Optical fiberless sensors

• US 20020155600A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bjorn Thorsrud, Eric Monson, Heather Clark, Martin Philbert, Raoul Kopelman, Stephen Parus
• Original Assignee: Bjorn Thorsrud, Eric Monson, Heather Clark, Martin Philbert, Raoul Kopelman, Stephen Parus
• Inventors: Philbert, Martin, Monson, Eric, Thorsrud, Bjorn, Kopelman, Raoul, Clark, Heather, Parus, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US10/135,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20020155600A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/325
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0097 Cells, viruses, ghosts, red blood cells, viral vectors, used for imaging or diagnosis in vivo
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/528 Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/805 Test papers

Abstract

Fiberless optical sensors (plasticized PVC, acrylamide or gold particles) are described having a size ranging from between approximately 1 micrometer and 1 nanometer in diameter. The sensors comprise ionophores useful for the detection of intracellular analytes.

Claims

1. A composition, comprising cells containing at least one fiberless optical sensor.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said cells are eukaryotic cells.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said cells are mammalian cells.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a solid particle ranging in size between approximately 1 micrometer and 1 nanometer in diameter.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein said sensor comprises a polymer.

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl chloride) carboxylated and poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol).

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said sensor further comprises an ionophore.

8. The composition of claim 7, wherein said sensor further comprises a chromoionophore.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein said sensor further comprises an additive.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein said sensor further comprises a plasticizer.

11. A method, comprising:

a) providing i) one or more cells, ii) a plurality of fiberless optical sensors, and iii) a means for detecting said sensors;

b) introducing said plurality of sensors into said one or more cells; and

c) detecting said sensors in said cells with said detecting means.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said cells are eukaryotic cells.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said cells are mammalian cells.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said sensors comprise a solid particle ranging in size between approximately 1 micrometer and 1 nanometer in diameter.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said sensors comprise a polymer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl chloride) carboxylated and poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said sensors further comprise an ionophore.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said sensors further comprise a chromoionophore.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said sensors further comprise an additive.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said sensors further comprise a plasticizer.

21. A method, comprising:

a) providing i) one or more cells, ii) a plurality of fiberless optical sensors, iii) an exogenous cellular stimulus, and iv) a means for detecting said sensors;

b) introducing said plurality of sensors into said one or more cells;

c) stimulating said one or more cells with said exogenous cellular stimulus, and

d) detecting said sensors in said cells with said detecting means.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said cells are eukaryotic cells.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said cells are mammalian cells.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said sensors comprise a solid particle ranging in size between approximately 1 micrometer and 1 nanometer in diameter.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said sensors comprise a polymer.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl chloride) carboxylated and poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol).

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said sensors further comprise an ionophore.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said sensors further comprise a chromoionophore.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said sensors further comprise an additive.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said sensors further comprise a plasticizer.

31. A method comprising:

a) providing i) first and second preparations of cells, ii) a plurality of fiberless optical sensors, iii) an exogenous cellular stimulus, and iv) a means for detecting said sensors;

b) introducing said plurality of sensors into said first and second preparations of cells;

c) stimulating said first preparation of cells with said exogenous stimulus,

d) detecting said sensors in said cells with said detecting means, and

e) comparing the sensors in said first preparation of cells with the sensors in said second preparation of cells.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said cells are eukaryotic cells.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said cells are mammalian cells.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said sensors comprise a solid particle ranging in size between approximately 1 micrometer and 1 nanometer in diameter.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said sensors comprise a polymer.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl chloride) carboxylated and poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol).

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said sensors further comprise an ionophore.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said sensors further comprise a chromoionophore.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said sensors further comprise an additive.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said sensors further comprise a plasticizer.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein said stimulus is a toxin.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said toxin is a bacterial toxin.