to remove lung cancer, then curative treatment is achieved, but accurate identification of lesion location and size is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fluorescent contrast agents that emit distinct fluorescent signals when bound to or taken up by lung cancer cells. This color change or fluorescence activation allows surgeons to visually identify the precise location, boundaries, and size of lesions during surgery, thereby improving lesion identification accuracy while maintaining curative treatment outcomes
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 composition effectively increases the detection rate of lung lesions by maintaining the fluorescent dye and contrast material at the lesion site for an extended period, enabling precise localization and resection during surgery, with improved fluorescence intensity and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogel formed by crosslinking dextran polymers with substituted hydroxyl groups
Implementation Method 2
near-infrared fluorescence imaging technology... indocyanine green (ICG) is a near-infrared fluorescent dye
Implementation Method 3
loaded with a cyanine-based fluorescent dye like ICG and iodized oil, which allows for rapid gelation and improved retention at the lesion site
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a multi-imaging contrast agent composition and a method for preparing same, in which the composition comprises a hydrogel formed by crosslinking a first dextran polymer and a second dextran polymer, wherein the hydrogel is loaded with a fluorescent dye and a contrast material. The composition comprises a dextran-based hydrogel in which a fat-soluble contrast material and a water-soluble fluorescent dye are simultaneously loaded, and has the advantage of enabling accurate localization of lung lesions.