Polysaccharide Chelating Agent for Metal Capture and MRI Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for maintaining metal homeostasis are limited in effectiveness, and there is a need for a polysaccharide-based chelating agent that can be introduced into the organism in both chelated and non-chelated forms for various applications such as MRI imaging, brachytherapy, and foodstuff marking to prevent forgeries.
Innovation Solution
A statistical polysaccharide with a weight-average molecular weight between 100 kDa and 1000 kDa, featuring chelating agent groups and linkers, is developed for use in dialysis, MRI imaging, brachytherapy, and foodstuff marking, allowing for chelation of metals and solubility at physiological pH.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If polysaccharides are chemically modified to improve solubility at physiological pH, then solubility is improved, but the complexity of the chemical modification process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the degree of substitution (DS) and molecular weight of polysaccharides to optimize solubility at physiological pH. The invention identifies specific parameter ranges (DS between 0.1-0.9, molecular weight between 100-1000 kDa) that achieve optimal solubility while maintaining chelating functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite materials by combining polysaccharide backbones with chelating agent grafts. This composite structure integrates the biocompatibility and solubility of polysaccharides with the metal-chelating capability of the grafted agents, achieving both solubility improvement and functional enhancement.
2Reliability
If chelating agents are grafted onto polysaccharides to enhance metal chelation capability, then chelation effectiveness is improved, but the molecular complexity and synthesis difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the chelating function into discrete grafted units on the polysaccharide chain. Each grafted chelating agent acts as an independent functional unit, allowing systematic control of chelation capacity through the degree of substitution while maintaining the overall polysaccharide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by designing polysaccharide-chelating agent conjugates that can bind multiple types of metal ions (Fe3+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Al3+) through the versatile chelating groups. The same polysaccharide backbone with grafted chelating agents provides multi-functional metal binding capability across different metal types.
3Quantity of substance
If the molecular weight of polysaccharides is increased to improve chelation capacity, then metal binding capacity is improved, but solubility and bioavailability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the molecular weight within a specific range (100-1000 kDa) and controlling the degree of substitution to balance solubility and chelation capacity. This parameter optimization ensures that higher molecular weight polysaccharides maintain adequate solubility while providing sufficient metal binding sites.
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 polysaccharide effectively captures metals, enhances MRI imaging capabilities, supports brachytherapy, and prevents foodstuff forgery by providing a versatile and effective chelation system for metal management and imaging.
Implementation Method 1
Polysaccharides which are chelated or which can chelate one or more metals... after grafting of these entities onto the structure of polysaccharides, the polymer could be used as a detoxifying agent for decontaminating organisms with respect to pathogenic metals
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a statistical polysaccharide with a weight-average molecular weight of between 100 kDa and 1000 kDa of the following formula (I): in which: each Rc independently represents a group containing a chelating agent, each Z independently represents a binder which may be a single bond or a hydrocarbon chain containing between 1 and 12 carbon atoms, said chain able to be either linear or branched and being able to contain one or more unsaturations and being able to contain one or more heteroatoms, preferably chosen from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and atoms of the halogen family, x is between 0.005 and 0.7, preferably between 0.05 and 0.7, and preferentially between 0.2 and 0.6, y is between 0.01 and 0.7, preferably between 0.05 and 0.2, the ratio of y/x being greater than or equal to 0.05, preferably greater than or equal to 0.15, and the sum of x+y being greater than or equal to 0.30, preferably greater than or equal to 0.35. The invention also relates to the use of said polysaccharide in a dialysis process in order to capture at least one metal, in an MRI imaging process, in a brachytherapy process or in a process for marking foodstuffs to prevent forgeries.