Internal-Standard LC–MS Quantification for Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods lack effective means to quantify Hex4, lyso-GM1, Fuc-GlcNAc-Asn, and lyso-sulfatide in cerebrospinal fluid, which are biomarkers for lysosomal diseases, limiting the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment efficacy for conditions like Pompe disease, GM1 gangliosidosis, fucosidosis, and metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the addition of an internal standard substance to cerebrospinal fluid, followed by liquid chromatography and mass analysis to quantify Hex4, lyso-GM1, Fuc-GlcNAc-Asn, or lyso-sulfatide, using specific chromatography types (hydrophilic interaction, reverse phase, normal phase, or reverse phase) for each substance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional methods are used for quantifying biomarkers, then the diagnostic capability for lysosomal diseases is limited, but implementing liquid chromatography coupled with mass analysis increases measurement precision and diagnostic accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantification accuracy of Hex4, lyso-GM1, Fuc-GlcNAc-Asn, and lyso-sulfatideVSAvoidcomplexity of liquid chromatography and mass analysis system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The quantification process is segmented into distinct stages: sample preparation with internal standards, liquid chromatography separation using specific column types (hydrophilic interaction, reverse phase, or normal phase), and mass analysis. Each stage is optimized independently to achieve high measurement precision while managing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Internal standard substances are introduced as intermediaries to bridge the gap between sample preparation and analysis. These standards co-elute with target biomarkers and enable accurate quantification by correcting for variations in extraction efficiency and instrument response, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring simpler equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If liquid chromatography and mass analysis are implemented for accurate quantification, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but the time and resource investment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic reliability for Pompe disease, GM1 gangliosidosis, fucosidosis, and metachromatic leukodystrophyVSAvoidtime required for sample preparation, chromatography, and mass analysis
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Internal standard substances are added to cerebrospinal fluid samples during the preliminary sample preparation stage, before chromatography and mass analysis. This preliminary action ensures that quantification references are present throughout the entire analytical process, enabling accurate measurement while streamlining the workflow and reducing overall analysis time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different liquid chromatography modes (hydrophilic interaction, reverse phase, normal phase) are selected based on the specific biomarker being analyzed. This parameter optimization allows for faster separation and reduced analysis time while maintaining high diagnostic reliability for each specific disease marker.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 diagnosis of diseases characterized by central nervous system accumulation of these biomarkers and assessment of treatment efficacy by measuring their levels in cerebrospinal fluid.

Implementation Method 1

a step of submitting a solution including the cerebrospinal fluid to liquid chromatography to obtain an eluate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChromatography: Chromatography

Implementation Method 2

a step of subjecting the eluate to mass analysis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMass spectrometry:

Data Source

PatentEP4019958B1Quantification method of hex4, lyso-GM1, fuc-glcnac-asn, and lyso-sulfataide included in cerebrospinal fluid
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 JCR PHARMACEUTICALS CO LTD
  • EP4019958B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4019958B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4019958B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The problem is to provide a method for quantifying Hex4, lyso-GM1, Fuc-GlcNAc-Asn, or lyso-sulfatide in the brain. The present invention is related to a method for quantifying Hex4, lyso-GM1, Fuc-GlcNAc-Asn, or lyso-sulfatide included in cerebrospinal fluid, the method including a step of adding an internal standard substance to a solution including the cerebrospinal fluid, a step of submitting the solution including the cerebrospinal fluid, to which the internal standard substance has been added, to liquid chromatography to obtain an eluate, and a step of subjecting the eluate to mass analysis.