CA2693055C - Systems and methods for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample - Google Patents

Systems and methods for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2693055C
CA2693055C CA2693055A CA2693055A CA2693055C CA 2693055 C CA2693055 C CA 2693055C CA 2693055 A CA2693055 A CA 2693055A CA 2693055 A CA2693055 A CA 2693055A CA 2693055 C CA2693055 C CA 2693055C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fluorophores
molecules
operatively
test sample
fluorescent signal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA2693055A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2693055A1 (en
Inventor
Warren Che Wor Chan
Travis Leon Jennings
Jesse M. Klostranec
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
FIO Corp
Original Assignee
FIO Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by FIO Corp filed Critical FIO Corp
Publication of CA2693055A1 publication Critical patent/CA2693055A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2693055C publication Critical patent/CA2693055C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/58—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving labelled substances
    • G01N33/588—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving labelled substances with semiconductor nanocrystal label, e.g. quantum dots
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
    • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
    • B82Y15/00—Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q1/00—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions
    • C12Q1/68—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions involving nucleic acids
    • C12Q1/6813—Hybridisation assays
    • C12Q1/6816—Hybridisation assays characterised by the detection means
    • C12Q1/6818—Hybridisation assays characterised by the detection means involving interaction of two or more labels, e.g. resonant energy transfer
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C40—COMBINATORIAL TECHNOLOGY
    • C40B—COMBINATORIAL CHEMISTRY; LIBRARIES, e.g. CHEMICAL LIBRARIES
    • C40B30/00—Methods of screening libraries
    • C40B30/10—Methods of screening libraries by measuring physical properties, e.g. mass
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C40—COMBINATORIAL TECHNOLOGY
    • C40B—COMBINATORIAL CHEMISTRY; LIBRARIES, e.g. CHEMICAL LIBRARIES
    • C40B70/00—Tags or labels specially adapted for combinatorial chemistry or libraries, e.g. fluorescent tags or bar codes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
    • G01N33/536—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor with immune complex formed in liquid phase
    • G01N33/542—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor with immune complex formed in liquid phase with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
    • G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
    • G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
    • G01N21/6428—Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes"
    • G01N2021/6432—Quenching

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample are for use with an irradiating device. First fluorophores are provided for absorption of EMF radiation, and emission of a first signal. Second fluorophores are provided for partial absorption of the first signal, and emission of a second signal distinguishable from the first signal. The fluorophores are combined with the test sample, and secured to the target molecules and relative to one another. After the first fluorophores receive the EMF radiation from the irradiating device, the first signal is detected, together with the second spectral signal if the target molecules are present in the test sample.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING FLUORESCENT
DETECTION OF TARGET MOLECULES IN A TEST SAMPLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of fluorescent detection, and more particularly, to systems and methods for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Biomolecular assays may typically have required a readout signal to determine the success or failure of the experiment. Typically, for example, in prior art biomolecular sandwich assays, the analytes or target molecules to be detected may have been bound between biorecognition molecules (BRMs) and marker molecules. In the past, a positive result (and thus detection of the presence of the target molecule) may have been determined by detection of the readout signal, which in some cases may have been a fluorescent signal. The fluorescent signal may heretofore have been produced by excitation of a fluorophore bound to the marker molecule, such that the fluorophore emitted photons in the visible spectrum (i.e., as the fluorescent signal).
[0003] Exemplary prior art biomolecular sandwich assays may have included genomic assays, where the BRMs may have been single-stranded DNA
immobilized on the surface of a substrate (e.g., a microbead). Similarly, the marker molecules may have included single-stranded marker DNA bound to one or more fluorophores. In operation, such prior art genomic assays may have involved a first hybridization reaction between the BRMs and the target molecules, if present. (The target molecules may have included single-stranded target DNA of interest in the experiment.) Thereafter, such prior art genomic assays may have involved a second hybridization reaction between the marker molecules and the target molecules, if present.
[0004] Other exemplary prior art biomolecular sandwich assays may have included immunoassays, where the BRMs may heretofore have been first antibody molecules immobilized on a substrate. Similarly, the marker molecules may heretofore have been second antibody molecules (alternately, "marker antibodies") bound to one or more fluorophores. In operation, such prior art immunoassays may have involved a first reaction between the BRMs and the target molecules, if present. (The target molecules may have included target antigen molecules, or analytes, of interest in the experiment.) Thereafter, such prior art immunoassays may have involved a second reaction between the marker antibodies and the target antigen molecules, if present.
[0005] In the past, it may generally have been thought that molecular fluorophores can provide useful and/or sensitive methods for the detection of binding events in biomolecular assays. Such molecular fluorophores may heretofore have been used, when bound, to provide a fluorescent readout signal.
It may generally have been thought that suitable molecular fluorophores might include, for example, fluorescein, rhodamine dyes, or ALEXA FLUOR series dyes (such as those manufactured by Molecular Probes, Inc. of Eugene, Oregon).
More recently, quantum dots (QDs) may have been considered for potential uses as fluorophores.
[0006] It may heretofore have been generally thought that assay sensitivity, and the ability to detect fluorescent readout signals, depends on an ability to observe an emission from a chosen marker fluorophore. Accordingly, much assay sensitivity research to date may have been largely aimed at increasing the ability to observe emissions from chosen marker fluorophores. Related developments may heretofore have, therefore, included highly sensitive photomultiplier tubes, more efficient photon collection optics, and/or the use of microfluidic systems. One or more of these developments may have sought to maximize detection sensitivity for very low fluxes of photons, possibly as might be emitted from a small area in a microarray or microbead biomolecular assay.
[0007] It may now be believed (though it is not essential to the working of the present invention) that the sensitivity in detecting fluorescent readout signals, and indeed assay sensitivity as a whole, may also depend upon an ability to excite the chosen marker fluorophores. Assay detection sensitivity may, therefore, yet be improved by improving the ability to excite the chosen marker fluorophores. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide an improved method and system for local excitation of specific fluorophores.
[0008] It may be thought, though it may not be essential to the working of the present invention, that fluorescent molecules or QDs enter an electronically "excited state" before they are capable of emitting one or more detectable photons in the visible spectrum. It is also believed, though it is not essential to the working of the present invention, higher percentages of excited molecules in a population may lead to a higher absolute number of (detectable) photons being emitted. Although not necessary to the working of the present invention, it may be thought that an increase in the total number of electronically excited fluorophore molecules may directly increase the assay's detection sensitivity to that population of molecules.
[0009] Various techniques may heretofore have been used to produce molecular excitation, including the use of thermal energy (heat), electrical stimulation, and/or light absorption. When an emission of a fluorescent signal is the desired effect, the use of light absorption may be a particularly efficient method for exciting molecular fluorophores.
[0010] Previously, lasers may have been used to excite fluorophores. Lasers can be relatively intense sources of light and may, therefore, be efficient at exciting molecular dyes. Lasers may, however, emit very narrow bandwidths of visible light, having a specific single polarization. As such, lasers may not be as efficient at exciting random orientations of molecular fluorophores as might be desired.
[0011] Now, in biomolecular sandwich assays, it may be advantageous for both the microbeads and the marker molecules to emit fluorescent readout signals in a test positive scenario. In such a contemplated situation, multiple wavelengths of incident light might heretofore have been required to adequately excite both the microbead fluorophores and the marker fluorophores.
[0012] Accordingly, there may be a need to provide an improved ability to excite bound fluorophores, and/or to provide for increased numbers of excited bound fluorophores.
[0013] There may also be a need to provide an improved ability to excite fluorophores, and/or to provide for increased numbers of excited fluorophores, bound at various orientations.
[0014] There may also be a need to provide for an enhanced emission from fluorophores by controllable localized excitation.
[0015] It is an object of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention to provide a system and/or method for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules.
[0016] It is an object of one preferred embodiment according to the present invention to provide a system and/or method for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a microbead assay.
[0017] It is an object of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention to provide a system and/or method which excites the BRM or marker fluorophores (preferably, the marker fluorophores) via a fluorescent signal emitted from the other (preferably, from the BRM fluorophores).
[0018] It is also an object of one preferred embodiment according to the present invention to provide a system and/or method which advantageously tailors an emission profile and/or an intensity of one or more QDs to provide for, and/or control, localized excitation of one or more other immobilized fluorophores in the assay.
[0019] It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages associated with the prior art, and/or to achieve one or more of the aforementioned objects of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] According to the invention, there is disclosed a method of enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample. The method is for use with an irradiating device. The method includes a step of (a) providing one or more first fluorophores operatively adapted for absorption of electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation, and for emission of a first fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation. The method also includes a step of (b) providing one or more second fluorophores operatively adapted for absorption of a first incident portion of the first fluorescent signal, and for emission of a second fluorescent signal following absorption of the first incident portion. The second fluorescent signal is distinguishable from the first fluorescent signal. The first fluorophores and the second fluorophores are adapted for operative combination with the test sample, and for securement relative to the target molecules, if present in the test sample, so as to secure the first fluorophores relative to the second fluorophores. Following operative irradiation of at least the first fluorophores with the EMF radiation via the irradiating device, the first fluorophores emit the first fluorescent signal.
If the target molecules are present in the test sample, the second fluorophores absorb the first incident portion of the first fluorescent signal and emit the second fluorescent signal. Thus, the first spectral signal is operatively detectable, together with the second spectral signal if the target molecules are present in the test sample.
[0021] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, in step (a), the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a first fluorophore emission profile, preferably corresponding to the first fluorescent signal. Preferably in step (b), the second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a second fluorophore absorption profile which preferably substantially overlaps with the first fluorophore emission profile.
[0022] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (a), the first fluorophore emission profile may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a peak intensity at a wavelength of about 580 nanometers (nm).
[0023] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (a), the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a first fluorophore absorption profile, preferably substantially corresponding to the EMF radiation. Preferably in step (b), the second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a second fluorophore emission profile, preferably corresponding to the second fluorescent signal, which may preferably be substantially removed from the first fluorophore absorption profile.
[0024] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (a), the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be bound by microbeads. Preferably, the method may preferably also include step (c), preferably after step (a), of providing biorecognition molecules (BRMs) adapted to operatively bind with the microbeads and/or the target molecules, preferably so as to secure the first fluorophores relative to the target molecules if present in the test sample.
[0025] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (c), the BRMs may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more antibody molecules.
[0026] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for detection of one or more single-stranded target DNA molecules as the target molecules. Preferably in step (c), the BRMs may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more single-stranded biorecognition DNA molecules complementary to, and/or adapted to operatively hybridize with, the target DNA molecules.
[0027] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (a), the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, include quantum dots of one or more quantum dot types.
[0028] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (a), the intensity of the first spectral signal may preferably, but need not necessarily, be dependent upon the number of the quantum dots bound by each of the microbeads.
[0029] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (a), the color of the first spectral signal may preferably, but need not necessarily, be dependent upon the size of the quantum dot types bound by each of the microbeads.
[0030] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (b), the second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be adapted for substantially direct operative binding with the target molecules.
[0031] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably also include step (d), preferably after step (b), of providing marker molecules adapted to operatively bind with the second fluorophores and/or the target molecules, preferably so as to secure the second fluorophores relative to the target molecules if present in the test sample.
[0032] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (d), the marker molecules may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more antigen molecules.
[0033] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for detection of one or more single-stranded target DNA molecules as the target molecules. Preferably in step (d), the marker molecules may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more single-stranded marker DNA molecules complementary to, and/or adapted to operatively hybridize with, the target DNA molecules.
[0034] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for use with a laser as the irradiating device. Preferably in step (a), the EMF radiation may preferably, but need not necessarily, have a wavelength of about 488 nanometers (nm).
[0035] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably following operative combination of the first fluorophores and/or the second fluorophores with the test sample, the target molecules, if present in the test sample, may preferably secure the second fluorophores within a predetermined maximum range of the first fluorophores. A radiative flux of the first spectral signal may preferably, but need not necessarily, be substantially unabated over the predetermined maximum range.
[0036] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the predetermined maximum range may preferably, but need not necessarily, be dependent upon the first fluorophores, preferably as provided in step (a). The predetermined maximum range may preferably, but need not necessarily, be less than about 10 micrometers (pm).
[0037] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (b), the second fluorophores may also preferably, but not necessarily, be operatively adapted for absorption of the EMF radiation, and/or for emission of the second fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF
radiation.
[0038] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include step (e), preferably after step (b), of operatively combining the first fluorophores with the test sample and/or the second fluorophores.
[0039] According to an alternate aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, include alternate step (e), preferably after step (c), of operatively combining the microbeads with the BRMs, the test sample, and/or the second fluorophores.
[0040] According to another alternate aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, include another alternate step (e), preferably after step (d), of operatively combining the first fluorophores with the test sample, the marker molecules, and/or the second fluorophores.
[0041] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include step (f), preferably after step (e), of operatively irradiating at least the first fluorophores with the EMF radiation, preferably via the irradiating device.
[0042] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in step (b), the second fluorophores may also preferably, but not necessarily, be operatively adapted for absorption of the EMF radiation, and/or for emission of the second fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF
radiation. According to this aspect of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include alternate step (f), preferably after step (e), of operatively irradiating the first fluorophores and/or the second fluorophores with the EMF radiation, preferably via the irradiating device.
[0043] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include step (g), preferably after step (f), of operatively detecting the first spectral signal, preferably together with the second spectral signal if the target molecules are present in the test sample.
[0044] According to the invention, there is also disclosed a system for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample. The system is for use with an irradiating device. The system includes one or more first fluorophores operatively adapted for absorption of electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation, and for emission of a first fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation. The system also includes one or more second fluorophores operatively adapted for absorption of a first incident portion of the first fluorescent signal, and for emission of a second fluorescent signal following absorption of the first incident portion. The second fluorescent signal is distinguishable from the first fluorescent signal. The first fluorophores and the second fluorophores are adapted for operative combination with the test sample, and for securement relative to the target molecules, if present in the test sample, so as to secure the first fluorophores relative to the second fluorophores.
Following operative irradiation of at least the first fluorophores with the EMF
radiation via the irradiating device, the first fluorophores emit the first fluorescent signal and, if the target molecules are present in the test sample, the second fluorophores absorb the first incident portion of the first fluorescent signal and emit the second fluorescent signal. Thus, the first spectral signal is operatively detectable, together with the second spectral signal if the target molecules are present in the test sample.
[0045] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a first fluorophore emission profile, preferably corresponding to the first fluorescent signal. The second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a second fluorophore absorption profile which may preferably substantially overlap with the first fluorophore emission profile.
[0046] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fluorophore emission profile may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a peak intensity at a wavelength of about 580 nanometers (nm).
[0047] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a first fluorophore absorption profile, preferably substantially corresponding to the EMF radiation. The second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be characterized by a second fluorophore emission profile, preferably corresponding to the second fluorescent signal, which may preferably be substantially removed from the first fluorophore absorption profile.
[0048] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be bound by microbeads. The system may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include biorecognition molecules (BRMs) adapted to operatively bind with the microbeads and/or the target molecules, preferably so as to secure the first fluorophores relative to the target molecules if present in the test sample.
[0049] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the BRMs may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more antibody molecules.
[0050] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the system may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for detection of one or more single-stranded target DNA molecules as the target molecules. The BRMs may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more single-stranded biorecognition DNA molecules complementary to, and/or adapted to operatively hybridize with, the target DNA molecules.
[0051] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, include quantum dots of one or more quantum dot types.
[0052] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the intensity of the first spectral signal may preferably, but need not necessarily, be dependent upon the number of the quantum dots bound by each of the microbeads.
[0053] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the color of the first spectral signal may preferably, but need not necessarily, be dependent upon the size of the quantum dot types bound by each of the microbeads.
[0054] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be adapted for substantially direct operative binding with the target molecules.
[0055] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the system may preferably, but need not necessarily, also include marker molecules adapted to operatively bind with the second fluorophores and/or the target molecules, preferably so as to secure the second fluorophores relative to the target molecules if present in the test sample.
[0056] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the marker molecules may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more antigen molecules.
[0057] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the system may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for detection of one or more single-stranded target DNA molecules as the target molecules. The marker molecules may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more single-stranded marker DNA molecules complementary to, and/or adapted to operatively hybridize with, the target DNA molecules.
[0058] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be adapted to be operatively secured substantially adjacent to distal end portions of the marker DNA molecules.
[0059] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more fluorescent dyes.
[0060] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluorescent dyes may preferably, but need not necessarily, include Cyanine-(Cy5) molecular dyes.
[0061] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, have a higher emission wavelength than the second fluorophores.
[0062] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the system may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for use with a laser as the irradiating device. The EMF radiation may preferably, but need not necessarily, have a wavelength of about 488 nanometers (nm).
[0063] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably following operative combination of the first fluorophores and/or the second fluorophores with the test sample, the target molecules, if present in the test sample, may preferably secure the second fluorophores within a predetermined maximum range of the first fluorophores. A radiative flux of the first spectral signal may preferably, but need not necessarily, be substantially unabated over the predetermined maximum range.
[0064] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the predetermined maximum range may preferably, but need not necessarily, be dependent upon the first fluorophores. The predetermined maximum range may preferably, but need not necessarily, be less than about 10 micrometers ( m)=
[0065] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the predetermined maximum range may preferably, but need not necessarily, be in the order of about 300 nanometers (nm).
[0066] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method and/or system may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for detection of infectious diseases.
[0067] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method and/or system may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for detection of cancer.
[0068] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method and/or system may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for detection of cystic fibrosis.
[0069] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method and/or system may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for use in a biomolecular assay.
[0070] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method and/or system may preferably, but need not necessarily, be for use in a sandwich assay as the biomolecular assay.
[0071] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the second fluorophores also may preferably, but need not necessarily, be operatively adapted for absorption of the EMF radiation, and/or for emission of the second fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation.
[0072] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the microbeads may preferably, but need not necessarily, be operatively combined with the BRMs, the test sample, and/or the second fluorophores.
[0073] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be operatively combined with the test sample, the marker molecules, and/or the second fluorophores.
[0074] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the second fluorophores also may preferably, but need not necessarily, be operatively adapted for absorption of the EMF radiation, and/or for emission of the second fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation. The first fluorophores and/or the second fluorophores may preferably, but need not necessarily, be operatively irradiated with the EMF radiation, preferably via the irradiating device.
[0075] According to the invention, there is additionally disclosed a fluorophore, quantum dot and/or fluorescent dye for use as one of the first or second fluorophores in the method and/or system described above.
[0076] According to the invention, there are additionally disclosed microbeads, biorecognition molecules, and/or marker molecules for use in the method and/or system described above.
[0077] Other advantages, features and/or characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and/or functions of the related elements of the method and system, and/or the combination of steps, parts and/or economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which are briefly described hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0078] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the system and method according to the present invention, as to their structure, organization, use, and/or method of operation, together with further objectives and/or advantages thereof, may be better understood from the following drawings in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:
[0079] Figure 1 is a graph of the absorption and emission profiles for a first fluorophore according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0080] Figure 2 is a graph of the emission profile for the first fluorophore represented in Figure 1, and the absorption profile for a second fluorophore according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0081] Figure 3 is a graph of the absorption and emission profiles for the second fluorophore represented in Figure 2;
[0082] Figure 4 is a graph of the emission profiles for the first and second fluorophores represented in Figures 1 and 2, respectively;
[0083] Figure 5 is an illustrative representation of a system including the first and second fluorophores, shown in conjunction with target molecules, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0084] Figure 6 is a graph of various first fluorophore doping percentages in microbeads against the first fluorescent signal intensity according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0085] Figure 7A is an illustrative representation of the system of Figure 5, shown without the target molecules, marker molecules and second fluorophores;
[0086] Figure 7B is an illustrative representation of the system of Figure 7A
shown in conjunction with the target molecules;
[0087] Figure 7C is an illustrative representation of the system of Figure 7B, shown in conjunction with the marker molecules and the second fluorophores;
[0088] Figure 8 is a graph of various first fluorescent signal intensities against the median second fluorescent signal intensity according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and showing a median fluorescent emission signal for a molecular FAM dye for comparison purposes;
[0089] Figure 9 is a graph of various median first fluorescent signal intensities against the enhancement factor for the second fluorescent signal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0090] Figure 10 is an illustrative representation, similar to Figure 5, of an alternate system including the first and second fluorophores, shown in conjunction with target molecules, according to an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0091] Referring now to Figures 1-10 of the drawings, there are represented methods and systems for fluorescent detection of target molecules 60 according to the present invention. The methods and systems according to the present invention are adapted to test for the presence of the target molecules 60 in a test sample (not shown).
[0092] Generally, and as best seen in Figures 5, 7C and 10, the system includes a microbead 20 and biorecognition molecules (BRMs) 50. Each microbead 20 contains first fluorophores 26. The BRMs 50 bind the target molecules 60 (if present in the test sample), which in turn are bound to marker molecules 70 bearing second fluorophores 76.
[0093] Use of the present invention in biomolecular assays may advantageously provide for an internal volume of the microbead 20 to be used as a localized compartment to hold numerous ones of the first fluorophores 26.
Since, as may be described in considerably greater detail elsewhere herein, the first fluorophores 26 are preferably highly customizable quantum dots (QDs), each microbead 20 may contain thousands, or even millions, of the first fluorophores 26. Additionally, and as may also be described in considerably greater detail elsewhere herein, because the QDs may be tailored and/or customized to have various predetermined and/or selected emission energies, the first fluorophores 26 may be chosen and embedded within the microbead 20, such that the fluorescence emission properties of the first fluorophores 26 will preferably overlap only with another specific fluorophore.
[0094] As best seen in Figures 5, 7A and 10, the BRMs 50 are bound to a surface 22 of the microbead 20. More specifically, and as best seen in Figure 10, proximal end portions 52 of the BRMs 50 (being those portions most closely situated towards the microbead 20) are preferably bound to functional groups provided on the surface 22 of the microbead 20.
[0095] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, and as best seen in Figures 5 and 7A-7C, the BRMs 50 may be provided as one or more single-stranded biorecognition DNA (BRM-ssDNA) molecules. When the BRMs 50 are operatively bound to the microbead 20, they together form a microbead/BRM-ssDNA substrate (as best seen in Figure 7A).
[0096] The microbead/BRM-ssDNA substrate may then preferably be added to a solution (e.g., a plasma/PCR product). Preferably, the microbead/BRM-ssDNA substrate will then diffuse through the solution, while searching for and/or scavenging, via hybridization, the target molecules 60.
[0097] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, and as best seen in Figure 7B, the target molecules 60 may be one or more target strands of a nucleic acid sequence complementary to at least one of the BRM-ssDNA molecules. The target molecules 60 operatively bind with the BRMs 50 as shown in Figure 7B, and have unbound distal end portions 62 - preferably at least one each. The distal end portions 62 are those portions of the target molecules 60 which, in an operatively bound configuration (as shown in Figure 7B), are furthest removed from the surface 22 of the microbead 20. When the target molecules 60 are operatively bound to the microbead/BRM-ssDNA
substrate, they together form a microbead/BRM-ssDNA/target substrate (as best seen in Figure 7B).
[0098] Subsequently, the marker molecules 70 are preferably added to the microbead/BRM/target substrate shown in Figure 7B. A second hybridization reaction will preferably take place to form the test positive end product shown in Figure 7C. The second fluorophores 76 are preferably operatively bound to distal end portions 72 of the marker molecules 70 (as best seen in Figure 7C).
The distal end portions 72 are those portions of the marker molecules 70 which, in an operatively bound configuration (as shown in Figure 7C), are furthest removed from the surface 22 of the microbead 20. Preferably, the marker molecules 70 operatively bind to the distal end portions 62 of the target molecules 60 (as best seen in Figure 7C).
[0099] In an alternate preferred embodiment, and as shown in Figure 10, the BRMs 50 may be provided as one or more BRM antibody molecules, the target molecules 60 may be provided as one or more target antigen molecules, and the marker molecules 70 may be provided as one or more marker antibody molecules. The BRM antibody molecules and the marker antibody molecules are operatively bound to the target antigen molecules. The second fluorophores 76 are preferably operatively bound to distal end portions 72 of the marker antibodies.
[0100] Preferably, and as best seen in Figures 5, 7C and 10, when the target molecules 60 are present in the test sample (not shown), they operatively secure the first fluorophores 26 relative to the second fluorophores 76.
[0101] With further reference to Figure 5, the first fluorophores 26 will be seen to operatively emit a first fluorescent signal 34 after absorption of electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation 40. The first fluorescent signal 34 preferably radiates outward from the surface 22 of the microbead 20.
[0102] As best seen in Figure 5, a first incident portion 34A of the first fluorescent signal 34 is preferably incident upon one or more of the second fluorophores 76, and a second detectable portion 34B of the first fluorescent signal 34 radiates further outward from the microbead 20.
[0103] The second fluorophores 76 are adapted for operative absorption of the first incident portion 34A of the first fluorescent signal 34. After absorption of the first incident portion 34A, the second fluorophores 76 operatively emit a second fluorescent signal 84 (as shown in Figure 5). As may be best appreciated from Figure 4, and as may be described in considerably greater detail elsewhere herein, the second fluorescent signal 84 is preferably readily distinguishable from the first florescent signal 34.
[0104] As shown in Figures 5, 7C and 10, the target molecules 60 secure the first fluorophores 26 relative to the second fluorophores 76. As such, the first incident portion 34A of the first fluorescent signal 34 selectively excites the second fluorophore 76, and enhances emission of the second fluorescent signal 84, preferably only if the target molecules 60 are present in the test sample (not shown). Without intending to be bound by theory, the aforementioned effect is believed to occur only when the target molecules 60 are present in the test sample, since the target molecules 60 operatively secure the first fluorophores 26 and the second fluorophores 76 relative to each other. In this manner, the target molecules 60 enable greater absorption of the first fluorescent signal 34 by the second fluorophores 76. This selective excitation of the second fluorophores by the first fluorophores 26 when the target molecules 60 are present in the test sample (not shown) is believed - again, without intending to be bound by theory - to impart sensitivity, and selectivity, to the assay because unbound second fluorophores 76 (or molecular dyes of other energies) may show little or no enhancement of their respective emission spectral signals.
[0105] More particularly, and as best seen in Figure 5, the first fluorophores 26 will preferably emit photons (in the form of the first fluorescent signal 34) in all directions from the surface 22 of the microbead 20. In this manner, enhancement of the second fluorescent signal 84 is dependent upon the second fluorophores 76 being located within a predetermined maximum range (as indicated generally by dimension "D" in Figure 5) from the first fluorophores 26.
Where, as here, the first fluorophores 26 may be bound substantially at the surface 22 of the microbead 20, it may be possible to measure the predetermined maximum range "D" from the surface 22 of the microbead 20. The predetermined maximum range "D" defines a region 36 of substantially unabated radiative flux (or high photon flux) for the first fluorescent signal 34.
In this region 36, similar photon densities (e.g., within 10%) may be observed at the surface 22 of the microbead 20 and at the predetermined maximum range "D" from the surface 22. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the efficiency of the assay is negligibly diminished when the second fluorophores 76 are bound within the predetermined maximum range "D" from the surface 22 of the microbead 20. Although not essential to the working of the present invention, it may be generally believed that, according to one preferred embodiment and by way of non-limiting example only, when the microbead 20 is provided with a diameter of about five micrometers (5 pm), the predetermined maximum range "D" may be in the approximate order of about 300 nanometers (nm).
[0106] In one preferred embodiment, and as best seen in Figures 5 and 7A-7C, the first fluorophores 26 embedded within the microbead 20 may be provided in the form of QDs adapted to emit photons centered at about 580 nanometers (nm) - i.e., generally in the yellow range of the visible light spectrum. These QDs may serve as a source of excitation energy for the second fluorophores 76, which preferably may be provided in the form of a Cyanine-5 (Cy5) molecular dye -more preferably, a Cyanine-5.5 (Cy5.5) molecular dye - that absorbs yellow light strongly and emits photons having a wavelength generally situated towards the red end of the visible light spectrum.
[0107] As may be appreciated from a consideration of Figure 3, when the second fluorophores 76 are provided in the form of the Cy5 molecular dye, they may be excited, inter alia, by incident radiation 90 (e.g., coherent light from a laser) having a wavelength of about 635 nanometers (nm) - i.e., provided that the incident coherent radiation 90 lies within a second fluorophore absorption profile 78 (as best seen in Figure 3) characteristic of the Cy5 molecular dye.
Thereafter, the CY5 molecular dye is adapted to operatively emit the second fluorescent signal 84. The second fluorescent signal 84 corresponds to a second fluorophore emission profile 80 (best seen in Figure 3) characteristic of the Cy5 molecular dye.
Although not essential to the working of the present invention, the intensity of the second fluorescent signal 84 emitted by the Cy5 molecular dye may depend generally upon the amount of the incident radiation 90 absorbed thereby.
[0108] Although not necessary to the operation of the invention, in one preferred embodiment, the region 36 of substantially unabated radiative flux (best seen in Figure 5) may be dependent upon the concentration and/or quantum yield of the QDs bound within the microbead 20. By way of a non-limiting example only, when microbeads 20 are doped (i) with an arbitrary 100%
QD concentration, and (ii) with a relative 10% QD concentration (i.e., one tenth of the QD concentration), the predetermined maximum range "D" for the 100%
QD-doped microbead may be in the approximate order of between about three and about five (-3 to -5) times higher than that for the 10% QD-doped microbead. In addition, and still by way of example, if the 10% QD-doped microbead provides for a predetermined maximum range "D" of about 300 nanometers (nm), then the 100% QD-doped microbead might provide for a predetermined maximum range "D" of about one micrometer (-1 m) or more.
The predetermined maximum range "D" for any particular microbead 20 may be dependent upon the volume of photon flux within the region 36, and the QD-doping concentration in the microbead 20.
[0109] Reference will now be made, briefly, to the method of enhancing fluorescent detection of the target molecules 60 in the test sample (not shown) according to one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention. The method is for use with an irradiating device (not shown) and is, preferably, for use with the system shown in Figures 5, 7A-7C and 10. It should, of course, be appreciated that, according to the present invention, the methods may be employed independent of the system described elsewhere herein.
[0110] Now, according to the present invention, the method may preferably include steps (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and/or (g).
[0111] In step (a), one or more of the first fluorophores 26 (as shown in Figures 5, 7A-7C and 10) are provided. The first fluorophores 26 are adapted for absorption of the EMF radiation 40. The first fluorophores 26 are additionally adapted for emission of the first fluorescent signal 34 following absorption of the EMF radiation 40. As shown in Figure 1, the first fluorophores 26 are characterized by a first fluorophore absorption profile 28 (substantially encompassing the wavelength(s) of the EMF radiation 40), and by a first fluorophore emission profile 30 (substantially corresponding to the first fluorescent signal 34). The first fluorophore emission profile 30 is itself preferably characterized by a peak intensity 32 at a wavelength of about 580 nanometers (nm).
[0112] In step (a), and as best seen in Figures 5, 7A and 10, the first fluorophores 26 are bound by microbead 20. In a preferred embodiment, the first fluorophores 26 are provided in the form of the QDs of one or more QD types.
For example, in Figure 10, the QDs are of two different QD types, 26A and 26B.
The intensity of the first spectral signa134 is preferably dependent on the number of QDs bound by the microbead 20. The color of the first spectral signal 34 is preferably dependent upon the size of the QD types, 26A and 26B, bound by the microbead 20.
[0113] As may be appreciated from a consideration of Figure 1, when the first fluorophores 76 are provided in the form of the QDs having their peak intensity 32 at about 580 nanometers (nm), they may be excited, inter alia, by the EMF
radiation 40 at a wavelength of about 488 nanometers (nm) - i.e., provided that 488 nm lies, as it preferably does, within the first fluorophore absorption profile 28 characteristic of the first fluorophores 76 (as best seen in Figure 1).
[0114] In step (b), one or more of the second fluorophores 76 (best seen in Figures 5, 7C and 10) are provided. The second fluorophores 76 are adapted for absorption of the first incident portion 34A of the first fluorescent signal 34. The second fluorophores 76 are additionally adapted for emission of the second fluorescent signal 84 after absorption of the first fluorescent signal 34 (as may be best appreciated from a consideration of Figures 2 and 3).
[0115] As best seen in Figure 3, the second fluorophores 76 are characterized by a second fluorophore absorption profile 78, and by a second fluorophore emission profile 80 (corresponding to the second fluorescent signal 84). As shown in Figure 2, the second fluorophore absorption profile 78 substantially overlaps with the first fluorophore emission profile 30, to define an overlap region 100. In this context, and for the purposes of this application, "substantially overlaps" means to a degree sufficient for excitation of the affected fluorophores. That is, the first fluorophore emission profile 30 is operative, in its overlap region 100 (with the second fluorophore absorption profile 78), to excite the second fluorophores 76.
[0116] As shown in Figure 4, the second fluorophore emission profile 80 (and the second fluorescent signal 84) is distinguishable from the first fluorophore emission profile 30 (and the first fluorescent signal 34). Preferably, and as may be appreciated from a consideration of Figures 1 and 4, the second fluorophore emission profile 80 (best seen in Figure 4) is substantially removed from -i.e., it does not substantially overlap with - the first fluorophore absorption profile (best seen in Figure 1). As may be described in considerably greater detail elsewhere herein, the first fluorescent signal 34 and the second fluorescent signal 84 are operatively detectable within the same visible light spectrum (i.e., if the target molecules 60 are present in the test sample).
[0117] Step (c) is preferably performed after step (a). In step (c), the BRMs are provided. Preferably, and as best seen in Figure 10, the BRMs 50 are adapted to operatively bind with the microbeads 20 and the target molecules 60 (if present in the test sample), so as to secure the first fluorophores 26 relative to the target molecules 60.
[0118] Preferably, step (d) is performed after step (b). In step (d), the marker molecules 70 are provided. As best seen in Figure 10, the marker molecules 70 are adapted to operatively bind with the second fluorophores 76 and the target molecules 60 (if present in the test sample). In this manner, the marker molecules 70 secure the second fluorophores 76 relative to the target molecules 60 (if present in the test sample).
[0119] Step (e) is preferably performed after at least one, and preferably all, of steps (b) through (d). As may be best appreciated from a consideration of Figure 10, in step (e), the microbeads 20 containing the first fluorophores 26 are operatively combined with the BRMs 50, the test sample (not shown) potentially containing the target molecules 60, the marker molecules 70, and/or the second fluorophores 76.
[0120] Preferably, step (f) is performed after step (e). In step (f), and as shown in Figure 5, at least the first fluorophores 26 are operatively irradiated with the EMF radiation 40 via the irradiating device (not shown). Preferably, the second fluorophores 76 may also be operatively irradiated with the EMF radiation 40.
[0121] Step (g) is preferably performed after step (f). In step (g), and as may be best appreciated from a consideration of Figures 4 and 5, the first spectral signal 34 is operatively detected, together with the second spectral signal 84 (if the target molecules 60 are present in the sample).
[0122] In one preferred embodiment, and with further reference to Figure 10, the microbeads 20 may be doped with the first fluorophores 26 in the form of two different QD types, 26A and 26B, to create a specific emission spectrum ("barcode") uniquely identifying a particular one of the microbeads 20 with a specific set of the BRMs 50 bound thereto. The overall intensity and color of the microbead 20 is preferably determined by the amounts, sizes and/or ratios of the different QD types, 26A and 26B, used in the doping process.
[0123] Figure 6 shows the median intensity of emitted wavelengths produced from a series of synthetic microbeads 20 in which the percentage doping with the QDs (i.e., the first fluorophores 26) was varied between about 10% and about 100% of a stock concentrated QD solution. In Figure 6, the average emission intensity for the series of microbead 20 samples is displayed as measured on a FACSCalibur flow cytometer.
[0124] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the microbeads 20 are doped with the QDs (i.e., the first fluorophores 26) which emit the first fluorescent signal 34 with a wavelength centered roughly about 580 nanometers (nm) - such that these microbeads may alternately herein be referred to as QD580 doped microbeads 20. The QD580 doped microbeads 20 may be used, for example, as a substrate in a sandwich nucleic acid or genomic assay (as shown in Figures 5 and 7A-7C) or in a sandwich immunoassay according to one or more preferred methods of the present invention. Preferably, the QDs (i.e., the first fluorophores 26) are thus operative to sensitize and/or enhance the emission intensity for the second fluorophores 76 (e.g., Cy5 molecular dyes).
[0125] Preferably, and as may be best appreciated from a consideration of Figure 1, a 488 nm laser (not shown) may be used to excite the QD580 doped microbeads 20. As shown in Figure 5, the QD580 doped microbeads 20 may be bound to the target molecules 60, which are in turn bound to the marker DNA
molecules (i.e., the marker molecules 70). Each of the marker DNA molecules may preferably bear one or more Cy5.5 molecular dyes (DNA-Cy5.5) which provide for an emission towards the red end of the visible light spectrum.
Figure 8 graphs the median dye intensity for the Cy5.5 molecular dyes in conjunction with the median QD intensity of the QD580 doped microbeads.
[0126] On excitation with the 488 nm laser, the QDs are selectively excited, and the DNA-Cy5.5 emission is enhanced (with a concomitant increase in its median QD intensity), as may be appreciated from a consideration of Figure S.
[0127] Compared against this reference line, Figure 8 also graphs the median dye intensity for FAM molecular dyes (DNA-FAM) bound in conjunction with the marker DNA molecules, the target molecules 60, and the QD580 doped microbeads. The FAM molecular dyes provide for an emission substantially within the green range of the visible light spectrum. Perhaps notably, the FAM
molecular dyes are situated generally in the blue (higher energy) direction from the generally yellow-emitting QD580 doped microbeads.
[0128] In Figure 8, the intensity of the DNA-Cy5.5 emission is compared to the intensity of the DNA-FAM emission over a range of median QD intensities.
As may be appreciated from a consideration of Figure 8, the represented data fails to demonstrate a corresponding enhancement and excitation of surface-bound DNA-FAM by QD580-doped microbeads.
[0129] The prior art may heretofore have been largely based on the use of second fluorophores 76 situated generally towards the "blue" end of the spectrum relative to the QDs (i.e., the first fluorophores 26). As such, in the prior art, the second fluorophores 76 may have been effectively quenched, with the second fluorescent signa184 being diminished by the first fluorophore absorption profile 28 and/or the first fluorophore emission profile 30 (shown in Figure 1) of the QD-doped microbead 20.
[0130] In order to provide for enhancement of the second fluorescence signal 84 (and not the previously known opposite quenching effect), it may be generally thought preferable - though perhaps not essential to the working of the present invention - for the second fluorophore emission profile 80 (and thus the second fluorescent signal 84 emitted by the second fluorophores 76) to be located towards the "red" end of the visible light spectrum - i.e., relative to the first fluorescent signal 34 emitted by the first fluorophores 26. It may also be preferable for the first fluorophore emission profile 30 (and thus the first fluorescent signal 34 of the first fluorophores 26) to be located in the yellow range of the visible light spectrum.
[0131] It may be appreciated that the graph shown in Figure 9 illustrates the second fluorophores 76 (preferably, the Cy5 molecular dyes) as being adapted to emit the enhanced second fluorescent signal 84 as a function of QD-doping within the microbeads 20. Preferably, the Cy5 emission intensity may increase to become in the approximate order of over about 200 times brighter when compared to a blank (non-doped) microbead 20 sample. (A lack of controls -e.g., blank microbeads - in prior experiments may have made their results and/or procedures substantially unsuitable for any testing or exploitation of the enhancement effect described herein.) Although not essential to the working of the present invention, it may be believed that the intensity generated by use of the microbead 20 emission, alone, may be about as great as (or greater than) that generated by use of the laser alone.
[0132] It is believed that overall fluorescent detection sensitivity may be substantially increased by enhancement of the second fluorophores 76, thus enabling the second fluorophores 76 (whether they be dye molecules or QDs) to be used in conjunction with larger and more intense emission molecules, such as the microbeads 20 referred to herein.
[0133] Other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of other embodiments according to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which, is limited only by the accompanying claims of this application. For example, while the above method and system have, in one preferred embodiment, been presented in the context of an immunoassay and a genomic assay, the method and system may be equally applicable to other types of assays (and/or for the detection of other types of target molecules, possibly in other types of test samples).
[0134] Additionally, the method and system according to the present invention may preferably be used for a variety of in vitro biomolecular assays including genomic and/or proteomic identification of markers for infectious diseases, cancer, cystic fibrosis and other human veterinary or environmental aliments. Similarly, the method and system according to the present invention may preferably be used for detection of cardiac symptoms and/or detection of biomarkers for cardiac conditions and/or predispositions. The method and system according to the present invention are also preferably adapted for use in medical imaging and other in vivo applications.
[0135] In view of all of the foregoing, it is perhaps worthwhile to once again note that the foregoing description has been presented for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many further modifications and/or variations are possible in light of the teachings herein, as may be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be limited not by this description but only by the accompanying claims.

Claims (72)

1. A method of enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample, for use with an irradiating device, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing one or more first fluorophores operatively adapted for absorption of electromagnetic frequency (EW) radiation, and for emission of a first fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation; and (b) providing one or more second fluorophores operatively adapted for absorption of a first incident portion of the first fluorescent signal, and for emission of a second fluorescent signal following absorption of the first incident portion, with the second fluorescent signal being distinguishable from the first fluorescent signal;

wherein the first fluorophores and the second fluorophores are adapted for operative combination with the test saxnple, and for securement relative to the target molecules, if present in the test sample, so as to secure the first fluorophores relative to the second fluorophores; and wherein, following operative irradiation of at least the first fluorophores with the EMF radiation via the irradiating device, the first fluorophores emit the first fluorescent signal and, if the target molecules are present in the test sample, the second fluorophores absorb the first incident portion of the first fluorescent signal and emit the second fluorescent signal;

whereby the first fluorescent signal is operatively detectable, together with the second fluorescent signa:l if the target molecules are present in the test sample.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (a), the first fluorophores are characterized by a first fluorophore emission profile corresponding to the first fluorescent signal; and wherein in step (b), the second fluorophores are characterized by a second fluorophore absorption profile which substantially overlaps with the first fluorophore emission profile.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein in step (a), the first fluorophore emission profile is characterized by a peak intensity at a wavelength of about nanometers (nm).
4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in step (a), the first fluorophores are characterized by a first fluorophore absorption profile substantially corresponding to the EMF radiation; and wherein in step (b), the second fluorophores are characterized by a second fluorophore emission profile, corresponding to the second fluorescent signal, which is substantially removed from the first fluorophore absorption profile.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in step (a), the first fluorophores are bound by microbeads; and further comprising step (c), after step (a), of providing biorecognition molecules (BRMs) adapted to operatively bind with the microbeads and the target molecules, so as to secure the first fluorophores relative to the target molecules if present in the test sample.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein in step (c), the BRMs comprise one or more antibody molecules.
7. A method according to claim 5, for detection of one or more single-stranded target DNA molecules as the target molecules; and wherein in step (c), the BRMs comprise one or more single-stranded biorecognition DNA molecules complementary to, and adapted to operatively hybridize with, the target DNA
molecules.
8. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein in step (a), the first fluorophores comprise quantum dots of one or more quantum dot types.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein in step (a), the intensity of the first spectral signal is dependent upon the number of the quantum dots bound by each of the microbeads.
10. A method according to any one of claims 8 and 9, wherein in step (a), the color of the first spectral signal is dependent upon the size of the quantum dot types bound by each of the microbeads.
11. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein in step (b), the second fluorophores are adapted for substantially direct operative binding with the target molecules.
12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising step (d), after step (b), of providing marker molecules adapted to operatively bind with the second fluorophores and the target molecules, so as to secure the second fluorophores relative to the target molecules if present in the test sample.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein in step (d), the marker molecules comprise one or more antigen molecules.
14. A method according to claim 12, for detection of one or more single-stranded target DNA molecules as the target molecules; and wherein in step (d), the marker molecules comprise one or more single-stranded marker DNA
molecules complementary to, and adapted to operatively hybridize with, the target DNA molecules.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the second fluorophores are adapted to be operatively secured substantially adjacent to distal end portions of the marker DNA molecules.
16. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the second fluorophores comprise one or more fluorescent dyes.
17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the fluorescent dyes comprise Cyanine-5 (Cy5) molecular dyes.
18. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the first fluorophores have a higher emission wavelength than the second fluorophores.
19. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, for use with a laser as the irradiating device, and wherein in step (a), the EMF radiation has a wavelength of about 488 nanometers (nm).
20. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein following operative combination of the first fluorophores and the second fluorophores with the test sample, the target molecules, if present in the test sample, secure the second fluorophores within a predetermined maximum range of the first fluorophores, with a radiative flux of the first spectral signal being substantially unabated over the predetermined maximum range.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined maximum range is dependent upon the first fluorophores provided in step (a), and wherein the predetermined maximum range is less than about 10 micrometers (µm).
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined maximum range is in the order of about 300 nanometers (nm).
23. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 22, for detection of infectious diseases.
24. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 22, for detection of cancer.
25. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 22, for detection of cystic fibrosis.
26. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 25, for use in a biomolecular assay.
27. A method according to claim 26, for use in a sandwich assay as the biomolecular assay.
28. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein in step (b), the second fluorophores are also operatively adapted for absorption of the EMF

radiation, and for emission of the second fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation.
29. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 27, further comprising step (e), after step (b), of operatively combining the first fluorophores with the test sample and the second fluorophores.
30. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 10, further comprising step (e), after step (c), of operatively combining the microbeads with the BRMs, the test sample, and the second fluorophores.
31. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising step (e), after step (d), of operatively combining the first fluorophores with the test sample, the marker molecules, and the second fluorophores.
32. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 31, further comprising step (f), after step (e), of operatively irradiating at least the first fluorophores with the EMF radiation via the irradiating device.
33. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein in step (b), the second fluorophores are also operatively adapted for absorption of the EMF
radiation, and for emission of the second fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation; and further comprising step (f), after step (e), of operatively irradiating the first fluorophores and the second fluorophores with the EMF
radiation via the irradiating device.
34. A method according to any one of claims 32 and 33, further comprising step (g), after step (f), of operatively detecting the first spectral signal, together with the second spectral signal if the target molecules are present in the test sample.
35. A system for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample, for use with an irradiating device, the system comprising:

(a) one or more first fluorophores operatively adapted for absorption of electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation, and for emission of a first fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation; and (b) one or more second fluorophores operatively adapted for absorption of a first incident portion of the first fluorescent signal, and for emission of a second fluorescent signal following absorption of the first incident portion, with the second fluorescent signal being distinguishable from the first fluorescent signal;
wherein the first fluorophores and the second fluorophores are adapted for operative combination with the test sample, and for securement relative to the target molecules, if present in the test sample, so as to secure the first fluorophores relative to the second fluorophores; and wherein, following operative irradiation of at least the first fluorophores with the EMF radiation via the irradiating device, the first fluorophores emit the first fluorescent signal and, if the target molecules are present in the test sample, the second fluorophores absorb the first incident portion of the first fluorescent signal and emit the second fluorescent signal;

whereby the first fluorescent signal is operatively detectable, together with the second fluorescent signal if the target molecules are present in the test sample.
36. A system according to claim 35, wherein the first fluorophores are characterized by a first fluorophore emission profile corresponding to the first fluorescent signal; and the second fluorophores are characterized by a second fluorophore absorption profile which substantially overlaps with the first fluorophore emission profile.
37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the first fluorophore emission profile is characterized by a peak intensity at a wavelength of about 580 nanometers (nm).
38. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein the first fluorophores are characterized by a first fluorophore absorption profile substantially corresponding to the EMF radiation; and the second fluorophores are characterized by a second fluorophore emission profile, corresponding to the second fluorescent signal, which is substantially removed from the first fluorophore absorption profile.
39. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 38, wherein the first fluorophores are bound by microbeads; and further comprising biorecognition molecules (BRMs) adapted to operatively bind with the microbeads and the target molecules, so as to secure the first fluorophores relative to the target molecules if present in the test sample.
40. A system according to claim 39, wherein the BRMs comprise one or more antibody molecules.
41. A system according to claim 39, for detection of one or more single-stranded target DNA molecules as the target molecules; and wherein the BRMs comprise one or more single-stranded biorecognition DNA molecules complementary to, and adapted to operatively hybridize with, the target DNA
molecules.
42. A system according to any one of claims 39 to 41, wherein the first fluorophores comprise quantum dots of one or more quantum dot types.
43. A system according to claim 42, wherein the intensity of the first spectral signal is dependent upon the number of the quantum dots bound by each of the microbeads.
44. A system according to any one of claims 42 and 43, wherein the color of the first spectral signal is dependent upon the size of the quantum dot types bound by each of the microbeads.
45. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 44, wherein the second fluorophores are adapted for substantially direct operative binding with the target molecules.
46. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 44, further comprising marker molecules adapted to operatively bind with the second fluorophores and the target molecules, so as to secure the second fluorophores relative to the target molecules if present in the test sample.
47. A system according to claim 46, wherein the marker molecules comprise one or more antigen molecules.
48. A system according to claim 46, for detection of one or more single-stranded target DNA molecules as the target molecules; and wherein the marker molecules comprise one or more single-stranded marker DNA molecules complementary to, and adapted to operatively hybridize with, the target DNA
molecules.
49. A system according to claim 48 wherein the second fluorophores are adapted to be operatively secured substantially adjacent to distal end portions of the marker DNA molecules.
50. A system according to any one of claims 45 to 49, wherein the second fluorophores comprise one or more fluorescent dyes.
51. A system according to claim 50, wherein the fluorescent dyes comprise Cyanine-5 (Cy5) molecular dyes.
52. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 51, wherein the first fluorophores have a higher emission wavelength than the second fluorophores.
53. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 52, for use with a laser as the irradiating device, and wherein the EMF radiation has a wavelength of about 488 nanometers (nm).
54. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 53, wherein following operative combination of the first fluorophores and the second fluorophores with the test sample, the target molecules, if present in the test sample, secure the second fluorophores within a predetermined maximum range of the first fluorophores, with a radiative flux of the first spectral signal being substantially unabated over the predetermined maximum range.
55. A system according to claim 54, wherein the predetermined maximum range is dependent upon the first fluorophores, and wherein the predetermined maximum range is less than about 10 micrometers (µm).
56. A system according to claim 55, wherein the predetermined maximum range is in the order of about 300 nanometers (nm).
57. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 56, for detection of infectious diseases.
58. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 56, for detection of cancer.
59. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 56, for detection of cystic fibrosis.
60. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 59, for use in a biomolecular assay.
61. A system according to claim 60, for use in a sandwich assay as the biomolecular assay.
62. A system according to any one of claims 35 to 61, wherein the second fluorophores are also operatively adapted for absorption of the EMF radiation, and for emission of the second fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation.
63. A system according to any one of claims 39 to 44, wherein the microbeads are operatively combined with the BRMs, the test sample, and the second fluorophores.
64. A system according to any one of claims 46 to 49, wherein the first fluorophores are operatively combined with the test sample, the marker molecules, and the second fluorophores.
65. A system according to any one of claims 63 and 64, wherein the second fluorophores are also operatively adapted for absorption of the EMF radiation, and for emission of the second fluorescent signal following absorption of the EMF radiation; and wherein the first fluorophores and the second fluorophores are operatively irradiated with the EMF radiation via the irradiating device.
66. A fluorophore for use as one of the first fluorophores in the method of any one of claims 1 to 34, or in the system of any one of claims 35 to 65.
67. A quantum dot for use as one of the first fluorophores in the method of any one of claims 1 to 34, or in the system of any one of claims 35 to 65.
68. A fluorophore for use as one of the second fluorophores in the method of any one of claims 1 to 34, or in the system of any one of claims 35 to 65.
69. A fluorescent dye for use as one of the second fluorophores in the method of any one of claims 1 to 34, or in the system of any one of claims 35 to 65.
70. Microbeads for use in the method of any one of claims 5 to 10 and claim 30, or in the system of any one of claims 39 to 44 and claim 63.
71. Biorecognition molecules for use in the method of any one of claims 5 to and claim 30, or in the system of any one of claims 39 to 44 and claim 63.
72. Marker molecules for use in the method of any one of claims 12 to 15 and claim 31, or in the system of any one of claims 46 to 49 and claim 64.
CA2693055A 2007-07-09 2008-07-09 Systems and methods for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample Expired - Fee Related CA2693055C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US94864307P 2007-07-09 2007-07-09
US60/948,643 2007-07-09
PCT/CA2008/001264 WO2009006739A1 (en) 2007-07-09 2008-07-09 Systems and methods for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2693055A1 CA2693055A1 (en) 2009-01-15
CA2693055C true CA2693055C (en) 2012-02-21

Family

ID=40228142

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2693055A Expired - Fee Related CA2693055C (en) 2007-07-09 2008-07-09 Systems and methods for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US8551786B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2174115B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5507454B2 (en)
CN (1) CN101809433A (en)
CA (1) CA2693055C (en)
WO (1) WO2009006739A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130005048A1 (en) * 2011-06-29 2013-01-03 Monika Felten Indicator device
CN102636465B (en) * 2011-10-26 2014-09-10 华南师范大学 FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) efficiency quantitative detecting method based on partial acceptor photo-bleaching and donor-acceptor alternate excitation
JP2016507067A (en) 2013-02-15 2016-03-07 ザ ガバニング カウンシル オブ ザ ユニヴァーシティー オブ トロントＴｈｅ Ｇｏｖｅｒｎｉｎｇ Ｃｏｕｎｃｉｌ Ｏｆ Ｔｈｅ Ｕｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ Ｏｆ Ｔｏｒｏｎｔｏ Metal nanoshell coated barcode
JP2015096846A (en) * 2013-10-10 2015-05-21 シスメックス株式会社 Test substance detection method, fluorescence detection method, and test substance detector and fluorescence detector used for the detection methods
US10126242B2 (en) 2014-07-09 2018-11-13 Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. Pure spectrum extraction from biological samples in fluorescence multispectral imaging

Family Cites Families (146)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5244630A (en) 1988-04-22 1993-09-14 Abbott Laboratories Device for performing solid-phase diagnostic assay
EP0343934B1 (en) 1988-05-24 1995-01-25 Anagen (U.K.) Limited Magnetically attractable particles and method of preparation
DE4105400A1 (en) 1991-02-21 1992-08-27 Behringwerke Ag DEFINED COATING WITH RECOMBINANT FUSION PROTEINS FROM CONSTANT FUSION PARTNER AND VARIABLE ANTIGEN IN DIAGNOSTIC TEST SYSTEMS
EP0606422B1 (en) * 1992-07-02 1997-09-03 SOINI, Erkki Biospecific multiparameter assay method
EP0698101B1 (en) 1993-05-05 2004-11-03 Common Services Agency Hepatitis-c virus type 4, 5 and 6
US6103379A (en) 1994-10-06 2000-08-15 Bar-Ilan University Process for the preparation of microspheres and microspheres made thereby
US6340588B1 (en) 1995-04-25 2002-01-22 Discovery Partners International, Inc. Matrices with memories
US6022500A (en) * 1995-09-27 2000-02-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Polymer encapsulation and polymer microsphere composites
ATE496288T1 (en) * 1995-10-11 2011-02-15 Luminex Corp SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL SAMPLES
US5837442A (en) 1995-11-29 1998-11-17 Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Oligonucleotide primers for amplifying HCV nucleic acid
US5885470A (en) 1997-04-14 1999-03-23 Caliper Technologies Corporation Controlled fluid transport in microfabricated polymeric substrates
US6405936B1 (en) * 1996-05-13 2002-06-18 Universidad De Sevilla Stabilized capillary microjet and devices and methods for producing same
US6116516A (en) * 1996-05-13 2000-09-12 Universidad De Sevilla Stabilized capillary microjet and devices and methods for producing same
ES2140998B1 (en) 1996-05-13 2000-10-16 Univ Sevilla LIQUID ATOMIZATION PROCEDURE.
US5800690A (en) * 1996-07-03 1998-09-01 Caliper Technologies Corporation Variable control of electroosmotic and/or electrophoretic forces within a fluid-containing structure via electrical forces
US6582921B2 (en) * 1996-07-29 2003-06-24 Nanosphere, Inc. Nanoparticles having oligonucleotides attached thereto and uses thereof
US5714390A (en) * 1996-10-15 1998-02-03 Bio-Tech Imaging, Inc. Cartridge test system for the collection and testing of blood in a single step
US5817458A (en) 1996-10-15 1998-10-06 The Avriel Group, Amcas Division Inc. Reagent system for detecting HIV-infected peripheral blood lymphocytes in whole blood
US5786219A (en) * 1996-10-28 1998-07-28 Molecular Probes, Inc. Microspheres with fluorescent spherical zones
US5959291A (en) * 1997-06-27 1999-09-28 Caliper Technologies Corporation Method and apparatus for measuring low power signals
US6066243A (en) * 1997-07-22 2000-05-23 Diametrics Medical, Inc. Portable immediate response medical analyzer having multiple testing modules
ES2153807T3 (en) * 1997-08-08 2005-06-16 Biomerieux B.V. SEQUENCES OF NUCLEIC ACID THAT CAN BE USED AS PRIMERS AND PROBES IN THE AMPLIFICATION AND DETECTION OF ALL HIV-1 SUBTIPOS.
US6699723B1 (en) * 1997-11-25 2004-03-02 The Regents Of The University Of California Organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probes for biological applications and process for making and using such probes
EP0919568A1 (en) * 1997-12-01 1999-06-02 Sorin Diagnostics S.r.l. Escape mutant of the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus
EP1044370B1 (en) 1997-12-30 2017-08-23 Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. Software for the display of chromatographic separation data
US6394952B1 (en) 1998-02-03 2002-05-28 Adeza Biomedical Corporation Point of care diagnostic systems
US6100541A (en) 1998-02-24 2000-08-08 Caliper Technologies Corporation Microfluidic devices and systems incorporating integrated optical elements
US7117188B2 (en) 1998-05-01 2006-10-03 Health Discovery Corporation Methods of identifying patterns in biological systems and uses thereof
CA2268997C (en) 1998-05-05 2005-03-22 National Research Council Of Canada Quantum dot infrared photodetectors (qdip) and methods of making the same
CA2640578A1 (en) * 1998-05-14 1999-11-18 Luminex Corporation Multi-analyte diagnostic system and computer implemented process for same
US7077328B2 (en) 1998-07-31 2006-07-18 Abbott Laboratories Analyte test instrument system including data management system
US6263286B1 (en) * 1998-08-13 2001-07-17 U.S. Genomics, Inc. Methods of analyzing polymers using a spatial network of fluorophores and fluorescence resonance energy transfer
US7079241B2 (en) 2000-04-06 2006-07-18 Invitrogen Corp. Spatial positioning of spectrally labeled beads
CA2345376C (en) * 1998-09-24 2010-03-16 Advanced Research And Technology Institute, Inc. Water-soluble luminescent quantum dots and bioconjugates thereof
US6498497B1 (en) * 1998-10-14 2002-12-24 Caliper Technologies Corp. Microfluidic controller and detector system with self-calibration
US6261779B1 (en) * 1998-11-10 2001-07-17 Bio-Pixels Ltd. Nanocrystals having polynucleotide strands and their use to form dendrimers in a signal amplification system
US6309701B1 (en) 1998-11-10 2001-10-30 Bio-Pixels Ltd. Fluorescent nanocrystal-labeled microspheres for fluorescence analyses
US6576155B1 (en) * 1998-11-10 2003-06-10 Biocrystal, Ltd. Fluorescent ink compositions comprising functionalized fluorescent nanocrystals
AU1717600A (en) * 1998-11-10 2000-05-29 Biocrystal Limited Methods for identification and verification
US6319607B1 (en) 1998-11-10 2001-11-20 Bio-Pixels Ltd. Purification of functionalized fluorescent nanocrystals
US6333110B1 (en) 1998-11-10 2001-12-25 Bio-Pixels Ltd. Functionalized nanocrystals as visual tissue-specific imaging agents, and methods for fluorescence imaging
US6114038A (en) 1998-11-10 2000-09-05 Biocrystal Ltd. Functionalized nanocrystals and their use in detection systems
DE60044490D1 (en) 1999-02-23 2010-07-15 Caliper Life Sciences Inc MANIPULATION OF MICROTEILS IN MICROFLUID SYSTEMS
US7166475B2 (en) * 1999-02-26 2007-01-23 Cyclacel Ltd. Compositions and methods for monitoring the modification state of a pair of polypeptides
EP1179185B1 (en) 1999-05-07 2009-08-12 Life Technologies Corporation A method of detecting an analyte using semiconductor nanocrystals
US20010055764A1 (en) 1999-05-07 2001-12-27 Empedocles Stephen A. Microarray methods utilizing semiconductor nanocrystals
WO2000068671A2 (en) * 1999-05-12 2000-11-16 Aclara Biosciences, Inc. Multiplexed fluorescent detection in microfluidic devices
WO2000070080A1 (en) * 1999-05-17 2000-11-23 Caliper Technologies Corp. Focusing of microparticles in microfluidic systems
US6592821B1 (en) * 1999-05-17 2003-07-15 Caliper Technologies Corp. Focusing of microparticles in microfluidic systems
US6544732B1 (en) * 1999-05-20 2003-04-08 Illumina, Inc. Encoding and decoding of array sensors utilizing nanocrystals
US20020051971A1 (en) * 1999-05-21 2002-05-02 John R. Stuelpnagel Use of microfluidic systems in the detection of target analytes using microsphere arrays
US20060169800A1 (en) 1999-06-11 2006-08-03 Aradigm Corporation Aerosol created by directed flow of fluids and devices and methods for producing same
US6811668B1 (en) * 1999-06-22 2004-11-02 Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. Apparatus for the operation of a microfluidic device
US6353475B1 (en) * 1999-07-12 2002-03-05 Caliper Technologies Corp. Light source power modulation for use with chemical and biochemical analysis
DE60027576T2 (en) * 1999-08-17 2007-05-03 Luminex Corp., Austin SECULATION OF FLUORESCENT PARTICLES
WO2001017797A1 (en) * 1999-09-10 2001-03-15 Caliper Technologies Corp. Microfabrication methods and devices
US20040267568A1 (en) 1999-09-15 2004-12-30 Mark Chandler Creation of a database of biochemical data and methods of use
US6978212B1 (en) 1999-11-01 2005-12-20 Smiths Detection Inc. System for portable sensing
US7037416B2 (en) 2000-01-14 2006-05-02 Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. Method for monitoring flow rate using fluorescent markers
US20020009728A1 (en) * 2000-01-18 2002-01-24 Quantum Dot Corporation Oligonucleotide-tagged semiconductor nanocrystals for microarray and fluorescence in situ hybridization
JP2001204497A (en) * 2000-01-20 2001-07-31 Japan Science & Technology Corp Method for detecting dna by dna hybridization method by utilizing transfer of fluorescence resonance energy
US20020004246A1 (en) * 2000-02-07 2002-01-10 Daniels Robert H. Immunochromatographic methods for detecting an analyte in a sample which employ semiconductor nanocrystals as detectable labels
US20030099940A1 (en) * 2000-02-16 2003-05-29 Empedocles Stephen A. Single target counting assays using semiconductor nanocrystals
ATE382858T1 (en) * 2000-02-23 2008-01-15 Caliper Life Sciences Inc MULTIPLE RESERVOIR PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM
WO2001071043A1 (en) 2000-03-22 2001-09-27 Quantum Dot Corporation Loop probe hybridization assay for polynucleotide analysis
AU4989501A (en) 2000-04-06 2001-10-23 Luminex Corp Magnetically-responsive microspheres
US6548264B1 (en) * 2000-05-17 2003-04-15 University Of Florida Coated nanoparticles
US7351376B1 (en) * 2000-06-05 2008-04-01 California Institute Of Technology Integrated active flux microfluidic devices and methods
US6494830B1 (en) 2000-06-22 2002-12-17 Guidance Interactive Technologies, Inc. Handheld controller for monitoring/using medical parameters
JP2002000271A (en) 2000-06-28 2002-01-08 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd System, method, and database for analyzing microorganism
AU2001273486A1 (en) * 2000-07-17 2002-01-30 Labnetics, Inc. Method and apparatus for the processing of remotely collected electronic information characterizing properties of biological entities
CA2314398A1 (en) * 2000-08-10 2002-02-10 Edward Shipwash Microarrays and microsystems for amino acid analysis and protein sequencing
US20020182609A1 (en) 2000-08-16 2002-12-05 Luminex Corporation Microsphere based oligonucleotide ligation assays, kits, and methods of use, including high-throughput genotyping
US6934408B2 (en) * 2000-08-25 2005-08-23 Amnis Corporation Method and apparatus for reading reporter labeled beads
US20030087239A1 (en) * 2000-09-13 2003-05-08 Marty Stanton Target activated nucleic acid biosensor and methods of using same
US6681821B1 (en) * 2000-09-18 2004-01-27 Dominick Cirone Protective bat cover
US20020048425A1 (en) * 2000-09-20 2002-04-25 Sarnoff Corporation Microfluidic optical electrohydrodynamic switch
JP2004510678A (en) * 2000-10-04 2004-04-08 ザ　ボード　オブ　トラスティーズ　オブ　ザ　ユニバーシティ　オブ　アーカンソー Synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals
US6649138B2 (en) * 2000-10-13 2003-11-18 Quantum Dot Corporation Surface-modified semiconductive and metallic nanoparticles having enhanced dispersibility in aqueous media
WO2002039083A2 (en) * 2000-11-08 2002-05-16 Science & Technology Corporation @ Unm Fluorescence and fret based assays for biomolecules on beads
WO2002084302A2 (en) 2000-11-08 2002-10-24 Burstein Technologies, Inc. Interactive system for analyzing biological samples and processing related information and the use thereof
US6573128B1 (en) * 2000-11-28 2003-06-03 Cree, Inc. Epitaxial edge termination for silicon carbide Schottky devices and methods of fabricating silicon carbide devices incorporating same
US6778724B2 (en) 2000-11-28 2004-08-17 The Regents Of The University Of California Optical switching and sorting of biological samples and microparticles transported in a micro-fluidic device, including integrated bio-chip devices
US20020083888A1 (en) 2000-12-28 2002-07-04 Zehnder Donald A. Flow synthesis of quantum dot nanocrystals
CN1152055C (en) * 2001-03-20 2004-06-02 清华大学 Surface cladding and radical functino modification method of magnetic microsphere, thus obtained microsphere and its application
US7041468B2 (en) 2001-04-02 2006-05-09 Therasense, Inc. Blood glucose tracking apparatus and methods
JP2002311027A (en) 2001-04-09 2002-10-23 Hitachi Software Eng Co Ltd Beads, manufacturing method of beads, flow cytometer, and program
US20020164271A1 (en) 2001-05-02 2002-11-07 Ho Winston Z. Wavelength-coded bead for bioassay and signature recogniton
US6845327B2 (en) 2001-06-08 2005-01-18 Epocal Inc. Point-of-care in-vitro blood analysis system
US6905885B2 (en) * 2001-06-12 2005-06-14 The Regents Of The University Of California Portable pathogen detection system
US7081336B2 (en) * 2001-06-25 2006-07-25 Georgia Tech Research Corporation Dual resonance energy transfer nucleic acid probes
EP1493487A1 (en) 2001-06-28 2005-01-05 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Microfluidic system with ESI residual current control
US20030148544A1 (en) 2001-06-28 2003-08-07 Advanced Research And Technology Institute, Inc. Methods of preparing multicolor quantum dot tagged beads and conjugates thereof
WO2003092043A2 (en) * 2001-07-20 2003-11-06 Quantum Dot Corporation Luminescent nanoparticles and methods for their preparation
US7060227B2 (en) * 2001-08-06 2006-06-13 Sau Lan Tang Staats Microfluidic devices with raised walls
GB2378949B (en) * 2001-08-16 2005-09-07 Morten Steen Hanefeld Dziegiel Recombinant anti-plasmodium falciparum antibodies
CA2460212C (en) 2001-09-06 2013-01-22 Genomic Profiling Systems, Inc. Rapid and sensitive detection of cells and viruses
US7205048B2 (en) 2001-09-17 2007-04-17 Invitrogen Corporation Functionalized fluorescent nanocrystal compositions and methods of making
US7214428B2 (en) * 2001-09-17 2007-05-08 Invitrogen Corporation Highly luminescent functionalized semiconductor nanocrystals for biological and physical applications
US7195913B2 (en) * 2001-10-05 2007-03-27 Surmodics, Inc. Randomly ordered arrays and methods of making and using
US6966880B2 (en) 2001-10-16 2005-11-22 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Universal diagnostic platform
US7457731B2 (en) 2001-12-14 2008-11-25 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Early detection of disease outbreak using electronic patient data to reduce public health threat from bio-terrorism
US7252928B1 (en) 2002-03-12 2007-08-07 Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. Methods for prevention of surface adsorption of biological materials to capillary walls in microchannels
ATE374598T1 (en) * 2002-03-15 2007-10-15 Alrise Biosystems Gmbh MICROPARTICLES AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF
US20030194350A1 (en) 2002-04-11 2003-10-16 Siemens Information And Communication Networks Public health threat surveillance system
WO2004014540A1 (en) * 2002-08-02 2004-02-19 Capsulution Nanoscience Ag Color coated layer-by-layer microcapsules serving as combinatory analysis libraries and as specific optical sensors
US7267799B1 (en) 2002-08-14 2007-09-11 Detekt Biomedical, L.L.C. Universal optical imaging and processing system
US9642562B2 (en) * 2002-08-19 2017-05-09 Stout Solutions, Llc Bio-surveillance system
JP4230741B2 (en) * 2002-08-30 2009-02-25 日立ソフトウエアエンジニアリング株式会社 Purification method of semiconductor nanoparticles
US20070184453A1 (en) * 2002-10-02 2007-08-09 Roche Molecular Systems, Inc Fret process
GB2393729A (en) * 2002-10-04 2004-04-07 Nanomagnetics Ltd Semiconductor nanoparticles
CA2505515C (en) * 2002-11-07 2013-08-27 Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam Fret probes and methods for detecting interacting molecules
US20040096363A1 (en) * 2002-11-18 2004-05-20 Larry Porter Point-of-care assay reader and analyzer
TWI220162B (en) * 2002-11-29 2004-08-11 Ind Tech Res Inst Integrated compound nano probe card and method of making same
US20050059030A1 (en) * 2002-12-12 2005-03-17 Nanosphere, Inc. Direct SNP detection with unamplified DNA
US7613510B2 (en) 2002-12-12 2009-11-03 Razvan Rentea Biofeedback device displaying results on a cellular phone display
WO2004055492A2 (en) * 2002-12-13 2004-07-01 Aclara Biosciences, Inc. Closed-loop control of electrokinetic processes in microfludic devices based on optical readings
JP4073323B2 (en) * 2003-01-23 2008-04-09 日立ソフトウエアエンジニアリング株式会社 Functional beads, reading method and reading apparatus thereof
US20040176704A1 (en) 2003-03-04 2004-09-09 Stevens Timothy A Collection device adapted to accept cartridge for point of care system
US20050014134A1 (en) * 2003-03-06 2005-01-20 West Jason Andrew Appleton Viral identification by generation and detection of protein signatures
CA2518352A1 (en) 2003-03-11 2005-03-10 Nanosys, Inc. Process for producing nanocrystals and nanocrystals produced thereby
AU2004230569B2 (en) 2003-03-31 2007-12-06 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Compositions and methods for detecting certain flaviviruses, including members of the Japanese encephalitis virus serogroup
WO2004111260A2 (en) * 2003-06-12 2004-12-23 Bioarray Solutions, Ltd. Immobilization of bead-displayed ligands on substrate surfaces
US7115230B2 (en) 2003-06-26 2006-10-03 Intel Corporation Hydrodynamic focusing devices
CA2534402C (en) * 2003-08-04 2013-06-25 Emory University Porous materials embedded with nanospecies, methods of fabrication thereof, and methods of use thereof
US7069191B1 (en) * 2003-08-06 2006-06-27 Luminex Corporation Methods for reducing the susceptibility of a peak search to signal noise
US7298478B2 (en) * 2003-08-14 2007-11-20 Cytonome, Inc. Optical detector for a particle sorting system
US8346482B2 (en) * 2003-08-22 2013-01-01 Fernandez Dennis S Integrated biosensor and simulation system for diagnosis and therapy
US20050071199A1 (en) * 2003-09-30 2005-03-31 Riff Kenneth M. Aggregating patient information for use in medical device programming
US7118627B2 (en) * 2003-12-04 2006-10-10 Hines Margaret A Synthesis of colloidal PbS nanocrystals with size tunable NIR emission
CA2550153A1 (en) 2003-12-12 2005-07-28 Quantum Dot Corporation Preparation of stable, bright luminescent nanoparticles having compositionally engineered properties
US20050227370A1 (en) 2004-03-08 2005-10-13 Ramel Urs A Body fluid analyte meter & cartridge system for performing combined general chemical and specific binding assays
US7435386B2 (en) * 2004-03-25 2008-10-14 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Reagentless and reusable biosensors with tunable differential binding affinities and methods of making
WO2005110916A2 (en) * 2004-05-10 2005-11-24 Evident Technologies Iii-v semiconductor nanocrystal complexes and methods of making same
US7335345B2 (en) * 2004-05-24 2008-02-26 Drexel University Synthesis of water soluble nanocrystalline quantum dots and uses thereof
US7276720B2 (en) * 2004-07-19 2007-10-02 Helicos Biosciences Corporation Apparatus and methods for analyzing samples
US7229690B2 (en) * 2004-07-26 2007-06-12 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Microspheres including nanoparticles
TWI281691B (en) * 2004-08-23 2007-05-21 Ind Tech Res Inst Method for manufacturing a quantum-dot element
US7524672B2 (en) * 2004-09-22 2009-04-28 Sandia Corporation Microfluidic microarray systems and methods thereof
US7534489B2 (en) * 2004-09-24 2009-05-19 Agency For Science, Technology And Research Coated composites of magnetic material and quantum dots
US7405434B2 (en) * 2004-11-16 2008-07-29 Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. Quantum dot conjugates in a sub-micrometer fluidic channel
US20060173715A1 (en) 2005-02-01 2006-08-03 Hao Wang Health information system and method
WO2007002579A2 (en) * 2005-06-23 2007-01-04 Bioveris Corporation Assay cartridges and methods for point of care instruments
US20070081920A1 (en) * 2005-10-12 2007-04-12 Murphy R S Semi-disposable optoelectronic rapid diagnostic test system
GB0525072D0 (en) * 2005-12-09 2006-01-18 Enigma Diagnostics Ltd Fluorescence-based detection methods and apparatus
CA2571904A1 (en) * 2006-02-15 2007-08-15 Fio Corporation System and method of detecting pathogens

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101809433A (en) 2010-08-18
US8551786B2 (en) 2013-10-08
WO2009006739A1 (en) 2009-01-15
EP2174115A1 (en) 2010-04-14
JP5507454B2 (en) 2014-05-28
US20110053278A1 (en) 2011-03-03
EP2174115B1 (en) 2013-08-28
CA2693055A1 (en) 2009-01-15
EP2174115A4 (en) 2010-12-29
JP2010532868A (en) 2010-10-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
Hildebrandt et al. Luminescent terbium complexes: Superior Förster resonance energy transfer donors for flexible and sensitive multiplexed biosensing
US10012592B2 (en) Managing variation in spectroscopic intensity measurements through the use of a reference component
Achatz et al. Luminescent chemical sensing, biosensing, and screening using upconverting nanoparticles
Goryacheva et al. Lanthanide-to-quantum dot Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET): Application for immunoassay
JP4233452B2 (en) Assay based on doped nanoparticles
EP1886145A2 (en) Fluorescent detection system and dye set for use therewith
Algar et al. New opportunities in multiplexed optical bioanalyses using quantum dots and donor–acceptor interactions
Rantanen et al. Upconverting phosphors in a dual-parameter LRET-based hybridization assay
CA2693055C (en) Systems and methods for enhancing fluorescent detection of target molecules in a test sample
Mendez-Gonzalez et al. Sensors and bioassays powered by upconverting materials
Enrichi et al. Investigation of luminescent dye-doped or rare-earth-doped monodisperse silica nanospheres for DNA microarray labelling
Jouyban et al. Sensors/nanosensors based on upconversion materials for the determination of pharmaceuticals and biomolecules: An overview
CN106715724A (en) Method for detecting a spatial proximity of a first and a second epitope
US10054593B2 (en) Multiplexed spectral lifetime detection of phosphors
US20220041928A1 (en) Multiplexed spectral lifetime detection of phosphors
US7569355B2 (en) Homogeneous luminescence energy transfer bioassay
JP4553895B2 (en) Homogeneous luminescence energy transfer bioassay
Kanani et al. Quantitative and Multiplexed Chopper-Based Time-Gated Imaging for Bioanalysis on a Smartphone
JP4729226B2 (en) Analysis of biological targets using biochips containing fluorescent markers
KR102083396B1 (en) Target nucleic acids detection method using quantum dot for dispersed light
Enrichi et al. Luminescent dye-doped or rare-earth-doped monodisperse silica nanospheres as efficient labels in DNA microarrays
Kumar et al. Synthesis, characterization and biosensing application of photon upconverting nanoparticles
US7541152B2 (en) Integrated light source for diagnostic arrays
CZ2016836A3 (en) Use of nanoparticles for the detection of DNA nucleotide sequences
Riuttamäki PHOSPHOR TECHNOLOGY

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20190709

MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20190709