Development of a device to determine clotting time: sensor device

• Grant number: 20/10801-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2020
• End date: February 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Fausto Feres
• Grantee: Wanderson da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia (IDPC). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/50342-6 - Institutional development plan in research (PDIp), AP.PDIP

Abstract

The blood coagulation cascade in humans involves several factors divided into three groups: intrinsic, extrinsic and common (Figure 1). There are different protocols and diagnostic tests capable of characterizing and quantifying the activity and functionality of these factors in the process of coagulation and wound healing, for example. Among them, the determination of Prothrombin Time (PT) indicates the time required for the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and the consequent clotting and stopping of bleeding at the wound site. In addition, patients with frequent bleeding and bruising need to have their PT assessed, as well as people using oral anticoagulants (Warfarin and Aspirin). The project aims to develop a sensor device capable of determining the coagulation time by converting prothrombin to thrombin, making it possible to estimate the concentration of the coagulation factors of the extrinsic pathway (Factor VII) and the common pathway (Factors I, II, V and X ). This device will consist of: (1) sensor device with recombinant human thromboplastin and complementary reagents (calcium chloride, activator, among others) capable of activating the coagulation cascade from the patient's serum collected in the presence of sodium citrate; (2) reader device that is able to interpret the coagulation reaction in the sensor device, converting it into an absolute data that, after being analyzed and normalized, will constitute the International Standardized Ratio (IIN, RNI or INR) which is the value corresponding to the clotting time to be used in the patient's diagnosis. (AU)