Safe biodegradable fluorescent particles

• US 20090221087A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Srivastava, Abneesh, Riot, Vincent J., Bogan, Michael J., Fergenson, David P., Martin, Sue I., Frank, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 7,781,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/172
• 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

Abstract

A human-safe fluorescence particle that can be used for fluorescence detection instruments or act as a safe simulant for mimicking the fluorescence properties of microorganisms. The particle comprises a non-biological carrier and natural fluorophores encapsulated in the non-biological carrier. By doping biodegradable-polymer drug delivery microspheres with natural or synthetic fluorophores, the desired fluorescence can be attained or biological organisms can be simulated without the associated risks and logistical difficulties of live microorganisms.

Claims

1. A fluorescent particle that can be used as a simulant for triggering, testing or calibrating aerosol systems, comprising:

a non-biological carrier, and

natural fluorophores encapsulated in said non-biological carrier.

2. The apparatus for mimicking the fluorescence properties of microorganisms of claim 1 wherein said non-biological carrier is biodegradable.

3. The apparatus for mimicking the fluorescence properties of microorganisms of claim 1 wherein said non-biological carrier is made of non-toxic materials.

4. The fluorescent particle of claim 1 wherein said non-biological carrier is made of abiotic materials.

5. The fluorescent particle of claim 1 wherein said non-biological carrier is made of a biodegradable polymer.

6. The fluorescent particle of claim 1 wherein said non-biological carrier is made of a biodegradable polymer approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

7. The fluorescent particle of claim 1 wherein said natural fluorophores match the spectral characteristics of a preselected microorganism.

8. The fluorescent particle of claim 1 wherein said natural fluorophores comprise fluorophores with different spectral characteristics and wherein the ratio of said fluorophores with different spectral characteristics matches the spectral characteristics of a preselected microorganism.

33. The method of making a simulant for testing or calibrating systems for detecting microorganisms of claim 8 wherein said step of encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier comprises encapsulating fluorophores with different spectral characteristics in said non-biological carrier wherein the ratio of said fluorophores with different spectral characteristics provide desired fluorescence effect.

9. A method of making a simulant for triggering, testing or calibrating aerosol systems, comprising the steps of:

providing a non-biological carrier, and

encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier to produce a simulant for testing or calibrating the aerosol systems.

10. The method of making a simulant of claim 9 wherein said step of providing a non-biological carrier comprises producing said non-biological carrier from abiotic materials.

11. The method of making a simulant of claim 9 wherein said step of providing a non-biological carrier comprises producing said non-biological carrier from a biodegradable polymer.

12. The method of making a simulant of claim 9 wherein said step of providing a non-biological carrier comprises producing said non-biological carrier from a biodegradable polymer approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

13. The method of making a simulant of claim 9 wherein said step of encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier comprises encapsulating fluorophores with different spectral characteristics in said non-biological carrier wherein said spectral characteristics of said fluorophores match the spectral characteristics of a preselected microorganism.

14. The method of making a simulant of claim 9 wherein said step of encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier comprises encapsulating fluorophores with different spectral characteristics in said non-biological carrier wherein the ratio of said fluorophores with different spectral characteristics matches the spectral characteristics of a preselected microorganism.

15. The method of making a simulant of claim 9 including the step of testing or calibrating the aerosol systems for field aerosol studies or mock biowarfare training or training for rapid assessment of bioweapons labs or calibrating fluorescence-based detection equipment.

16. The method of making a simulant of claim 9 wherein said steps of providing a non-biological carrier and encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier comprises mixing biodegradable polymers in solvent and natural fluorophores in water to produce polydisperse microspheres with naturally occurring fluorophores.

17. The method of making a simulant of claim 9 wherein said steps of providing a non-biological carrier and encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier comprises mixing biodegradable polymers and natural fluorophores to produce monodisperse microspheres with naturally occurring fluorophores.

18. A method of making a simulant for triggering, testing or calibrating systems for detecting microorganisms, comprising the steps of:

providing biodegradable polymers,

providing natural fluorophores, and

mixing said biodegradable polymers and said natural fluorophores to produce a simulant for testing, triggering or calibrating fluorescence detection systems.

19. The method of making a simulant for triggering, testing or calibrating systems for detecting microorganisms of claim 18 wherein said step of providing biodegradable polymers comprises providing biodegradable polymers in solvent, wherein said step of providing natural fluorophores comprises providing natural fluorophores in water, and said step of mixing said biodegradable polymers and said natural fluorophores comprises ultrasonic mixing said biodegradable polymers in solvent and said natural fluorophores in water to produce a simulant for testing or calibrating the systems for detecting the microorganisms.

20. The method of making a simulant for triggering, testing or calibrating systems for detecting microorganisms of claim 18 wherein said step of providing biodegradable polymers comprises providing biodegradable polymers in a solution in a container, wherein said step of providing natural fluorophores comprises introducing natural fluorophores into said container, and said step of mixing said biodegradable polymers and said natural fluorophores comprises mixing said biodegradable polymers and said natural fluorophores in said container and using a vibrating orifice aerosol generator, ink jet aerosol generator or other particle generator to produce a simulant for testing or calibrating the systems for detecting the microorganisms.

21. The method of making a simulant for triggering, testing or calibrating systems for detecting microorganisms of claim 18 wherein said step of providing natural fluorophores comprises providing natural fluorophores with different spectral characteristics wherein the ratio of said fluorophores with different spectral characteristics matches the spectral characteristics of a preselected microorganism.

22. A human-safe apparatus that provides a desired fluorescence effect, comprising:

a non-biological carrier, and

natural fluorophores encapsulated in said non-biological carrier.

23. The apparatus for producing a desired fluorescence effect of claim 22 wherein said non-biological carrier is made of non-toxic materials.

24. The apparatus for producing a desired fluorescence effect of claim 22 wherein said non-biological carrier is made of abiotic materials.

25. The apparatus for producing a desired fluorescence effect of claim 22 wherein said non-biological carrier is made of a biodegradable polymer.

26. The apparatus for producing a desired fluorescence effect of claim 22 wherein said non-biological carrier is made of a biodegradable polymer approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

27. The apparatus for producing a desired fluorescence effect of claim 22 wherein said natural fluorophores comprise fluorophores with different spectral characteristics.

29. The method of making a particle for triggering, testing or calibrating fluorescence detection systems of claim 22 wherein said step of providing a non-biological carrier comprises producing said non-biological carrier from abiotic materials.

30. The method of making a particle for triggering, testing or calibrating fluorescence detection systems of claim 22 wherein said step of providing a non-biological carrier comprises producing said non-biological carrier from a biodegradable polymer.

31. The method of making a particle for triggering, testing or calibrating fluorescence detection systems of claim 22 wherein said step of providing a non-biological carrier comprises producing said non-biological carrier from a biodegradable polymer approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

32. The method of making a particle for triggering, testing or calibrating fluorescence detection systems of claim 22 wherein said step of encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier comprises encapsulating fluorophores with different spectral characteristics in said non-biological carrier wherein said spectral characteristics of said fluorophores provide desired fluorescence effect.

34. The method of making a particle for triggering, testing or calibrating fluorescence detection systems of claim 22 including the step of testing or calibrating systems for air dispersion studies (large scale), urban aerosol studies (small scale), tagging, tracking, and locating, and for subsurface colloidal transport studies/radionuclide migration studies.

35. The method of making a particle for triggering, testing or calibrating fluorescence detection systems of claim 22 wherein said steps of providing a non-biological carrier and encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier comprises mixing biodegradable polymers in solvent and natural fluorophores in water to produce polydisperse microspheres with naturally occurring fluorophores.

36. The method of making a particle for triggering, testing or calibrating fluorescence detection systems of claim 22 wherein said steps of providing a non-biological carrier and encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier comprises mixing biodegradable polymers and natural fluorophores to produce monodisperse microspheres with naturally occurring fluorophores.

28. A method of making a particle for testing or calibrating systems for detecting microorganisms, comprising the steps of:

providing a non-biological carrier, and

encapsulating natural fluorophores in said non-biological carrier to produce a desired fluorescence effect.