Detection of analytes in aqueous environments

• US 20030008408A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arthur E. Colvin, Jr.
• Original Assignee: Arthur E. Colvin, Jr.
• Inventors: Colvin, Arthur E. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/193,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20030008408A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/166
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 257/02 not condensed with other rings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6432 Quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/542 with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 Glucose

Abstract

The invention relates to indicator molecules for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a medium, such as a liquid, and to methods for achieving such detection. More particularly, the invention relates to copolymer macromolecules containing relatively hydrophobic indicator component monomers, and hydrophilic monomers, such that the macromolecule is capable of use in an aqueous environment.

Claims

1. A macromolecule which is capable of exhibiting an excimer effect, which comprises a copolymer of:

a) one or more excimer forming monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other; and

b) one or more other monomers;

such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect.

2. The macromolecule of claim 1, wherein the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte.

3. The macromolecule of claim 2, wherein

a) the excimer forming monomer individually is not sufficiently water soluble to permit its use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte;

and

b) the other monomer is a hydrophilic monomer;

such that the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment.

4. The macromolecule of claim 2, wherein the excimer effect does not substantially change in response to changes in the presence or concentration of the analyte.

5. The macromolecule of claim 4, wherein

i) the molar ratio of other monomer:

excimer forming momomer is from about 2;

1 to about 15;

1,

ii) the excimer forming monomer comprises an N-(o-boronobenzyl)amino]methyl]anthracene derivative, and

iii) the other monomer comprises [3-(methacryloylamino)-propyl]trimethylammonium chloride.

6. The macromolecule of claim 1, wherein the excimer forming monomer is selected from the group consisting of a lanthanide chelate and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon.

7. A method for producing a macromolecule which is capable of exhibiting an excimer effect, which method comprises copolymerizing:

a) one or more excimer forming monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other; and

b) one or more other monomers;

such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein

a) the excimer forming monomer individually is not sufficiently water soluble to permit its use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte;

and

b) the other monomer is a hydrophilic monomer;

such that the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the excimer effect does not substantially change in response to changes in the presence or concentration of the analyte.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

i) the molar ratio of other monomer:

excimer forming momomer is from about 2;

1 to about 15;

1,

ii) the excimer forming monomer comprises an N-(o-boronobenzyl)amino]methyl]anthracene derivative, and

iii) the other monomer comprises [3-(methacryloylamino)-propyl]trimethylammonium chloride.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the excimer forming monomer is selected from the group consisting of a lanthanide chelate and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon.