Glycol Chitosan-Gold Nanoparticles for Thrombus Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CT contrast agents are not effective in specifically detecting thrombi, leading to difficulties in determining thrombus size and location, which hampers tailored thrombolytic treatment and increases the risk of side effects from conventional intravenous thrombolytic therapy, while existing imaging methods like MRI are costly and difficult to quantify.
Innovation Solution
Development of fibrin-targeted peptide sequence-conjugated glycol chitosan-gold nanoparticles as a CT contrast agent for precise imaging of thrombi, allowing rapid and repeated acquisition of CT imaging information on thrombus size and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional CT contrast agents are used, then imaging can be performed, but they cannot specifically detect thrombi, making it difficult to determine thrombus size and location
Solution Approach 1:
The contrast agent uses fibrin-targeted peptide sequences that specifically bind to fibrin in thrombi, creating local concentration of gold nanoparticles at the thrombus site. This localized targeting enables specific detection of thrombus tissue while leaving surrounding healthy tissue unaffected, resolving the contradiction between general imaging capability and thrombus-specific detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple components: gold nanoparticles (for high X-ray absorption), glycol chitosan (for biocompatibility and targeting), and fibrin-targeted peptide sequences (for specific thrombus binding). This composite structure integrates the advantages of each material to achieve both high contrast visibility and thrombus-specific targeting, overcoming the limitation of conventional non-specific contrast agents.
2Reliability
If conventional intravenous thrombolytic therapy is administered, then treatment can be provided, but the effect is mild to moderate with significant side effects including cerebral hemorrhage in 5-10% of patients
Solution Approach 1:
The contrast agent enables preliminary imaging and precise localization of the thrombus before administering thrombolytic therapy. By first visualizing the thrombus size and location with high accuracy, clinicians can determine the appropriate dose and route of thrombolytic administration, thereby optimizing treatment effectiveness while minimizing unnecessary exposure and reducing the risk of side effects like cerebral hemorrhage.
3Measurement precision
If MRI is used for thrombus imaging, then detailed imaging can be obtained, but it is costly and difficult to quantify
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a CT-based copy or alternative to MRI for thrombus imaging. By using gold nanoparticle-enhanced CT, which provides comparable detailed imaging of thrombus characteristics, the method achieves similar diagnostic quality to MRI but with lower cost, faster acquisition time, and easier quantification through the high X-ray absorption properties of gold, thereby resolving the contradiction between imaging quality and accessibility.
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
Enables accurate and timely visualization of cerebral thrombosis, facilitating tailored thrombolytic treatment by modifying the type and amount of thrombolytic agents based on thrombus size and location, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing side effects.
Implementation Method 1
gold has higher molecular weight than iodine, and gold nanoparticles have about 2.65 times higher X-ray absorption coefficient per unit of weight than iodine
Implementation Method 2
fibrin-targeted peptide sequence-conjugated glycol chitosan-gold nanoparticles
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a CT contrast agent for detecting a thrombus, comprising fibrin-targeted peptide sequence-conjugated glycol chitosan-gold nanoparticles. The CT contrast agent for detecting a thrombus according to an embodiment of the present invention may allow rapid and repeated acquisition of CT image information related to the size and location of a thrombus in cardio-cerebral vascular thrombosis, and also enables the imaging monitoring of cerebral thrombus.