# US 10,502,732 B2 · Detection of pathogens using unmodified metal nanoparticles

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,502,732 B2
- Document ID: US10502732B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/893,297
- Filed: 2014-05-23
- Published: 2016-05-05
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-24
- Applicants: Frank X. Gu; Lyndon W. Jones; Mohit S. Verma; Paul Chen
- Inventors: Frank X. Gu; Lyndon W. Jones; Mohit S. Verma; Paul Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502732B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/54346: {Nanoparticles}
- C12Q 1/04: Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)}
- G01N 33/56911: {Bacteria}
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- G01N 21/658: {enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons}
- G01N 31/22: using chemical indicators (G01N31/02 takes precedence)
- Y02A 50/30: Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for the direct detection of pathogen in a sample using unmodified metallic nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles. The method may employ colorimetric detection. The combination of unmodified metallic nanoparticles and colorimetric detection provides a method that is simple, rapid, and economical compared to prior art methods that require modified nanoparticles or expensive detection equipment. The method does not require labeling of the target pathogen and is capable of detecting a broad spectrum of pathogens.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of directly detecting a pathogen in a sample comprising:
a) obtaining a sample suspected of containing a pathogen;
b) contacting the sample with a plurality of unmodified metallic nanoparticles under conditions suitable to permit direct association of the nanoparticles with a surface of the pathogen, if present,
wherein the surface comprises teichoic acids, lipids, polysaccharides and/or proteins, and wherein the pathogen is not modified prior to the contacting; and
c) assessing the direct association of the nanoparticles with the surface of the pathogen to determine whether the pathogen is present or absent,
wherein assessing the association of the nanoparticles with the pathogen comprises assessing a colorimetric property of the sample.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the colorimetric property is assessed visually or spectrophotometrically.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of pathogen is determined by comparing the colorimetric property of the sample to a control.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the metallic nanoparticles are gold nanoparticles.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the nanoparticles are less than about 1000 nm, less than about 500 nm, less than about 400 nm, less than about 300 nm, less than about 200 nm, less than about 150 nm, less than 100 nm, less than 90 nm, less than about 80 nm, less than about 70 nm, less than about 60 nm, less than about 50 nm, less than about 40 nm, less than about 35 nm, less than about 30 nm, less than about 25 nm, less than about 20 nm, less than about 15 nm, less than about 10 nm, less than about 9 nm, less than about 8 nm, less than about 7 nm, less than about 6 nm, less than about 5 nm, less than about 4 nm, less than about 3 nm, less than about 2 nm, less than about 1 nm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the nanoparticles have branches.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles comprise a mixture of two or more distinct populations of nanoparticles.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the pathogen is bacteria.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is a non-biological sample.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the pathogen.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein identifying comprises comparing the colorimetric property of the sample to one or more positive controls containing known pathogen.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein identifying comprises comparing the colorimetric property of the sample, or the pattern of nanoparticle association on the surface of the pathogen, to unique fingerprints for known pathogens.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, for distinguishing between two or more different bacteria.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising quantifying the pathogen.

### Claim 15

A method of identifying a pathogen in a sample, comprising:
a) contacting a sample suspected of containing a pathogen with a plurality of unmodified metallic nanoparticles under conditions suitable to permit direct association of the nanoparticles with a surface of the pathogen,
wherein the surface comprises teichoic acids, lipids, polysaccharides and/or proteins, and wherein the pathogen is not modified prior to the contacting; and
b) comparing a colorimetric property of the sample and/or the pattern of nanoparticle association on the surface of the pathogen to unique fingerprints for known pathogens.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the nanoparticles comprise a mixture of two or more distinct populations of nanoparticles.