Assay device and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An assay device for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in an aqueous sample, the device comprising:
- a non-porous support; and
at least one flow path along which an aqueous sample can travel, wherein the at least one flow path comprises, on the non-porous support, a non-phase-separated combination of at least one amphipathic polymer and at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent, wherein, in use, the at least one amphipathic polymer dissolves in the aqueous sample and increases mixing and interaction between the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent and the aqueous sample for any degree of water solubility of the at least one probe, reporter or reagent, including water-insolubility, and promotes and/or controls fluid flow along the at least one flow path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to the use of amphipathic polymers to enhance lateral flow and reagent mixing on assay devices. More specifically, the invention relates to use of an amphipathic polymer in assay methods including a device for determining the concentration of lipids in blood serum or plasma.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An assay device for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in an aqueous sample, the device comprising:
-
a non-porous support; and at least one flow path along which an aqueous sample can travel, wherein the at least one flow path comprises, on the non-porous support, a non-phase-separated combination of at least one amphipathic polymer and at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent, wherein, in use, the at least one amphipathic polymer dissolves in the aqueous sample and increases mixing and interaction between the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent and the aqueous sample for any degree of water solubility of the at least one probe, reporter or reagent, including water-insolubility, and promotes and/or controls fluid flow along the at least one flow path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An assay device comprising:
-
(i) at least one application area suitable for application of an aqueous sample to the device; (ii) at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent wherein, in use the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent is able to react with an analyte residing in the aqueous sample; (iii) at least one test area wherein, in use the result and/or progress of a reaction between the analyte and the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent may be determined; and (iv) at least one flow path being in fluid communication with the at least one application area and the at least one test area; wherein the at least one flow path comprises, on a non-porous support, a non-phase-separated combination of at least one amphipathic polymer and the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent, wherein, in use, the at least one amphipathic polymer dissolves in the aqueous sample and increases mixing and interaction between the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent and the aqueous sample for any degree of water solubility of the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent, including water-insolubility, and promotes and/or controls fluid flow along the at least one flow path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of producing an assay device for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in an aqueous sample, the method comprising:
-
dissolving an amphipathic polymer in a solvent; dissolving at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent in a solvent that is miscible with the amphipathic polymer; drying the dissolved amphipathic polymer and the dissolved at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent in at least one flow path on a non-porous support, thereby forming a non-phase-separated combination; wherein, when an aqueous sample travels along the at least one flow path, the at least one amphipathic polymer dissolves in the aqueous sample and increases mixing and interaction between the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent and the aqueous sample for any degree of water solubility of the at least one hydrophobic probe, reporter or reagent, including water-insolubility, and promotes and/or controls fluid flow along the at least one flow path. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
Specification