Compositions and methods for antigen detection incorporating inorganic nanostructures to amplify detection signals

Inventors

Lin, Yuehe • Du, Dan • Song, Yang • Ye, Ranfeng

Assignees

Washington State University WSU

Abstract

The disclosure relates to antigen detection reagents and related methods, systems, and kits. The reagents comprise an antigen-binding molecule conjugated to an inorganic component. In some embodiments, the inorganic component possesses catalytic functionality to provide a detectable signal. In some embodiments, the catalytic inorganic component is or comprises a bimetallic nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the inorganic component is a nanoflowers that provides a physical scaffold onto which the antigen-binding component and a reporter component can be loaded, resulting in augmented antigen-binding and reporting capabilities.

Core Innovation

The invention provides antigen detection reagents that comprise an antigen-binding molecule and a reporter component conjugated to an inorganic nanoflower component. The inorganic nanoflower component can be Cu3(PO4)2, Mn3(PO4)2, or CaHPO4, and the reporter component is a reporter enzyme. The invention describes that the reporter component is configured to cooperate with the antigen-binding molecule to provide an amplified detection signal. This signal amplification enables the sensitive and rapid detection of antigens, such as proteins or pathogens, in samples.

The background discusses that accurate and consistent detection of antigens from complex biological or food samples is challenging due to cost and technical limitations of current methods. Many existing strategies either require reagents that are expensive or difficult to produce or need equipment unsuitable for point-of-care or field monitoring. The invention addresses these limitations by providing detection reagents that can accurately, inexpensively, and rapidly generate detectable signals even for very low concentrations of antigens in complex samples.

The summary and detailed description state that the combination of an antigen-binding molecule and a reporter enzyme immobilized on an inorganic nanoflower offers dual benefits: specific antigen capture through the antigen-binding molecule and signal amplification via the enzyme. Nanoflowers, such as those made from Cu3(PO4)2 or CaHPO4, serve as a scaffold to efficiently load multiple detection and catalytic components, increasing detection sensitivity and stability compared to conventional conjugates. This platform can be incorporated into various assay formats, including ELISA and immunoassays for clinical and food safety applications.

Claims Coverage

The patent contains one independent claim that defines the main inventive features regarding the structure and components of an antigen detection reagent.

The claim coverage centers on a detection reagent consisting of a specific combination of an antigen-binding molecule and a reporter enzyme together on an inorganic nanoflower component, with a focus on defined nanoflower compositions and cooperative signal amplification.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications