Device and method for detection of analytes
Inventors
BOONE, JAMES H. • Lyerly, David M. • Wilkins, Tracy D.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-8343726-B2
Publication Date
2013-01-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides assays and devices for detection of substances in liquid samples. The assays and devices utilize passive diffusion between a porous material and a porous membrane containing a specific binding pair member to enable detection of the substance of interest.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method of detecting at least one substance of interest in a liquid sample by applying the liquid sample to at least partially wet a porous material. The porous material physically contacts a porous membrane comprising at least one specific binding pair member capable of binding the substance(s) of interest, either directly or indirectly, and is in physical contact with a bottom side of the porous membrane to allow continuous diffusion and interaction of at least a portion of the sample and the specific binding pair member(s), with the specific binding pair member(s) positioned directly above the porous material.
The method maintains the porous material and porous membrane in contact for a sufficient amount of time so that liquid present in the porous material diffuses upwards into the porous membrane containing the specific binding pair member(s). Diffusion of the liquid into the porous membrane results in the substance(s) of interest, if present, to be bound either directly or indirectly to the specific binding pair member(s), and detection is performed by detecting the presence or absence of a complex comprising the specific binding pair member(s) and the substance(s) of interest.
A complex indicates the presence of at least one of the substance(s) of interest in the liquid sample. In the disclosed embodiments, specific binding pair members and substance(s) of interest may include binding interactions such as antibody/antigen and nucleic acid complementarity, and formats with labeled conjugates and detectable moieties generate a signal that can be observed, including visual and non-visual detection readouts.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include 3 inventive features centered on continuous diffusion between a wet porous material and a porous membrane containing specific binding pair members, followed by detection of a complex.
Continuous diffusion between wet porous material and porous membrane with binding pair members
Applying a liquid sample to at least partially wet a porous material that physically contacts a porous membrane comprising at least one specific binding pair member capable of binding, either directly or indirectly, the substance(s) of interest, with the porous material in physical contact with a bottom side of the porous membrane to allow continuous diffusion and interaction.
Complex formation by upward diffusion into membrane and binding to binding pair members
Maintaining the porous material and porous membrane in contact for a sufficient amount of time for liquid present in the porous material to diffuse upwards into the porous membrane comprising the specific binding pair member(s), wherein diffusion results in the substance(s) of interest, if present, to be bound either directly or indirectly to the specific binding pair member(s), forming a complex.
Detecting presence or absence of a complex to indicate target presence
Detecting the presence or absence of a complex comprising the specific binding pair member(s) and the substance(s) of interest, wherein the presence of at least one complex indicates the presence of at least one of the substance(s) of interest in the liquid sample.
Coverage centers on continuous upward diffusion from a wet porous material into a porous membrane carrying specific binding pair members, complex formation by binding, and detecting presence or absence of that complex to indicate target presence.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?