Renal Clearable Nanoparticles for Early Kidney Dysfunction Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing and monitoring kidney function are inadequate for early detection and accurate monitoring, particularly in the absence of elevated endogenous biomarkers, and lack noninvasive, simple, affordable, and widely accessible solutions.

Innovation Solution

The use of renal clearable nanoparticles that are administered to subjects and characterized in urine or blood samples to obtain characteristic parameters, which are compared to reference values to evaluate or monitor kidney function, allowing for early detection of dysfunction or injury.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If endogenous biomarkers (BUN, creatinine, urine protein) are used for kidney function evaluation, then the method is simple and affordable, but the detection sensitivity is insufficient for early-stage kidney dysfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidmethod complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces exogenous nanoparticles as intermediary markers to detect kidney function. These nanoparticles serve as mediators between the diagnostic system and the kidney, enabling sensitive detection of early-stage dysfunction through their clearance patterns by the kidney, while maintaining relatively simple evaluation protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses nanoparticles that mimic the filtration and clearance behavior of endogenous substances. By administering these synthetic markers and measuring their clearance rates, the system copies the functional assessment approach of endogenous biomarkers but with enhanced sensitivity and detectability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If kidney function is evaluated only when endogenous biomarkers are elevated, then the evaluation method remains simple, but early detection of kidney dysfunction is missed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveearly detection capabilityVSAvoiddiagnosis delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary detection of kidney dysfunction by using nanoparticles that can identify impaired kidney function before endogenous biomarkers become elevated. This preliminary action allows for early intervention and treatment before irreversible damage occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If conventional biomarker tests are used for regular monitoring, then the cost is low and accessibility is high, but the ability to detect subtle kidney function changes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring accuracyVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter being measured from endogenous biomarker concentrations to nanoparticle clearance rates. This parameter change enables more sensitive detection of kidney function changes while maintaining cost-effectiveness through the use of detectable nanoparticle markers.

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

This approach enables sensitive and accurate detection of kidney dysfunction or injury even when endogenous biomarkers are within normal ranges, facilitating early intervention and reducing the risk of progression to end-stage renal disease.

Implementation Method 1

renal clearable nanoparticles that are administered to subjects and characterized in urine or blood samples

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGlomerular filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3930764B1Renal clearable nanoparticles as exogenous markers for evaluating kidney function
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 BOARD OF RGT THE UNIV OF TEXAS SYST
  • EP3930764B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3930764B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3930764B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for evaluating kidney function utilizing a nanoparticle that can be eliminated from the body by the kidneys as an exogenous marker. The method includes administering the nanoparticles to a subject, followed by collecting a blood or urine sample after a period of time, characterizing the nanoparticles in the blood or urine sample, and finally comparing a characteristic parameter of the nanoparticles in the blood or urine sample between the tested subject and a control group having normal kidney function.