miRNA Biomarker Panel for IBD Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnostic methods for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are invasive, lack sensitivity and specificity, and fail to accurately predict disease activity and treatment outcomes, necessitating the development of noninvasive and sensitive biomarkers.

Innovation Solution

Measurement of differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum samples, which are correlated with the presence and activity of IBD, allowing for the detection of Crohn's disease and monitoring treatment responses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If serological indicators (antibodies against intestinal microbiome antigens) are used for IBD diagnosis, then specificity is improved, but sensitivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovespecificityVSAvoidsensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple miRNA markers (including miR-192, miR-140, miR-21, and others) into a composite diagnostic profile. This merging of multiple biomarkers achieves both high sensitivity (detecting more true positives) and high specificity (distinguishing IBD from other conditions), resolving the contradiction between the two parameters that plagues single-marker approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If invasive testing procedures are used for IBD diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient discomfort and risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidpatient discomfort and risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical procedures (endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy) with a noninvasive biochemical assay measuring miRNA levels in blood or stool samples. This substitution maintains diagnostic accuracy through molecular biomarkers while eliminating the physical discomfort, risk, and complexity of invasive procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If standard serological markers (CRP, fecal calprotectin) are used, then ease of measurement is improved, but disease specificity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of measurementVSAvoiddisease specificity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies miRNA markers with specific expression patterns in intestinal tissues and cells (e.g., miR-192 in colonic epithelia, miR-140 in intestinal cells). This local quality approach uses tissue-specific miRNA expression profiles to achieve high disease specificity while maintaining ease of measurement through standard biochemical assays on blood or stool samples.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9279158B2Compositions and methods useful for the treatment and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease

Publication Date: 2016.03.08 THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA

AI summary

Compositions and methods useful for the diagnosis and treatment of IBD including Crohn's disease are disclosed.