# US 12,181,478 B2 · Light-emitting marker particles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,478 B2 - Document ID: US12181478B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/278,245 - Filed: 2019-09-09 - Published: 2021-11-18 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-20 - Assignees: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited - Applicants: Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited - Inventors: Jonathan Behrendt; Melanie O'Sullivan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181478B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/582: {with fluorescent label} - C09K 11/02: Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor - C09K 11/025: {non-luminescent particle coatings or suspension media} - C09K 11/06: containing organic luminescent materials - G01N 33/533: with fluorescent label - G01N 33/54346: {Nanoparticles} - G01N 33/587: {Nanoparticles} - C09K 2211/14: Macromolecular compounds - 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) - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A light-emitting marker particle having a light-emitting particle core containing a light-emitting material and first and second surface groups bound to the light-emitting particle core. The first surface group contains a polar group and is an inert group which does not bind to a biomolecule. The second surface group contains a biomolecule binding group. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light-emitting marker particle comprising a light-emitting particle core, first surface groups bound to the light-emitting particle core and second surface groups bound to the light-emitting particle core, wherein: the light-emitting particle core comprises a light-emitting polymer; the first surface group comprises a polar group; the first surface group is inert; the second surface group comprises a biomolecule binding group; and a number of moles of the second surface group is less than 10% of a total number of moles of the first and second surface groups. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 1 wherein the polar group comprises a polyether chain. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 2 wherein the polar group is a group of formula (I): —((CR14R15)bO)c— (I) wherein R14 and R15 are each independently H or C1-6 alkyl; b is at least 1; and c is at least 2. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 1 wherein the biomolecule binding group is selected from the group consisting of: DNA, RNA, peptides, carbohydrates, antibodies, antigens, enzymes, proteins and hormones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 1 wherein the second surface group comprises a polar group between the light-emitting particle core and the biomolecule binding group. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 1 wherein the light-emitting particle core comprises an inorganic matrix. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 6 wherein the inorganic matrix is an inorganic oxide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 7 wherein the inorganic oxide is silica. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method of forming a light-emitting marker particle according to claim 1 comprising: providing a light-emitting particle core having a plurality of a first reactive group bound to a surface thereof; forming the first surface group, wherein formation of the first surface group comprises reacting a portion of the first reactive groups with a first compound; and forming the second surface group, wherein formation of the second surface group comprises reacting a portion of the first reactive groups with a second compound. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9 wherein the first reactive groups react with at least one of the first and second compounds to form amide binding groups binding the first or second surface groups to the light-emitting particle core. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9 wherein the first reactive group is formed on the surface thereof by reacting a compound of formula (I) with silica at the surface of the light-emitting particle core: (R7O)3Si—(Sp1)x—RG1 (I) wherein R7 is H or a substituent; Sp1 is a spacer group; x is 0 or 1; and RG1 is the first reactive group. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A colloid comprising light-emitting marker particles according to claim 1 suspended in a liquid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A colloid according to claim 12 wherein the liquid comprises water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A colloid according to claim 12 wherein the liquid is a buffer solution. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A colloid according to claim 12 wherein a concentration of the light-emitting marker particles is more than 0.1 mg/mL. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method of marking a biomolecule, the method comprising the step of binding the biomolecule to a light-emitting marker particle according to claim 1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An assay method for a target analyte comprising contacting a sample with light-emitting marker particles according to claim 1 and determining any binding of the target analyte to the light-emitting marker. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An assay method according to claim 17 wherein the sample contacted with the light-emitting marker particles is analysed by flow cytometry. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 2, wherein b is 1-5; and c is 2-1,000. ### Claim 20 (depends on 2) The light-emitting marker particle according to claim 2, wherein b is 2; and c is 10-500, 10-200, 10-100, or 20-50.