Polymer backbone element tags

摘要

Element tags based on novel metal-polymer conjugates are provided for elemental analysis of analytes, including ICP-MS. A polymer backbone is functionalized to irreversibly bind metals that are selected prior to use by the user. The polymer is further functionalized to attach a linker which allows for attachment to antibodies or other affinity reagents. The polymer format allows attachment of many copies of a given isotope, which linearly improves sensitivity. The metal-polymer conjugate tags enable multiplexed assay in two formats: bulk assay, where the average biomarker distribution in the sample is diagnostic, and single cell format to distinguish a rare (for example a diseased) cell in a complex sample (for example, blood).

主权项

1. A method of preparing an element tag, comprising:
(i) providing a copolymer comprising N,N-dimethyl acrylamide and N-acryloxysuccinimide, the copolymer having a polydispersity index from 1.02 to 1.2; and (ii) covalently attaching at least one metal-binding pendant group to the copolymer, wherein the metal-binding pendant group selected from the group consisting of diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) ligand, a 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) ligand, and an amide or an ester of any of the foregoing.