Detection of analytes in aqueous environments
First Claim
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1. An implantable device for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in an aqueous environment in vivo, said device including a macromolecule that comprises a copolymer of:
- a) one or more indicator component monomers which individually are not sufficiently water soluble to permit their use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte; and
b) one or more hydrophilic monomers;
such that the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment, and wherein the macromolecule is immobilized onto or within an insoluble surface or matrix.
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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.
14 Citations
59 Claims
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1. An implantable device for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in an aqueous environment in vivo, said device including a macromolecule that comprises a copolymer of:
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a) one or more indicator component monomers which individually are not sufficiently water soluble to permit their use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte; and
b) one or more hydrophilic monomers;
such that the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment, and wherein the macromolecule is immobilized onto or within an insoluble surface or matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 56)
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18. A method for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample having an aqueous environment in vivo, said method comprising:
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a) exposing the sample to an implantable device that includes an indicator macromolecule, said macromolecule comprising a copolymer of;
i) one or more indicator component monomers which individually are not sufficiently water soluble to permit their use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte; and
ii) one or more hydrophilic monomers;
such that the resulting macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment, wherein the indicator macromolecule has a detectable quality that changes in a concentration-dependent manner when said macromolecule is exposed to said analyte, and wherein the indicator macromolecule is immobilized onto or within an insoluble surface or matrix; and
b) measuring any change in said detectable quality to thereby determine the presence or concentration of said analyte in said sample. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 57)
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36. An implantable device that is capable of exhibiting an excimer effect, said device including a macromolecule which comprises a copolymer of:
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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, and wherein the device comprises an insoluble surface or matrix onto which or within which the macromolecule is immobilized. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 58)
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47. A method for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample in vivo, said method comprising:
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a) exposing the sample to an an implantable device that includes an indicator macromolecule, said macromolecule comprising a copolymer of;
i) one or more indicator component monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other, and which are also capable of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte; and
ii) one or more other monomers;
such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect, wherein the indicator macromolecule has a detectable quality that changes in a concentration-dependent manner when said macromolecule is exposed to said analyte, and wherein the device comprises an insoluble surface or matrix onto which or within which the macromolecule is immobilized; and
b) measuring any change in said detectable quality to thereby determine the presence or concentration of said analyte in said sample. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59)
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Specification