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Publication Number
US-12344780-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Polymer dots comprising a functionalized fluorescent polymer and an amphiphilic molecule are provided.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to fluorescent polymer dots formed by collapsing fluorescent heteropolymers into stable sub-micron sized particles, together with amphiphilic molecules. The fluorescent polymers include hydrophobic regions and hydrophilic regions, and the hydrophilic regions carry a hydrophilic functional group, explicitly a carboxyl functional group. At least one fluorescent polymer comprises n=10-30.
The amphiphilic molecules also have hydrophobic regions and hydrophilic regions, and the hydrophobic region of the amphiphilic molecule comprises a lipid moiety selected from DSPE, DMPE, DLPE, or DPPE moieties. In the resulting polymer dot, the hydrophobic regions of the fluorescent polymers and the amphiphilic molecules are embedded in a hydrophobic core, while the hydrophilic regions form a hydrophilic outer layer. The carboxyl functional group of the fluorescent polymer is located in the hydrophilic outer layer on the surface of the polymer dot.
The carboxyl functional group is accessible for conjugation, enabling formation of bioconjugates. The described context includes conjugation to biological molecules, including antibodies, and detection of target molecules in biological samples using fluorescence-based biological assays and imaging. Supporting embodiments and examples further describe fluorescent monomer classes such as BODIPY, fluorene, benzothiadiazole, and benzoxadiole, and reference measurements supporting stability, aggregation avoidance, and fluorescence performance, as well as staining performance in flow cytometry.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim defines four inventive features covering the full polymer dot architecture, including a hydrophobic core and hydrophilic outer layer arrangement, an accessible carboxyl conjugation site, and a fluorescent heteropolymer component with an n=10-30 constraint. Dependent claims refine this independent claim by adding monomer selections, size and ratio constraints, and conjugation to biological molecules.
Collapsed fluorescent heteropolymer sub-micron particle with carboxyl hydrophilic region
A polymer dot comprising fluorescent polymers collapsed into a stable sub-micron sized particle, where the fluorescent polymers are heteropolymers having hydrophobic regions and hydrophilic regions, and the hydrophilic regions have a hydrophilic functional group that is a carboxyl functional group.
Lipid amphiphilic molecules embedded to form hydrophobic core and hydrophilic outer layer
Amphiphilic molecules having hydrophobic regions and hydrophilic regions, where the hydrophobic region comprises a lipid moiety selected from DSPE, DMPE, DLPE, or DPPE moieties; the hydrophobic regions of the fluorescent polymers and the amphiphilic molecules are embedded in a hydrophobic core, and the hydrophilic regions form a hydrophilic outer layer.
Surface-accessible carboxyl functional group located in the hydrophilic outer layer
The hydrophilic functional group is accessible for conjugation and is located in the hydrophilic outer layer on the surface of the polymer dot.
Fluorescent heteropolymer includes n=10-30
At least one of the fluorescent polymers comprises n=10-30.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a collapsed fluorescent heteropolymer polymer dot architecture using lipid-containing amphiphilic molecules to create a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic outer layer, with an accessible surface carboxyl group positioned in that outer layer for conjugation. Dependent claims further narrow compositions, add physical constraints, and specify conjugation of the carboxyl group to biological molecules.
Stated Advantages
Stable sub-micron sized particles.
Stability and aggregation avoidance.
Fluorescence performance.
Accessible for conjugation, enabling formation of bioconjugates.
Documented Applications
Conjugation to biological molecules, including antibodies.
Fluorescence-based biological assays and imaging.
Detection of target molecules in biological samples.
Flow cytometry staining performance for biological applications.
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