Electronically-indexed solid-phase assay for biomolecules

• US 6,686,158 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pharma SEG Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pharma SEG Incorporated
• Inventors: Mandecki, Wlodek
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Christopher L.
• Application Number:
  US09/908,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 435/7.1, 435/7.92, 435/7.93, 435/7.94, 435/810, 435/973, 435/975, 435/6, 436/519, 436/520, 436/522, 436/518, 436/523, 436/527, 436/533, 436/535, 436/172, 340/825.54, 340/825.06, 340/870.11, 422/55, 422/57, 422/82.05
• US Class Current: 435/6.19
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00567 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6834 Enzymatic or biochemical coupling of nucleic acids to a solid phase
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 70/00 Tags or labels specially adapted for combinatorial chemistry or libraries, e.g. fluorescent tags or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/14 Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 Packaged device or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/973 Simultaneous determination of more than one analyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/975 Kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 Optical property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/806 Electrical property or magnetic property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/808 Automated or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/824 Immunological separation techniques

Abstract

Disclosed are materials and methods for detecting biomolecules in samples employing transponders associated with the bead(s) used as the solid phase in the assay, and information pertinent to the assay is encoded on the transponders memory elements. A dedicated read/write device is used remotely to encode or remotely to read the information. The invention can be used in direct or competitive ELISA-type assays, or in multiplex assays for the simultaneous assay of several analytes.

Claims

1. A solid phase for use in fluorescence assays for biomolecules comprising:

a. a transponder manufactured on a single silicon wafer and comprising of memory elements, a radio-frequency transmitter and one or more photovoltaic cells, and

b. a first member of a biomolecular binding pair attached directly or indirectly to an outer surface of the transponder,

wherein,

i. the memory elements contain an index number identifying the solid phase,

ii. the photovoltaic cell(s) provide a source of electrical power for the memory elements and transmitter when illuminated by laser light,

iii. the biomolecular binding pair member specifically binds to the biomolecule,

iv. the biomolecular binding pair member directly or indirectly binds fluorescently labeled molecules which are detected by measuring fluorescence induced by the laser light, and

v. the memory elements are decoded by means of illumination with light.

2. The solid phase of claim 1, wherein one or more layers of coating are deposited on the outer surface of the transponder and the first member of a biomolecular binding pair is attached to a coating layer.

3. The solid phase of claim 2, wherein the layers of coating comprise of glass, latex or plastic.

4. The solid phase of claim 1, wherein the first member of a biomolecular binding pair is a member of an antigen-antibody binding pair.

5. The solid phase of claim 1, wherein the first member of a biomolecular binding pair is a nucleic acid.

6. The solid phase of claim 1, wherein the transponder has a volume of less than 10 mm³.

7. The solid phase of claim 1, wherein the transponder has a volume of less than 1 mm³.

8. The solid phase of claim 1, wherein the memory elements are encoded with the index number during manufacture of the transponder.

9. The solid phase of claim 1, wherein the memory elements are encoded with the index number during manufacture of the solid phase.

10. The solid phase of claim 1, wherein the memory elements are encoded with the index number by a user.