ANALYTE DETECTION USING A NEEDLE PROJECTION PATCH

• US 20110160069A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The University of Queensland
• Original Assignee: The University of Queensland
• Inventors: Kendall, Mark Anthony Fernance, Corrie, Simon Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,387,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 506/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00504 Pins
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00509 Microcolumns
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00621 by physical means, e.g. trenches, raised areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing

Abstract

Apparatus for use in detecting analytes in a subject, wherein the apparatus includes a number of projections provided on a patch, such that applying the patch to the subject causes at least some of the projections to be inserted into the subject and target one or more analytes and a reagent for detecting the presence or absence of analytes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in detecting analytes in a subject, wherein the apparatus includes:

a) a number of projections provided on a patch, such that applying the patch to the subject causes at least some of the projections to be inserted into the subject and target one or more analytes; and

,

b) a reagent for detecting the presence or absence of analytes.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coating is applied to at least some of the projections, the coating including a reagent for reacting with analytes in the subject.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coating is applied to at least some of the projections, the coating being for extracting analytes when the projections are removed from the subject.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the coating includes a binding agent for binding with analytes of interest.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the coating includes a probe for selectively targeting analytes of interest.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the coating includes a material to repel at least some analytes from the projections.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the material includes a polymer.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the coating includes:

a) a first coating layer for repelling analytes; and

,

b) a second coating layer including at least one of;

i) a binding agent for binding with analytes of interest; and

,

ii) a reagent for reacting with analytes of interest.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, for projections coated with the first coating, the first coating is applied to substantially all of the projection.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, for projections coated with the second coating, the second coating is applied to a tip of the projection.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes:

a) at least first projections for targeting first analytes; and

,

b) at least second projections for targeting second analytes.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

a) the first projections are coated with a first binding agent; and

,

b) the second projections are coated with a second binding agent.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

a) the first projections have a first geometry; and

,

b) the second projections have a second geometry.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projections are for absorbing analytes.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the projections are for selectively absorbing analytes of interest.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projections include one or more pores, the pores being adapted to receive analytes.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pores have a size for targeting analytes of interest.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projections include a binding agent distributed therein, the binding agent being for binding with analytes of interest.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projections are at least one of:

a) polymer projections;

b) silicon projections; and

,

c) organosilicate projections.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a housing defining at least one well, wherein in use the at least one well contains a solution including a reagent, such that in use, at least some of the projections can be inserted into the well, thereby allowing the analytes to react with the reagent.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the housing defines a plurality of wells for receiving respective projections.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each well contains a solution including a respective reagent, such that in use, at least some of the projections can be inserted into each well, thereby allowing analytes to react with a number of different reagents.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the patch includes respective areas of projections, each area of projections being for extracting a respective analyte, and wherein the areas are arranged such that each area of projections is inserted into a respective well, thereby allowing different analytes to react with respective reagents.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the projections are configured to target analytes in at least one of:

a) an epidermal layer in the subject;

b) a dermal layer in the subject;

c) a capillary layer in the subject;

d) an epithelial layer; and

,

e) any accessible surface layer in the subject.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length of the projections prevents the projections entering the dermis.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projections include a support section and a targeting section.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the targeting section has a diameter of less than at least one of:

a) 1 μ

m; and

,

b) 0.5 μ

m.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a length for the targeting section is at least:

a) less than 0.5 μ

m; and

,

b) less than 1.0 μ

m; and

,

c) less than 2.0 μ

m.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a length for the support section is <

200 μ

m.

30. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projections are solid.

31. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projections are non-porous and non-hollow.

32. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reagent reacts with analytes to generate a visible indication.

33. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analytes include at least one of:

a) epigenetic markers;

b) short RNA species;

c) nucleic acids or proteins;

d) antigens, allergens, or adjuvants;

e) parasites, bacteria, viruses, or virus-like particles;

f) immunoglobulins; and

,

g) cells.

34. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes:

a) a flexible substrate; and

,

b) a number of patches, each patch including a number of projections for penetrating a body surface, the number of patches being mounted to a flexible backing.

35. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection of analytes is used in determining the presence, absence or concentration of one or more analytes in the subject.

36. A method for use in detecting analytes in a subject, wherein the method includes:

a) applying a patch to the subject such that a number of projections arranged on the patch are inserted into the subject and target one or more analytes;

b) removing the projections from the subject; and

,

c) using a reagent to determine the presence or absence of analytes.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the method includes:

a) removing the projections from the subject; and

,

b) exposing the analytes to the reagent.

38. A method of producing a patch for use in detecting analytes in a subject, wherein the method includes applying a coating to a number of projections provided on the patch, the projections being arranged such that applying the patch to the subject causes at least some of the projections to be inserted into the subject and target one or more analytes, the coating being for at least one of

a) for reacting a reagent with analytes in the subject;

and,

b) extracting analytes when the projections are removed from the subject.

39. An apparatus for use in sampling analytes in a subject, wherein the apparatus includes:

a) a number of projections provided on a patch such that applying the patch to the subject causes at least some of the projections to be inserted into the subject; and

,

b) a coating applied to at least some of the projections, the coating including a binding agent for binding at least some analytes to the projections, thereby extracting analytes when the projections are removed from the subject.

40. An apparatus for use in detecting analytes in a subject, wherein the apparatus includes:

a) a number of projections provided on a patch such that applying the patch to the subject causes at least some of the projections to be inserted into the subject; and

,

b) a coating applied to at least some of the projections, the coating including a reagent for reacting with analytes in the subject, thereby allowing the presence of analytes to be determined when the projections are removed from the subject.

41. A kit for use in detecting analytes in a subject, wherein the kit including:

a) a number of projections provided on a patch, such that applying the patch to the subject causes at least some of the projections to be inserted into the subject and target one or more analytes; and

,

b) a reagent for detecting the presence or absence of analytes.