BIOMARKER ASSAY USING MICROPARTICLE AGGREGATION

摘要

In various aspects and embodiments, the present invention is directed to versatile, label-free method for the quantitative and qualitative detection of biomarkers and/or other compounds in a fluid sample using functionalized microparticle aggregates. In these methods, micron-scale particles are functionalized to specifically interact with the biomarker being measured and added to the sample to form aggregates, the size and number of which are counted to find a volume fraction and/or number fraction of aggregates in the sample. There is a direct correlation between the volume fraction and number fraction of these aggregates and the concentration of the corresponding biomarker. By comparing the measured volume fraction and/or number fraction of aggregates in the sample to a calibration curve, the concentration of that biomarker may be determined even for biomarkers or other target compounds in samples at very low concentrations, without the need for fluorescence and enzyme labelling of antibodies.

主权项

1. A method for measuring the concentration of a compound in a fluid comprising:
A. preparing a fluid sample containing an unknown concentration of a compound to be measured; B. preparing a plurality of functionalized microparticles, said plurality of functionalized microparticles being functionalized to specifically interact with said compound; C. combing said plurality of functionalized microparticles with said fluid sample containing an unknown concentration of said compound, wherein the interaction between said functionalized microparticles and said compound is sufficient to cause said functionalized microparticles to aggregate around the compounds in said sample, thereby forming compound-microparticle aggregates; D. counting the number and size of said compound-microparticle aggregates; E. calculating a volume fraction or number fraction of said compound-microparticle aggregates in said sample, based upon the number and size of said compound-microparticle aggregates in said sample; F. preparing a calibration curve comprising the volume fraction or number fraction of compound-microparticle aggregates formed at known concentrations of said compound and said functionalized microparticles; and G. comparing the volume fraction of the compound-microparticle aggregates found in said counting and calculating step to said calibration curve to find the concentration of said compound in said fluid sample.