Phosphor Nanoparticles for Accurate Protein Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for pathological diagnosis, such as the immunohistochemistry method using enzyme-labeled antibodies, face challenges in accurately detecting target proteins due to variability in color development concentration affected by temperature and time, limiting the precision of protein labeling and detection.

Innovation Solution

Phosphor-integrated nanoparticles are surface-modified with single-chain antibodies or aptamers, specifically VHH antibodies, scFv, or nucleic acid aptamers, to enhance their reaction probability with target substances, improving staining performance and detection accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If color developing method using enzyme substrate reaction with HRP and DAB is used, then target protein can be detected, but detection accuracy is reduced due to variability in color development concentration affected by temperature and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidstability of detection results
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the enzyme-based chemical reaction system (HRP-DAB color development) with a phosphorescence-based optical detection system. This substitution eliminates the temperature and time-dependent variability inherent in enzymatic reactions, providing more stable and accurate detection results through direct phosphorescence signal measurement from the nanoparticles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from color intensity (which varies with temperature and time) to phosphorescence signal intensity. This parameter change enables more reliable quantification of target proteins since phosphorescence decay characteristics are inherently more stable and less susceptible to environmental variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional dyes are used for labeling, then target protein can be observed, but observation duration is limited due to fading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobservation durationVSAvoidsignal stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite phosphor-integrated nanoparticles that combine phosphorescent materials with nanoparticle carriers. This composite structure provides both the bright fluorescence needed for observation and the enhanced stability required for prolonged imaging, overcoming the fading limitations of conventional dyes while maintaining signal reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Measurement precision

If standard antibody labeling is used, then target protein can be labeled, but staining performance is insufficient for high accuracy detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidlabeling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the targeting function (antibody binding) with the detection function (phosphorescence emission) into a single integrated nanoparticle system. This combination eliminates the need for separate labeling and detection steps, improving detection accuracy while actually simplifying the overall process despite the advanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The modified phosphor-integrated nanoparticles provide high detection performance for target substances, including cancer markers, with improved stability and specificity, enabling more accurate and durable labeling and imaging.

Implementation Method 1

when a tissue, a cell, or the like stained with PID is irradiated with predetermined excitation light, the PID contained in the tissue or the like emits fluorescence

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS20220107306A1Phosphor-integrated nanoparticles for target substance detection
Publication Date: 2022.04.07 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

To provide phosphor-integrated nanoparticles for target substance detection, having improved staining performance for labeling and detecting a target protein at high accuracy. The phosphor-integrated nanoparticles for target substance detection are obtained by surface-modifying phosphor-integrated nanoparticles with a surface modification molecule. The surface modification molecule is at least one kind of surface modification molecule selected from the group consisting of a single-chain antibody containing a heavy chain variable region and an aptamer.