Using electrophoresis for disease detection based on controlled molecular charge

Inventors

Galen, Peter • ERICKSON, Ariane Elizabeth • Bell, David Richard • LIND, Matthew Christian • Witte, Tyler • GURKAN, UMUT ATAKAN

Assignees

Hemex Health Inc

Abstract

Electrophoresis is used to identify presence of a target compound in a patient sample based on a charge state of the compound and a label. The charge state of the compound correlates to a total net charge of a binder conjugated to the compound. The bound complex or “bound complex” with the label is then applied to the electrophoresis substrate. An electric potential is applied to the substrate for a time period and causes the labeled bound complex to migrate toward the electrode with opposite charge of the labeled bound complex at a migration velocity to form a migration pattern over the time period. At some time during or at the end of the time period, the labeled bound complex produces a bound complex band as a result of its migration across the substrate. The presence of the compound is identified based on the labeled bound complex band and one or both of the migration pattern and the migration velocity.

Core Innovation

The invention describes an electrophoresis diagnostic system for detecting a target compound in patient samples. A labeled bound complex is formed by binding a labeled binder, including a binder charge profile, to the compound in the patient sample, and the labeled binder and the labeled bound complex are applied to an electrophoresis substrate. The labeled bound complex migrates across the substrate in response to an applied electric potential.

The processing circuitry evaluates an image and/or a band detection characteristic of the electrophoresis test result and receives a data signal including a migration pattern of the labeled bound complex generated as the labeled bound complex migrates across the substrate at a migration velocity over a time period to produce a labeled bound complex band. The system identifies presence of the compound based on the labeled bound complex band and one or both of the migration pattern and a feature or characteristic of the migration velocity.

The disclosure emphasizes that controlling the labeled bound complex total net charge and/or charge/mass prevents fluorescent smears and improves band-based detection. The system uses optical imaging for qualitative presence/absence and can additionally use band intensity or brightness to support quantification across different concentration levels, with optional control and normalization features such as a marker compound and an unbound binder control band for comparison, and optional photobleaching to reduce substrate autofluorescence.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim recites a diagnostic system that evaluates an electrophoresis result image or band characteristic and receives electrophoresis migration pattern data. It identifies presence of the compound from the labeled bound complex band together with one or both of the migration pattern and a migration-velocity feature or characteristic, and outputs a data signal including the identification. The dependent claims add binder charge profile and total net charge relationships, fluorescence labeling including europium, band-intensity-based concentration or quantification, and optional unbound-binder comparison.

Across the independent and recited dependent features, the core inventive coverage is a processing approach that uses an image or band characteristic of a labeled bound complex plus electrophoresis migration pattern and or migration-velocity features to identify compound presence, with further claim refinements relating binder charge profile to compound total net charge, using fluorescence including europium, and optionally supporting concentration or quantification via labeled-band intensity and comparison to unbound-binder control bands.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications