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-11761877-B2
Publication Date
2023-09-19
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 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 a population of hydrogel particles with independently tunable forward scatter, side scatter, and fluorescence to mimic the optical properties of target cells. Forward scatter is tuned through polymer composition and refractive index, while side scatter is adjusted with encapsulated silica nanoparticles or refractive-index modifiers. The hydrogel particles additionally carry labels, encapsulate DNA to reproduce cell-like staining, or provide marker-bearing particle subpopulations with defined copy numbers for generating fluorescence standard curves.
Each hydrogel particle comprises at least one of a heme-like molecule and a molecule having an optical response substantially similar to hemoglobin. Furthermore, each particle possesses at least one representative characteristic substantially similar to an average diameter, average volume, or shape of a red blood cell. The particles serve as cell-like flow-cytometry standards and synthetic calibration reagents for flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, with biocompatible and biodegradable formulations contemplated.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim coverage identifies two inventive features in one independent claim directed to a hydrogel particle composition.
Heme-like or hemoglobin-like optical component
Each hydrogel particle comprises at least one of a heme-like molecule and a molecule having an optical response substantially similar to an optical response of hemoglobin.
Red-blood-cell-like representative characteristic
Each hydrogel particle has at least one representative characteristic substantially similar to one or more of an average diameter, average volume, and a shape of a red blood cell.
The independent claim covers the hydrogel particle composition through defined optical constituents and physical resemblance to red blood cell dimensions and shapes.
Stated Advantages
The particles provide synthetic calibration reagents for flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, reducing reliance on variable, costly purified cells.
Documented Applications
Cell-mimicking hydrogel particles as flow-cytometry standards and calibrants, including forward scatter- and side scatter-based separation, multiplexing, and matching blood-cell subpopulations.
Synthetic calibration reagents for flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting.
Marker-bearing particle subpopulations with defined copy numbers to generate fluorescence standard curves.
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