Polymers for analyte detection
First Claim
1. A method of determining a biological entity, comprising:
- exposing a sample suspected of containing a biological entity to at least two fluorescent pi-conjugated polymers, each polymer comprising a phenylene ethynylene backbone having at least two phenylene ethynylene groups and a plurality of biological recognition elements covalently attached to the pi-conjugated polymer via the phenyl groups of the phenylene ethynylene backbone, wherein the biological recognition elements are able to specifically interact with the biological entity;
allowing the biological entity, if present, to interact with the biological recognition elements of the at least two fluorescent pi-conjugated polymers in a manner bringing said at least two fluorescent pi-conjugated polymer into proximity with each other such that an emissive signal is produced at a threshold level;
and determining fluorescence of the sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to organic polymers able to participate in an analyte-recognition process, where an analyte facilitates an energy transfer between an energy donor and an energy acceptor. Certain embodiments of the invention make use of fluorescent conjugated polymers, such as poly(phenylene ethynylene)s and other polymers comprising pi-conjugated backbones. For example, one aspect of the invention provides a fluorescent conjugated polymer and an indicator that can interact with each other in the presence of an analyte to produce an emissive signal. In some cases, the interaction may include energy exchange mechanisms, such as Dexter energy transfer or the strong coupling effect. The interaction of the conjugated polymer and the indicator, in some instances, may be facilitated through specific interactions, such as a protein/carbohydrate interaction, a ligand/receptor interaction, etc. Another aspect of the invention provides for the detection of biological entities, for example, pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, or viruses such as influenza virus. In some cases, biological recognition elements may be used to determine the biological entity, for instance, carbohydrates that can be used to specifically interact with at least part of the biological entity, such as a protein in the cell membrane of a bacterium. Still other aspects of the invention involve articles, devices, and kits using any of the above-described systems.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of determining a biological entity, comprising:
- exposing a sample suspected of containing a biological entity to at least two fluorescent pi-conjugated polymers, each polymer comprising a phenylene ethynylene backbone having at least two phenylene ethynylene groups and a plurality of biological recognition elements covalently attached to the pi-conjugated polymer via the phenyl groups of the phenylene ethynylene backbone, wherein the biological recognition elements are able to specifically interact with the biological entity;
allowing the biological entity, if present, to interact with the biological recognition elements of the at least two fluorescent pi-conjugated polymers in a manner bringing said at least two fluorescent pi-conjugated polymer into proximity with each other such that an emissive signal is produced at a threshold level; and determining fluorescence of the sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- exposing a sample suspected of containing a biological entity to at least two fluorescent pi-conjugated polymers, each polymer comprising a phenylene ethynylene backbone having at least two phenylene ethynylene groups and a plurality of biological recognition elements covalently attached to the pi-conjugated polymer via the phenyl groups of the phenylene ethynylene backbone, wherein the biological recognition elements are able to specifically interact with the biological entity;
Specification