Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy immunoassay

• US 5,376,556 A
• Filed: 09/11/1992
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Rospendowski, Bernard N., Tarcha, Peter J., Rohr, Thomas E., Markese, James J., Cotton, Therese
• Primary Examiner(s): Saunders, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Christopher L.
• Application Number:
  US07/944,138
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 435/7.92, 435/7.93, 435/7.94, 435/968, 435/973, 435/975, 436/164, 436/524, 436/525, 436/536, 436/538, 436/541, 436/805, 436/808, 436/824, 436/514
• US Class Current: 436/525
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/653 Coherent methods [CARS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/968 High energy substrates, e.g. fluorescent, chemiluminescent, radioactive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/801 Electron dense compounds, e.g. ferritin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 Optical property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/24 Nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance or other spin effects or mass spectrometry

Abstract

A method, composition, device, apparatus, and kit for the determination of the presence or amount of an analyte by monitoring an analyte-mediated ligand binding event in a test mixture which contains the analyte to be assayed, a specific binding member, a Raman-active label, and a particulate having a surface capable of inducing a surface-enhanced Raman light scattering. The test mixture is illuminated with a radiation sufficient to cause the Raman-active label in the test mixture to emit a detectable Raman spectrum. The differences in the detected surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectra are dependent upon the amount of the analyte present in the test mixture. Thus, by monitoring these differences, the presence or amount of the analyte are determined.

Claims

1. A method for determining the presence or amount of an analyte, if any, in a test sample by monitoring an analyte-mediated ligand binding event in a test mixture the method comprising:

forming a test mixture comprising the test sample and a particulate capture reagent, said particulate capture reagent comprising a specific binding member attached to a particulate having a surface capable of inducing surface-enhanced Raman light scattering and also having attached thereto a Raman-active label wherein said specific binding member attached to the particulate is specific for the analyte, an analyte-analog or an ancillary binding member;

providing a chromatographic material having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of said chromatographic material comprises a capture reagent immobilized in a capture situs and capable of binding to the analyte;

applying the test mixture onto the proximal end of said chromatographic material;

allowing the test mixture to travel from the proximal end toward the distal end by capillary action;

illuminating the capture situs with a radiation sufficient to cause a detectable Raman spectrum; and

monitoring differences in spectral characteristics of the detected surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectra, the differences being dependent upon the amount of analyte present in the test mixture.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the radiation causes a surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising adding an enhancer, selected from the group consisting of salt, buffer preparation, sugar and polymer, to the test mixture.

4. A method for determining the presence or amount of an analyte, if any, in a test sample by monitoring an analyte-mediated ligand binding event in a test mixture, the method comprising:

forming a test mixture comprising the test sample, an analyte-analog, and a particulate capture reagent comprising a specific binding member attached to a particulate having a surface capable of inducing surface-enhanced Raman light scattering and also attached thereto a Raman-active label wherein said specific binding member attached to the particulate is specific for the analyte, an analyte-analog or an ancillary binding member;

providing a chromatographic material having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of said chromatographic material contains a capture reagent immobilized in a capture situs and capable of binding to the analyte of the analyte-analog;

applying the test mixture onto the proximal end of said chromatographic material;

allowing the test mixture to travel from the proximal end toward the distal end by capillary action;

illuminating the capture situs with a radiation sufficient to cause a detectable Raman spectrum; and

monitoring differences in spectral characteristics of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectra, the differences being dependent upon the amount of the analyte present in the test mixture.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the radiation causes a surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering.

6. The method according to claim 4 further comprising adding an enhancer, selected from the group consisting of salt, buffer preparation, sugar and polymer, to the test mixture.