LIQUID DIAGNOSTIC ASSAYS UTILIZING MARANGONI FLOW

摘要

The present invention provides simple and inexpensive assays for the detection of virtually any analyte in any sample that is in liquid form or that can be solubilized. The assays utilize the fluid dynamics of drop evaporation whereby soluble materials, including analytes and particles binding thereto, are drawn to the center of the drop by Marangoni flow and ultimately form a concentrated residual spot. The presence or absence of certain reagents can then be detected through a number of different approaches.

主权项

1. A method for detecting an analyte in a sample comprising:
(a) providing a sample in an aqueous liquid carrier, said liquid carrier also comprising (i) a salt or a sugar (ii) and a hygroscopic material/surfactant; (b) contacting said liquid sample with a capture particle that binds an analyte in said sample, wherein the presence of analyte results in the aggregation of said capture particles; (c) placing a droplet of said liquid sample in step (b) on a non-permeable substrate, wherein the thermal conductivity of the substrate is less than 1.6 times that of the liquid sample; and (d) incubating said substrate under conditions promoting inward Marangoni flow in said drop,wherein the presence of aggregated capture particles at said droplet center, as compared to a control assay lacking said analyte, reflects the presence of analyte in said sample.