Composition and method for stabilizing fluorescent particles

摘要

Embodiments of a composition for stabilizing fluorescent signal of nanoparticles and methods for its use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the composition has a pH from 7 to 10 and includes borate, protein and/or protein hydrolysate, an amine, a preservative, and a nonionic surfactant. In particular embodiments, the amine is an N-ethanol substituted amine, such as ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, N,N-dimethylethanolamine, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a fluorescent particle solution, such as a quantum dot solution or quantum dot conjugate solution, is diluted in the composition and stored at 4° C. In certain embodiments, the fluorescence intensity of the diluted fluorescent particle remains substantially the same when stored at 4° C. for at least one month or at least three months. In particular embodiments, a diluted quantum dot conjugate is used to detect a hybridized probe or a protein antigen.

主权项

1. A composition for stabilizing a quantum dot fluorescent particle or a quantum dot conjugate fluorescent particle, the composition having a pH greater than or equal to 7, the composition comprising:
(a) (i) a substituted amine, other than an amino acid or an alkyl-substituted alkyl amine, the substituted amine having a formula RnNH(3-n), where n=1, 2, or 3, each R is independently an aliphatic group, a heteroaliphatic group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, an alkyl aryl group, or an aryl alkyl group, and at least one R is substituted with one or more —OH, —OR1, —CO2R1, —CN groups, or combinations thereof, where R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic or aryl group, or (ii) an amine and a protein and/or protein hydrolysate, wherein at least one of the substituted amine, the amine, or the protein and/or protein hydrolysate is present at a concentration effective to stabilize and/or increase fluorescence intensity of a fluorescent particle stored in the composition relative to fluorescence intensity of the fluorescent particle stored in a composition devoid of (i) a substituted amine other than an amino acid or an alkyl-substituted alkyl amine, or (ii) an amine and a protein and/or protein hydrolysate; (b) a borate buffer comprising a salt concentration of from greater than zero to 2 M; (c) a preservative; and (d) a surfactant.