Compositions and methods for passive optical barcoding for multiplexed assays
Inventors
Kim, Jeffrey • Nguyen, Anh Tuan • Miller, Brandon
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11598768-B2
Publication Date
2023-03-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Compositions comprising multiple hydrogel particles having substantially the same diameter, but with each subgrouping of particles from the multiple hydrogel particles having different associated values for one or more passive optical properties that can be deconvoluted using cytometric instrumentation. Each hydrogel particle from the multiple hydrogel particles can be functionalized with a different biochemical or chemical target from a set of targets. A method of preparing hydrogel particles includes forming droplets and polymerizing the droplets, with optional functionalization.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a method of performing a multiplexed assay of a sample comprising chemical, cellular, or biochemical targets. The sample is combined with functionalized hydrogel particles, forming optically encoded hydrogel particle-target combinations. A cytometric device measures the particles' passive optical properties, which are used to deconvolute the bound particles and identify an assay result.
The description characterizes similarly sized hydrogel particles encoded by engineered forward- and side-scatter properties. It states that these optical properties can be tuned independently through hydrogel composition and nanoparticle loading while particle size remains substantially unchanged, and that particles may carry distinct assay targets. The background section is not included in the supplied partial content, so the problem being solved is not explicitly described in patent.
Claims Coverage
The supplied claim includes four main inventive features concerning particle-target formation, cytometric measurement, deconvolution, and assay-result identification.
Formation of hydrogel particle-target combinations
Combining the sample with functionalized hydrogel particles causes a reaction and forms an optically encoded hydrogel particle-target combination, with at least one particle bound to at least one target.
Measurement of passive optical properties
A cytometric device measures the passive optical properties of at least one hydrogel particle in the optically encoded hydrogel particle-target combination.
Deconvolution of bound hydrogel particles
The plurality of bound hydrogel particles within the sample is deconvoluted based on the passive optical properties of the hydrogel particles.
Identification of an assay result
An assay result for the sample is identified based on the deconvolution.
The independent claim covers combining a sample with functionalized hydrogel particles, measuring their passive optical properties cytometrically, using those properties to deconvolute bound particles, and identifying an assay result.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Performing a multiplexed assay of a sample comprising chemical, cellular, or biochemical targets.
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