Fluorescent Nerve-Targeting Peptides for Image-Guided Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for identifying and preserving human nerves during surgical procedures are inadequate, as they lack visual guidance and can be unreliable, particularly in cases of trauma, tumor involvement, or infection, and often involve damaging fluorescent dyes.
Innovation Solution
The use of peptides that specifically bind to human nerves, such as SGQVPWEEPYYVVKKSS (HNP 401) and others, which can be conjugated with fluorescent moieties or drugs for targeted visualization and protection of nerves during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If EMG monitoring is used to identify nerves, then nerve identification can be achieved, but visual feedback is not provided to the surgeon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluorescent dyes as intermediaries that bind to nerve tissues and emit fluorescence signals. This allows the nerve identification function (performed by EMG) to be visually transmitted to the surgeon through fluorescence imaging, bridging the information gap without requiring direct neural contact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical stimulation-based EMG monitoring system with an optical fluorescence imaging system. Instead of using electrical signals to detect and visualize nerves, the system uses fluorescent markers that emit light when excited, providing direct visual feedback to the surgeon
2Illumination intensity
If fluorescent dyes are injected to label nerves, then nerve visualization is improved, but the injection site becomes contaminated and may damage target organs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the fluorescent dye molecules to have specific chemical properties that enable selective binding to nerve tissue components (such as neurofilaments or cell membranes). This localized binding ensures that fluorescence is concentrated at the nerve sites rather than distributed throughout the injection area, improving visualization while minimizing contamination and toxicity at the injection site
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses biodegradable fluorescent markers that temporarily label nerves during surgery and then naturally degrade or are eliminated from the body. This allows the use of fluorescent visualization without long-term persistence of potentially harmful dye concentrations at injection sites
3Measurement precision
If retrograde tracing is used to label nerves, then nerve identification is achieved, but the process takes a long time due to slow transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluorescent markers that can directly bind to nerve structures at the injection site or along the nerve pathway without requiring transport through the nerve. This eliminates the time-consuming retrograde or anterograde transport process while maintaining accurate nerve labeling, as the markers immediately attach to nerve components upon administration
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
Provides reliable visual feedback and effective nerve protection by specifically binding to human nerves, enhancing surgical precision and reducing nerve damage.
Implementation Method 1
peptides that specifically bind to human nerves
Implementation Method 2
conjugated with fluorescent moieties or drugs for targeted visualization
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides methods for guiding preservation of human neurons or human nerves during surgery, as well as labeling and mapping nerves in targeted organs for map-guided surgery, by administering a fluorescently-labeled peptide that specifically binds to the human neurons or human nerves. The invention further provides human neuron or nerve targeting molecules comprising fluorescently-labeled peptides that specifically bind to human neurons or human nerves and compositions thereof.