Materials and methods for measuring nitric oxide levels in biological fluids

摘要

The subject invention presides novel devices and methods for the measurement of nitric oxide in biological samples, including wound fluid samples. These advantageous devices and methods can be used for clinicians to monitor the wound's nitric oxide metabolism and/or response to treatment.

主权项

1. A device for determining a presence of and/or a concentration of nitric oxide in a biological sample, comprising:
an enclosed buffer storage chamber containing an elution buffer with an indicator molecule; an elution and reaction chamber operably connected to the enclosed buffer storage chamber; a hollow swab-suspension shaft attached to a sample collection swab for collecting a sample; a valve disposed within the buffer storage chamber and operably connected to the hollow swab-suspension shaft, whereby activation of the valve causes the elution buffer in the buffer storage chamber to flow through the hollow swab-suspension shaft to elute the sample from the collection swab and contact the sample with the indicator molecule; a stop and read chamber containing at least one agent that stops the reaction initiated by the indicator molecule and/or adjusts pH; and a penetrable divider separating the elution and reaction chamber from the stop and read chamber, wherein the swab-suspension shaft can penetrate the divider when the buffer storage chamber is advanced towards the penetrable divider,such that, after the divider is penetrated, the eluted sample in the elution buffer advances to the stop and read chamber where it remains for determining the presence and/or concentration of nitric oxide.