Nanocrystals having polynucleotide strands and their use to form dendrimers in a signal amplification system
First Claim
1. An assay kit comprising:
- (a) primary dots, each of which comprises a functionalized nanocrystal comprising a plurality of polynucleotide strands of a predetermined sequence, wherein a terminal portion of each of the plurality of polynucleotide strands is operably linked to the functionalized nanocrystal, wherein the opposite terminus of each of the plurality polynucleotide strand is unbound to the functionalized nanocrystal and extends outwardly from the functionalized nanocrystal, and wherein the primary dots have one or more reactive functionalities; and
(b) secondary dots each of which comprises a functionalized nanocrystal comprising a plurality of polynucleotide strands of a predetermined sequence which is complementary to and can under suitable conditions hybridize to the sequence of the polynucleotide strands of the primary dots, wherein a terminal portion of each of the plurality of polynucleotide strands is operably linked to the functionalized nanocrystal, and wherein the opposite terminus of each of the plurality polynucleotide strand is not bound to the functionalized nanocrystal and extends outwardly from the functionalized nanocrystal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided are compositions and assay kits comprising functionalized nanocrystals having extending therefrom a plurality of polynucleotide strands of known sequence; wherein primary dots are used to operably link to a molecular probe, and secondary dots comprise a plurality of polynucleotide strands which are complemetary to the plurality of polynucleotide strands of the primary dots. Also provided is a method for detecting the presence or absence of target molecule in a sample comprising operably linking primary dots to molecular probe, contacting the complex formed with the sample, contacting the sample with successive additions of secondary dots and primary dots. If target molecule is present in the sample, the primary dots and secondary dots will form dendrimers that can be detected by fluorescence emission.
225 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An assay kit comprising:
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(a) primary dots, each of which comprises a functionalized nanocrystal comprising a plurality of polynucleotide strands of a predetermined sequence, wherein a terminal portion of each of the plurality of polynucleotide strands is operably linked to the functionalized nanocrystal, wherein the opposite terminus of each of the plurality polynucleotide strand is unbound to the functionalized nanocrystal and extends outwardly from the functionalized nanocrystal, and wherein the primary dots have one or more reactive functionalities; and
(b) secondary dots each of which comprises a functionalized nanocrystal comprising a plurality of polynucleotide strands of a predetermined sequence which is complementary to and can under suitable conditions hybridize to the sequence of the polynucleotide strands of the primary dots, wherein a terminal portion of each of the plurality of polynucleotide strands is operably linked to the functionalized nanocrystal, and wherein the opposite terminus of each of the plurality polynucleotide strand is not bound to the functionalized nanocrystal and extends outwardly from the functionalized nanocrystal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of using functionalized nanocrystals comprising primary dots and secondary dots for detecting the presence or absence of a target molecule in a sample, the method comprising:
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(a) operably linking primary dots to molecular probe in forming primary dot-molecular probe complexes;
(b) contacting an effective amount of primary dot-molecule probe complexes to the sample under suitable conditions for molecular probe to specifically bind to target molecule, if present in the sample;
(c) contacting an effective amount of secondary dots with the sample under suitable conditions for promoting hybridization of the plurality of polynucleotide strands of the second dots to the polynucleotide strands of the primary dots, if present in the sample;
(d) contacting the sample with successive additions of an effective amount of primary dots and an effective amount of secondary dots under suitable conditions for promoting hybridization;
(e) exposing the sample to an excitation light source that is suitable for exciting the functionalized nanocrystals to emit a fluorescence emission;
wherein detection by detection means of a signal comprising peak fluorescence emission, generated by excited functionalized nanocrystals, and amplified by dendrimer formation, is indicative of the presence of target molecule in the sample; and
absence of the signal is indicative of the absence of target molecule in the sample.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of using functionalized nanocrystals comprising primary dots and secondary dots for detecting the presence or absence of a target molecule in a sample, the method comprising:
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(a) contacting an effective amount of molecule probe to the sample under suitable conditions for molecular probe to specifically bind to target molecule, if present in the sample;
(b) contacting an effective amount of primary dots to the sample under suitable conditions for the primary dots to operably link to molecular probe, if present in the sample;
(c) contacting an effective amount of secondary dots with the sample under suitable conditions for promoting hybridization of the plurality of polynucleotide strands of the second dots to the polynucleotide strands of the primary dots, if present in the sample;
(d) contacting the sample with successive additions of an effective amount of primary dots and an effective amount of secondary dots under suitable conditions for promoting hybridization;
(e) exposing the sample to an excitation light source that is suitable for exciting the functionalized nanocrystals to emit a fluorescence emission;
wherein detection by detection means of a signal comprising peak fluorescence emission, generated by excited functionalized nanocrystals, and amplified by dendrimer formation, is indicative of the presence of target molecule in the sample; and
absence of the signal is indicative of the absence of target molecule in the sample.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification