Invention:
This invention uses a novel separation technique to isolate specific biomarkers from urine, as a measure to detect and monitor depression and acute kidney injury (AKI). The system employs a hybrid chromatographic matrix that rejects biomolecules of specific sizes and allows only the desired small compounds, such as 3-nitrotyrosine (which has been linked to kidney injury and depression), to penetrate and interact with affinity groups previously attached to the matrix. This streamlined process provides the foundation for urinary-based diagnostic tests that can support early detection and monitoring of AKI and depression. The invention not only broadens access to simple diagnostic tools but also reduces reliance on invasive blood sampling and lengthy lab work.
Background:
3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) has become an increasingly studied biomarker for oxidative/nitrosative stress in various diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and depression. Early detection and diagnoses are crucial steps to enable early disease intervention and prevent worsening conditions, but reliably detecting a low-abundance, reactive biomarker in a complex biological fluid such as urine has proven difficult. This technology presents a new chromatographic method that can be used to effectively isolate 3-nitrotyrosine as a biomarker to detect depression and acute kidney injury.
Applications:
- Acute kidney injury (AKI) detection and monitoring
- Depression detection and monitoring
- Expansion into other diseases with urinary biomarkers
- Biomarker isolation research
- Development of urinary-based diagnostic kits for clinical or home use
Advantages:
- Non-invasive, accessible diagnostic method
- Reduces time and cost compared to blood-based methods
- Specific to 3-nitrotyrosine
- Expand applications of urinary diagnostics
