Methods for cancer detection with quantum dots
AssigneeDrexel University
InventorsWei-Heng Shih, Wan Y. Shih, Giang Au, Ari D. Brooks, Vanlila K. Swami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more aqueous, near infrared emitting, high yield, highly photoluminescent, stable quantum dots conjugated to one or more biomarkers specific moieties. The conjugated quantum dots have an enhanced detection sensitivity and selectivity and may be formed using a novel and efficient method for conjugating one or more biomarker specific moieties to the quantum dots. The invention is further directed to a method for using the conjugated quantum dots for cancer detection in the margin of excised tissue.
Claims18
A method for cancer detection, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- a) contacting conjugated quantum dots to tissue, wherein each of said conjugated quantum dots comprises a quantum dot conjugated to a biomarker specific moiety selected from the group consisting of anti-VEGF antibodies, anti-Tn antigen antibodies, anti-T antigen antibodies, anti-sial-T antigen antibodies, anti-sial-Tn antigen antibodies, anti-HER2 antibodies and anti-IGFR antibodies, for a time sufficient to bind at least some of said conjugated quantum dots to a biomarker on the tissue;
- b) removing unbound conjugated quantum dots from the tissue,
- c) exciting said bound conjugated quantum dots with excitation energy, and
- d) analyzing an emission from the bound conjugated quantum dots to detect a presence of cancer,
- wherein the quantum dots have a core selected from the group consisting of CdSe, CdTe, CdPbS, and ZnSnS and said quantum dots are capped with a mercaptocarboxylic acid capping agent and at least part of said mercaptocarboxylic acid capping agent is replaced with mercaptosilane capping agent and the molar ratio the capping agents:metal:Se, Te or S is from about 2:1:1 to about 16:8:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.