METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN VIVO SURVEILLANCE OF CIRCULATING BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS

• US 20120191009A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bret Taback, David Hoon, Samuel Shaolian
• Original Assignee: Bret Taback, David Hoon, Samuel Shaolian
• Inventors: Hoon, David, Taback, Bret, Shaolian, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 9,162,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0285 Nanoscale sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14735 comprising an immobilised reagent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6862 Stents
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing

Abstract

The invention relates generally to in vivo collection of circulating molecules, tumor cells and other biological markers using a collecting probe. The probe is configured for placement within a living organism for an extended period of time to provide sufficient yield of biological marker for analysis.

Claims

1. A method for collecting markers associated with circulating cells, comprising the steps of:

providing a probe comprising a metallic guidewire comprising a binding surface and an atraumatic distal tip, wherein the binding surface comprises an outer nanostructured polymer zone and an inner non-porous zone, wherein the nanostructured polymer zone has affixed thereto at least one binding partner for binding a marker, and wherein the nanostructured polymer zone is configured to immobilize a marker to the binding surface upon binding of the marker to the binding partner, thereby increasing the surface area of the binding surface;

positioning at least a portion of the probe in an anatomical structure of a living organism;

maintaining the probe in a generally fixed position for greater than 1 hour; and

removing the probe from the living organism.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

binding at least one marker at a first point in time; and

binding at least one marker at a second point in time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

binding at least one marker at about a first peak in marker concentration; and

binding at least the biological marker at about a second peak in marker concentration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the probe for markers bound to the binding agent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the analyzing step is performed ex vivo.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the binding surface is in continuous contact with a circulating body fluid within the living organism.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the anatomical structure is an artery or vein.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the circulating cells are circulating tumor cells.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the circulating cells are fetal cells.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the binding partner is an antibody.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the antibody is directed against epithelial origin cells.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the marker is a low-level marker in the blood.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer nanostructured polymer zone is a polymeric jacket.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises at least one optically sensitive dye engaged to the binding surface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises a fibrin-deposition resistant component.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises at least one anti-thrombotic agent engaged to the binding surface.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises at least one antimicrobial agent engaged to the binding surface.

18. The method of claim 1, comprising maintaining the metallic guidewire in the generally fixed position for more than about 2 hours.

19. A method for collecting markers associated with circulating cells, comprising the steps of:

providing a guidewire comprising a binding surface and an atraumatic distal tip, wherein the binding surface comprises an outer nanostructured polymer zone and an inner non-porous zone, wherein the nanostructured polymer zone has affixed thereto at least one binding partner for binding a marker, and wherein the nanostructured polymer zone is configured to immobilize a marker to the binding surface upon binding of the marker to the binding partner, thereby increasing the surface area of the binding surface;

positioning at least a portion of the guidewire in an anatomical structure of a living organism;

maintaining the guidewire in a generally fixed position for greater than 1 hour; and

removing the guidewire from the living organism.

20. A system for collecting markers associated with circulating cells, comprising:

a probe comprising a guidewire comprising a binding surface and an atraumatic distal tip, wherein the binding surface comprises an outer nanostructured polymer zone and an inner non-porous zone, wherein the nanostructured polymer zone has affixed thereto at least one binding partner for binding a marker, and wherein the nanostructured polymer zone is configured to immobilize a marker to the binding surface upon binding of the marker to the binding partner, thereby increasing the surface area of the binding surface;

wherein at least a portion of the guidewire is configured to be placed within an anatomical structure of a living organism.