Development of the detection method for monosodium urate crystals causing gout

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14994
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 21030:Measurement engineering-related
• Research Institution: Muroran Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Takeuchi Yuka 室蘭工業大学, 大学院工学研究科, 助教 (90758765)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 痛風 / 診断 / 磁場配向 / 反磁性物質 / 磁場効果

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated a method for detecting the presence of monosodium urate crystals, the causative agent of gout. In this study, we clarified the behavior of crystals in a highly viscous fluid, which is assumed to be joint fluid, and the optical response of crystals using their magnetic orientation and polarization characteristics for highly sensitive detection. As a result, it was possible to orient crystals in a highly viscous fluid on a realistic time scale. In addition, the use of a polarization system improved the detection sensitivity compared to the results obtained with an optical system without polarizers.

Free Research Field

磁気科学，計測工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在，痛風の確定診断のためには，結晶の存在を確認することが必要である。本研究は体内に存在する尿酸ナトリウム結晶を磁場と光による新規検出手法の確立に向けて基礎的な知見を得た。特に，反磁性微結晶に対して低磁場でその磁気特性を引出すことが出来るため，これを有効に適用できれば，痛風の診断システムの小型化及び高感度化に寄与することが可能であることが示唆された。