Methods for verifying fluid movement

• US 7,384,795 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novartis Vaccines And Diagnostics Incorporated (Novartis Ag)
• Original Assignee: Novartis Vaccines And Diagnostics Incorporated (Novartis Ag)
• Inventors: Lagwinski, Willy, Harrington, Charles A., Phelps, Bruce H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SINES, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US10/655,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20040197929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/68.1, 422/81, 422/82, 422/82.05, 422/82.07, 422/82.08, 436/43, 436/53, 436/174, 436/179, 436/180, 977/700, 977/852, 977/962, 977/901, 977/841
• US Class Current: 436/180
• 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: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6489 Photoluminescence of semiconductors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/70 Nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/841 Environmental containment or disposal of nanostructure material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/852 for detection of specific nanostructure sample or nanostructure-related property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/901 having step or means utilizing electromagnetic property, e.g. optical, x-ray, electron beamm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/962 for carrying or transporting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/118339 with formation of a segmented stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Methods for using semiconductor nanocrystals for determining fluid movement, fluid dilution and fluid removal are described. Methods for using semiconductor nanocrystals for monitoring and quantifying the amounts of solid materials dissolved in a liquid are also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a first composition having a first fluid therein;

providing a second composition having a second fluid therein, wherein said second composition includes a predetermined amount of luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation in a narrow wavelength band when excited;

transferring all or a portion of said second composition into said first composition to form a third composition;

exposing said third composition to energy capable of exciting said luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals;

detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted from said luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals in said third composition; and

quantifying the luminescent semiconductor nanocrvstals in said third composition to verify the volume of said second composition into said first composition to form said third composition.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal is a core/shell nanocrystal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal has a diameter between about 2 nm and about 50 nm.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal has a diameter between about 2 nm and about 20 nm.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal is selected from the group consisting of ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS, CaSe, GaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, and mixtures thereof.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal has a core which comprises CdS.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal has a shell which comprises CdS.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal has a shell which comprises ZnS.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystals are monodisperse.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal has a core diameter between about 2 nm and about 50 nm.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal has a core diameter between about 2 mn and about 6 mm.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal includes a shell having a thickness of about 2 nm.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said semiconductor nanocrystal includes a shell having a thickness of about 2 nm.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second fluid comprises a target and said semiconductor nanocrystal is linked to the target.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is used in nucleic acid testing.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals are present in the second composition in an amount from about 0.0002 nanomolar to about 20 nanomolar.