Arrangement and method of examining hydrophilic macromolecules in an aqueous solution

• US 6,124,103 A
• Filed: 02/16/1999
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruker Optics, Inc. (Bruker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bruker Analytik GmbH (Bruker Corporation)
• Inventors: Bose, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Christopher L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Pensee T.
• Application Number:
  US09/250,258
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 436/518, 436/524, 436/527, 436/528, 436/531-533, 436/63, 436/71, 436/86, 436/823, 436/829, 436/56, 435/7.1, 435/7.5, 435/6, 424/178.1, 424/179.1, 424/484, 424/489, 424/502, 250/304, 250/330, 250/338.1, 250/338.2, 250/339.14, 250/354.1, 422/50, 422/82.05, 422/82.06, 422/119, 422/82.11
• US Class Current: 435/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5432 Liposomes or microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/823 Immunogenic carrier or carrier per se
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/829 Liposomes, e.g. encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/13 Tracers or tags

Abstract

An arrangement for the investigation of hydrophilic macromolecules (1) in an aqueous solution having a solid carrier surface (5) onto which a lipid film (24) is disposed, wherein the molecules (1) to be investigated are bound, by means of a molecular coupling system (20), to the lipid film (24) and thus are immobilized, is characterized in that the molecular coupling system (20) comprises at least two, preferably three molecular or nuclear components (21, 22, 23), which can be coupled to each other, of which a first component (21) is bound to the lipid film (24) and a second component (22) is bound to a hydrophilic macromolecule (1) to be investigated. In this way, it is rendered possible to immobilize and investigate any hydrophilic macromolecules, wherein the coating of the solid carrier surface should be able to be carried out in an as easy as possible and reversible manner.

Claims

1. A device for investigating hydrophilic macromolecules in aqueous solutions, the device comprising:

a solid carrier onto which a lipid film has been applied;

a first antigen bound to said lipid film;

a second antigen bound to the hydrophilic macromolecules to be investigated;

an antibody bound to and connected between said first antigen and said second antigen, whereby the hydrophilic macromolecules are molecularly coupled to said lipid film and rendered immobile.

2. A device for investigating hydrophilic macromolecules in aqueous solutions, the device comprising:

an attenuated total reflection element;

a lipid film applied to an upper surface of said attenuated total reflection element;

a first component bound to said lipid film;

a second component, chemically identical to said first component, bound to the hydrophilic macromolecules;

a third component bound to and connected between said first component and said second component, whereby the hydrophilic macromolecules are molecularly coupled to said lipid film and rendered immobile;

means for irradiating at least one of near infrared and mid infrared radiation into said attenuated total reflection element;

means for detecting at least one of near infrared and mid infrared radiation subsequent to absorptive interaction with the hydrophilic macromolecules and transport through said attenuated total reflection element; and

analysis means for attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, said analysis means communicating with said detecting means.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said first and said second components are biotin and said third component is avidine and/or streptovidine.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said lipid film is formed as a double layer.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said lipid film is formed by packed vesicles.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said first and second components are an antigen, and said third component is a corresponding antibody.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said lipid film is formed by packed vesicles.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein said lipid film is formed as a double layer.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein said lipid film is formed by packed vesicles.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the hydrophilic macromolecules to be examined are selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, DNA, RNA, whole procariotic and eucariotic cells.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein said attenuated total reflection element is an amorphous solid which is selected from the group consisting of silver halides, chalcogenides, glass and quartz.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein said attenuated total reflection element is a crystalline solid.

13. The device of claim 2, wherein said attenuated total reflection element comprises one of attenuated total reflection fibers, and attenuated total reflection crystals.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said attenuated total reflection element is selected from a group consisting of zinc selenide, thallium bromide, germanium and diamond.

15. The device of claim 2, further comprising a flow cell for guiding the aqueous solution past a solid carrier surface of said attenuated total reflection element having immobilized hydrophilic macromolecules arranged thereon.

16. A device for investigating hydrophilic macromolecules, the device comprising:

an attenuated total reflection element;

a lipid film applied to an upper surface of said attenuated total reflection element;

a first component bound to said lipid film;

a second component, chemically identical to said first component, bound to the hydrophilic macromolecules;

a third component bound to and connected between said first component and said second component, whereby the hydrophilic macromolecules are molecularly coupled to said lipid film and rendered immobile;

a flow cell for passing an aqueous solution past immobilized hydrophilic macromolecules;

means for irradiating infrared radiation into said attenuated total reflection element for internal reflection of said infrared radiation through said attenuated total reflection element;

means for detecting said infrared radiation following passage of said infrared radiation through said attenuated total reflection element and subsequent to absorptive changes therein due to interaction with the hydrophilic macromolecules and said aqueous solution; and

analysis means for attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, said analysis means communicating with said detecting means.