Lectin-Binding Substance Measurement via Capture Carrier Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for measuring lectin-binding substances, especially in serum samples, face challenges due to non-specific binding of lectins to contaminants, leading to high background interference and difficulty in achieving high specificity and sensitivity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a capture carrier with immobilized molecules capable of capturing lectin-binding substances, which includes a purification step to remove contaminants and release the target substance for measurement, using a lectin-based detection approach.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a lectin-based measurement method is used to detect lectin-binding substances, then the ability to measure both quantitative and qualitative changes in glycans is improved, but non-specific binding to contaminants occurs leading to high background interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidbackground interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an antibody as an intermediary component that specifically binds to the target lectin-binding substance (e.g., AFP-L3) before the lectin binds to the glycan portion. This two-step binding mechanism (antibody-lectin-binding substance complex formation) allows the lectin to measure glycan changes while the antibody ensures target specificity, thereby reducing non-specific binding to contaminants and lowering background interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If sample dilution is performed to reduce contaminant interference, then background interference is reduced, but the sensitivity of lectin binding to glycans decreases due to weak affinity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground interferenceVSAvoidsensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two measurement approaches (antibody-based detection and lectin-based glycan detection) into a single integrated assay. The antibody provides high-affinity target capture, while the lectin provides glycan-specific detection. This combination allows the use of undiluted or minimally diluted samples, maintaining sensitivity while reducing the need for dilution-based contaminant removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If a combination of antibody and lectin is used to measure lectin-binding substances, then the ability to detect target substances with glycan changes is improved, but the measurement cost increases due to requirement of dedicated machines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidmeasurement cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the measurement system to be compatible with existing, widely available immunoassay platforms and equipment that are already present in most laboratories. The antibody-lectin complex formation and detection methodology follows standard immunoassay protocols, allowing the use of conventional plate readers, ELISA systems, or automated immunoassay analyzers rather than requiring specialized dedicated machines, thereby reducing measurement costs while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of lectin-binding substance measurement by reducing background interference and allowing for high-concentration detection of target substances, even in complex samples like serum.

Implementation Method 1

binding a capture carrier including a water-insoluble carrier and a molecule immobilized on the water-insoluble carrier, the molecule being a molecule capable of capturing a lectin-binding substance, to the lectin-binding substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBinding: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a measurement method using a lectin that binds to a glycan portion of a measurement target substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLectin-glycan binding: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12038440B2Lectin-binding substance measurement method, lectin-binding substance measurement kit, and capture carrier for use in these
Publication Date: 2024.07.16 FUJIREBIO CO LTD

AI summary

A lectin-binding substance measurement method is a method for measuring a lectin-binding substance in a sample, and includes: a capturing step of bringing a capture carrier including a water-insoluble carrier and a molecule immobilized on the water-insoluble carrier, the molecule being a molecule capable of capturing a lectin-binding substance, into contact with the sample to cause the capture carrier to capture the lectin-binding substance; a washing step of removing contaminants unbound to the capture carrier; a releasing step of releasing the lectin-binding substance from the capture carrier to obtain a prepared sample; and a measuring step of measuring the lectin-binding substance in the prepared sample by using a lectin.