Fibrinogen Detection via Nanoparticle Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biosensor technologies for measuring fibrinogen concentration in blood samples require large sample quantities, complex enzyme-based methods, and reference plasma, leading to measurement errors and high costs.
Innovation Solution
Gold nanoparticles coated with a cell membrane capable of binding fibrinogen are used, which aggregate in proportion to fibrinogen concentration, allowing for spectroscopic measurement and calculation of fibrinogen levels without enzymes or reference plasma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If enzyme-based methods are used to measure fibrinogen concentration, then measurement capability is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to measurement errors and high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the enzyme component from the measurement system. Instead of using enzyme-based methods (such as thrombin or fibrinogen-aggregating enzymes), the invention uses nanoparticles with surface-coated materials that specifically bind to fibrinogen, thereby removing the source of measurement errors associated with enzymes while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the enzyme-based measurement system using nanoparticles. The nanoparticles coated with fibrinogen-binding materials replicate the specific binding function of enzymes without requiring the complex enzymatic reaction mechanisms, thus achieving measurement without the drawbacks of enzyme usage
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If complex steps of analyte addition, signal generation, signal amplification, and analysis result interpretation are used, then signal detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single nanoparticle system. The nanoparticles simultaneously perform analyte binding, signal generation (through aggregation-induced optical property changes), and measurement readout functions, eliminating the need for separate steps of analyte addition, signal generation, and amplification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex biochemical mechanism of enzyme-based signal generation with a simpler physical mechanism. The aggregation of nanoparticles causes direct changes in optical properties (light scattering and absorption), which can be measured without requiring complex signal amplification or interpretation steps
3Measurement precision
If large quantity of sample is used for recognition of biomaterial, then measurement accuracy is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the scale parameter of the measurement system by using nanoparticles instead of bulk enzyme solutions. The nanoscale dimensions of the particles increase their specific surface area and binding efficiency, allowing for effective measurement with smaller sample volumes while maintaining recognition accuracy
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
This method reduces measurement errors, eliminates the need for enzymes and reference plasma, and provides superior accuracy, precision, and reproducibility, making it a more convenient and effective approach for fibrinogen concentration measurement.
Implementation Method 1
Gold nanoparticles coated with a cell membrane capable of binding fibrinogen are used, which aggregate in proportion to fibrinogen concentration
Implementation Method 2
allowing for spectroscopic measurement and calculation of fibrinogen levels
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for measuring fibrinogen concentration in a blood sample, which enables measuring of the concentration of the fibrinogen protein present in a blood sample from the human body. The method for measuring fibrinogen concentration of the present disclosure is convenient because an enzyme is not used. In addition, an error due to a factor affecting factor affecting in-vivo enzyme activity does not occur and measuring time is decreased since measurement for reference plasma is unnecessary. Therefore, the method achieves superior accuracy, precision and reproducibility as compared to the existing technologies and can be usefully employed for measuring fibrinogen concentration in a blood sample.