Method and apparatus for the detection of biological molecules

• US 20060223197A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stratec Biomedical Systems AG
• Original Assignee: Stratec Biomedical Systems AG
• Inventors: Vielsack, Claus
• Application Number:
  US11/396,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/524
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2458/40 Rare earth chelates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/533 with fluorescent label
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/582 with fluorescent label

Abstract

A detection system and a method for the detection of a plurality of substances is disclosed. The detection system has a plurality of detection probes, each of the detection probes having an up-conversion fluorescing core of dimensions less than 200 nm and is linked to an affinity moiety. The affinity moiety bonds to one of the plurality of substances.

Claims

1. A detection system for the detection of a plurality of substances comprising:

a plurality of detection probes, each of the detection probes having an up-conversion fluorescing core of dimensions less than 200 nm linked to an affinity moiety, the affinity moiety bonding to one of the plurality of substances.

2. The detection system of claim 1 further having a light source for exciting the up-conversion fluorescing core.

3. The detection system of claim 1 further having at least one detector for measuring the radiation emitted from the up-conversion fluorescing core.

4. The detection system of claim 1 wherein the up-conversion fluorescing core is surrounded by a shell.

5. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the shell is a functionalised silica shell.

6. The detection system of claim 1 comprising a first linker between the fluorescing core and the affinity moiety.

7. The detection system of claim 1 further comprising a further probe having a further affinity moiety bonding to one of the plurality of substances.

8. The detection system of claim 7 wherein the further probe is attached to a surface.

9. The detection system of claim 7, wherein the further probe is attached to a bead.

10. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the up-conversion fluorescing core is made from a doped sodium yttrium fluoride or another rare-earth element containing compound.

11. A method for the detection of a plurality of substances comprising

a first step of the provision of a plurality of detection probes having an up-conversion fluorescing core linked to an affinity moiety;

a second step of placing the plurality of detection probes in contact with a fluid including the one or more substances;

a third step of exposing the plurality of detection probes to light of a first energy; and

a fourth step of detecting light of a second energy emitted from the one or more of the plurality of detector probes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein there are at least two ones of the plurality of detection probes with different affinity moieties.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fifth step of detecting light of a second energy is carried out using a photodetector having an acoustic-optical transfer filter.

14. The method of claim 11, further including at least one washing step to wash away the fluid.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the second step is preceded by a step of placing the fluid in contact with a plurality of further probes, the further probes having a further affinity moiety for binding with one of the plurality of substances.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the further probes are attached to a bead and the detector probes are separated within the fluid using a property of the bead.