BIOLOGICAL DETECTOR AND METHOD

• US 20140295486A1
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation), UNM Rainforest Innovations (f/k/a STC.UNM) (The University of New Mexico)
• Original Assignee: UNM Rainforest Innovations (f/k/a STC.UNM) (The University of New Mexico)
• Inventors: Sillerud, Laurel, Alam, Todd M., McDowell, Andrew F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,958,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/34
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 24/08 by using nuclear magnetic resonance G01N24/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54326 Magnetic particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/553 Metal or metal coated
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/281 Means for the use of in vitro contrast agents G01R33/282 takes precedence; involving use of a contrast agent in MR imaging G01R33/5601; in vivo contrast agents A61K49/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/302 Miniaturized sample handling arrangements for sampling small quantities, e.g. flow-through microfluidic NMR chips
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/32 Excitation or detection systems, e.g. using radio frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34007 Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34046 Volume type coils, e.g. bird-cage coils; Quadrature bird-cage coils; Circularly polarised coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34092 RF coils specially adapted for NMR spectrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/341 comprising surface coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/465 applied to biological material, e.g. in vitro testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5601 involving use of a contrast agent for contrast manipulation, e.g. a paramagnetic, super-paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or hyperpolarised contrast agent

Abstract

A biological detector includes a conduit for receiving a fluid containing one or more magnetic nanoparticle-labeled, biological objects to be detected and one or more permanent magnets or electromagnet for establishing a low magnetic field in which the conduit is disposed. A microcoil is disposed proximate the conduit for energization at a frequency that permits detection by NMR spectroscopy of whether the one or more magnetically-labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a target analyte in a sample, the method comprising:

introducing magnetic particles comprising target-specific moieties to a sample comprising a plurality of target analytes under conditions such that at least one cluster of magnetic particles and target analytes is formed; and

using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) device in order to measure a signal due to a change in relaxation rate, wherein the relaxation rate changes in the presence of the at least one cluster, thereby detecting the target analyte in the sample.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein measuring is accomplished in the presence of other components in the sample.

3. The method of claims 1, wherein the changes are selected from relaxation times T1, T2, T2*, or a combination thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the NMR devices comprises:

a magnet configured to produce a magnetic field;

a vessel configured to hold the sample and being located within the magnetic field;

a radio frequency (RF) coil located within the magnetic field.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the RF coil wraps around the vessel.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic is a permanent magnet.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target-specific moieties are antibodies.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample is a biological sample.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the biological sample is blood or urine.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles are superparamagnetic particles.