Device for detection of antigens and uses thereof
Inventors
Siciliano, Nicholas A. • Bouliane, Martin Joseph
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8012770-B2
Publication Date
2011-09-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices and methods for the detection of antigens are disclosed. Devices and methods for detecting food-borne pathogens are disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a device for detecting an antigen using a housing that includes an inlet opening. The device includes an antigen detection membrane system having a conjugate pad, a permeable membrane, a test membrane, and an absorbent member arranged in order, with at least portions of each component being substantially parallel to each other.
The housing includes a force member and a slidable locking member, where the conjugate pad is capable of being compressed against the perimeter of the inlet opening. The force member contacts the absorbent member and applies pressure substantially perpendicular to the antigen detection membrane system, and a flexible attachment member is attached to the locking member and the conjugate pad.
The membrane arrangement and the perpendicular compression cooperate to drive antigen detection through the vertically flowing chromatographic stack. In an example described, the device is used for antigen detection for food-borne pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7, with a conjugate pad having colloidal-gold conjugated antibodies and a second antibody/anti-antibody strip applied to a test membrane.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 defines a device architecture for antigen detection with a vertically flowing, substantially parallel conjugate pad–permeable membrane–test membrane–absorbent member stack and a slidable locking/force mechanism that applies pressure substantially perpendicular to the stack. Related claim refinements add labeled antigen-specific antibodies and non-competitive epitope binding arrangements.
Vertical antigen detection membrane stack with perpendicular compression
A device for detecting an antigen with a housing having an inlet opening, an antigen detection membrane system comprising in the following order a conjugate pad, a permeable membrane, a test membrane, and an absorbent member, wherein at least a portion of each is substantially parallel to each other, the conjugate pad being capable of being compressed against the perimeter of the inlet opening, and a force member applying pressure substantially perpendicular to the antigen detection membrane system while contacting the absorbent member.
Slidable locking mechanism and flexible attachment to drive pad compression
A housing configuration where a force member is attached to a first housing member and a slidable locking member contacts the first housing member and contacts the force member, with a flexible attachment member attached to the locking member and the conjugate pad.
Labeled antigen-specific antibody on the conjugate pad
A device where a first antigen-specific antibody is conjugated to one of the listed labeling agents.
Non-competitive epitope binding using first and second antigen-specific antibodies
A test membrane including a second antigen-specific antibody such that together with the first antigen-specific antibody the first and second antibodies bind to non-competitive epitopes on the same antigen.
Non-overlapping antibody areas on the test membrane
A test membrane having two non-overlapping areas, one containing a first antigen-specific antibody and the other containing a second antigen-specific antibody.
The inventive coverage centers on a vertically flowing chromatographic stack with substantially parallel membrane components compressed by a slidable locking and force mechanism applying pressure substantially perpendicular to the stack, together with antigen detection chemistries using labeled antigen-specific antibodies and non-competitive epitope binding.
Stated Advantages
Enables antigen detection with positive and negative reaction behavior.
Provides graded signal at decreasing concentrations in the described example.
Documented Applications
Food-borne pathogen antigen detection, including detection for E. coli O157:H7 using a colloidal-gold conjugated antibody conjugate pad and an antibody/anti-antibody strip on a test membrane.
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