Use of focused light scattering techniques in biological applications

摘要

Methods for using focused light scattering techniques for the optical sensing of biological particles suspended in a liquid medium are disclosed. The optical sensing enables one to characterize particles size and/or distribution in a given sample. This, in turn, allows one to identify the biological particles, determine their relative particle density, detect particle shedding, and identify particle aggregation. The methods are also useful in screening and optimizing drug candidates, evaluating the efficacy and dosage levels of such drugs, and in personalized medicine applications.

主权项

1. A method of identifying particle aggregation in a sample medium comprising: a) generating a first spectrum showing particle size and distribution for a sample medium which may or may not include a biological particle of interest, by passing the sample medium past a focused light beam formed by passing a collimated light beam through an acceptance aperture to narrow the width of the beam, using focused light scattering techniques to prepare a spectrum showing particle size distribution from within the sample medium, where particle size is reflected by the location of one or more peaks on the spectrum, and the number of particles is reflected by the area under the curve of the peak, wherein the presence of a peak corresponding to the particle size of aggregated particles is indicative of the presence of an aggregate,
wherein said focused light scattering techniques involve sensing single particles suspended in a sample medium when the sample medium is passed through a focused beam of light, such that, when the focused beam of light passes through the sample medium without being scattered by a particle, the beam passes on to a photodetector and the intensity is measured, wherein the focused beam is of a size such that a particle in the size range of 0.1 to 10 μm is sufficient to block all of the beam, or a significant enough part of the beam, so that the particle size can be measured, and when the beam is scattered, in whole or in part, by a particle, the intensity of the beam hitting the photodetector is altered, and the particle size and/or concentration are calculated using light-extinction, light-scattering detection, or both.