Hydrogel particles with tunable optical properties and methods for using the same
Inventors
Kim, Jeffrey • LIU, OLIVER • Agresti, Jeremy • Nguyen, Anh Tuan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10753846-B2
Publication Date
2020-08-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
Hydrogel particles and their use in cytometric applications are described. The hydrogel particles described herein are selectively tunable to have at least one optical property substantially similar to the at least one optical property of a target cell. In this regard, the hydrogel particles provided herein in one aspect, are used as a calibration reagent for the detection of a target cell in a sample.
Core Innovation
The composition comprises hydrogel calibration particles suspended in an aqueous solution configured to mimic cell size and optical properties of target cells, including forward scatter, side scatter, and fluorescence. The optical-scatter property is substantially similar to a target cell and is provided by a co-monomer, chemical side-group, encapsulated material, colloidal silica, or an acrylamide-to-bis-acrylamide ratio. These hydrogel particles feature tunable monomer ratios, nanoparticle loading, and chemical side groups configured for secondary labels as synthetic alternatives to variable purified-cell calibrants.
A further hydrogel particle composition features a derivatized surface such that the particle has an optical property that mimics an intracellular component or a target cell in its entirety. The derivatized surface provides reactive groups for attaching fluorescent or other markers to match cell-like marker profiles. These particles are potentially biodegradable and biocompatible, supporting applications in flow-cytometry calibration, cell detection, cytometric assays, leukocyte population separation, and cell sorting.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover two inventive features concerning hydrogel-particle compositions with target-cell-mimicking optical characteristics.
Hydrogel particle with target-cell-matched optical scatter
A hydrogel particle suspended in an aqueous solution includes a polymerized monomer and at least one of a functionalized surface or a scatter-modulating additive, such that its optical-scatter property is substantially similar to a corresponding optical-scatter property of a target cell, wherein the optical-scatter property is provided by a co-monomer, chemical side-group, encapsulated material, colloidal silica, or a ratio of acrylamide to bis-acrylamide.
Derivatized hydrogel particle mimicking an optical property
A hydrogel particle suspended in an aqueous solution includes a polymerized monomer and a derivatized surface such that the particle has an optical property that mimics a corresponding optical property of an intracellular component of a target cell or of the target cell in its entirety, wherein the optical property is provided by a co-monomer, chemical side-group, encapsulated material, colloidal silica, or a ratio of acrylamide to bis-acrylamide.
The independent claims cover hydrogel-particle compositions whose optical scatter or optical properties mimic those of a target cell, an intracellular component, or a target cell in its entirety.
Stated Advantages
The synthetic particles provide an alternative to variable purified-cell calibrants.
The particles are described as potentially biodegradable and biocompatible.
Documented Applications
Flow cytometry calibration, including sensitivity or dynamic-range assessment across target-cell types and markers.
Demonstrating separation of leukocyte populations, including lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes.
Assays involving CD4/CD8 marker labeling and DNA-associated fluorescence.
Cell detection and cytometric assays.
Cell sorting.
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