Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing – Involving an insoluble carrier for immobilizing immunochemicals
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-12-25
Nguyen, Bao-Thuy L. (Department: 1641)
Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
Involving an insoluble carrier for immobilizing immunochemicals
C435S007100, C435S287200, C422S068100, C422S082010, C422S082020, C204S194000, C204S411000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333200
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Immunological tests for specific diseases, pathogens or allergens are routinely used in hospitals, laboratories, food, drug and environmental control, and are typically carried out by latex agglutination. They constitute a multi-billion dollar industry, which is surging at present due to the increased demand for better health care and environmental quality. These tests are typically preformed by means of latex agglutination assays, a simple and versatile tool for immunodetection (Bangs. L. B., in “Liquid and Surface-Borne Particle Measurement Handbook”, Knapp, J. Z., Barber, T. A., Lieberman, A., Eds., Marcel Dekker, N.Y. 1996). These tests however have a number of disadvantages, including the need for relatively large amount of sample, the ambiguous optical readout, and the unsuitability for miniaturization, automation and electronic readout.
While the above drawbacks and the impending computerization of clinical procedures have called for electronic immunosensors, the progress in this area is still quite modest. The sensors available today are either too complex and difficult to use (e.g., based on total internal reflection) or too specific and narrowly oriented (e.g., enzyme catalysis) to be widely usable.
Our invention described here provides general means to replace the agglutination assays used today with high-tech, yet cheap sensors, which can simultaneously test for presence of different molecules in very small samples and give results that are directly read by a computer. The invention is applicable to nearly all of the immunological tests available today, and can be extended to testing for DNA fragments and other genetic markers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a sensor for the presence of bio-specific (e.g. immunological) molecules. It is aimed to giving an alterative, highly advanced method for performing different tests for the presence of immuno-specific molecules in liquid environments such as body liquids, biological cultures, environmental samples, etc. At first, gold patterns are photolithographically fabricated onto glass substrates to form addressable electrodes of micron size. The sensor is assembled when latex particles from suspension are deposited dielectrophoretically in the microscopic gaps between the electrodes. The surfaces of these particles carry immuno-active binding sites that collect the target molecules. The sensor readout is accomplished by secondary tagging of the target molecules with colloidal gold and its enhancement by silver nucleation, which leads to short-circuiting of the electrodes. The device allows extreme miniaturization and direct electric readout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5137827 (1992-08-01), Mroczkowski et al.
Kaler Eric W.
Velev Orlin D.
Connolly Bove & Lodge & Hutz LLP
Nguyen Bao-Thuy L.
University of Delaware
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