Use of photopolymerization for amplification and detection of a molecular recognition event
First Claim
1. A method for amplifying a molecular recognition interaction between a target and a probe comprising the steps of:
- a. contacting the target with the probe under conditions effective to form a target-probe complex;
b. removing target not complexed with the probe;
c. contacting the target-probe complex with a photoinitiator label under conditions effective to attach the photoinitiator label to the target-probe complex;
d. removing photoinitiator label not attached to the target-probe complex;
e. contacting the photoinitiator-labeled target-probe complex with a polymer precursor solution;
f. exposing the photoinitiator-labeled target-probe complex and the polymer precursor solution to light, thereby forming a polymer; and
g. detecting the polymer formed, thereby detecting an amplified target-probe interaction.
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Abstract
The invention provides methods to detect molecular recognition events. The invention also provides methods to detect the presence of or identify a target species based on its interaction with one or more probe species. The methods of the invention are based on amplification of the signal due to each molecular recognition event. The amplification is achieved through photopolymerization, with the polymer formed being associated with the molecular recognition event. In an embodiment, a fluorescent polymer, a magnetic polymer, a radioactive polymer or an electrically conducting polymer can form the basis of detection and amplification. In another embodiment, a polymer gel swollen with a fluorescent solution, a magnetic solution, a radioactive solution or an electrically conducting solution can form the basis of detection and amplification. In another embodiment, sufficient polymer forms to be detectable by visual inspection.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for amplifying a molecular recognition interaction between a target and a probe comprising the steps of:
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a. contacting the target with the probe under conditions effective to form a target-probe complex;
b. removing target not complexed with the probe;
c. contacting the target-probe complex with a photoinitiator label under conditions effective to attach the photoinitiator label to the target-probe complex;
d. removing photoinitiator label not attached to the target-probe complex;
e. contacting the photoinitiator-labeled target-probe complex with a polymer precursor solution;
f. exposing the photoinitiator-labeled target-probe complex and the polymer precursor solution to light, thereby forming a polymer; and
g. detecting the polymer formed, thereby detecting an amplified target-probe interaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification