Magnetic field enhanced hybridization of target molecules to immobilized probes
AssigneeIris Biotechnologies, Inc.
InventorsJaime E. Ramirez-Vick, Simon Chin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a method for increasing the hybridization rate of nucleic acids in a nucleic acid assay by labeling nucleic acid molecules with paramagnetic labels and activating a magnetic field inducing rapid migration of the labeled molecules to a solid support, where the labeled molecule hybridizes with its complementary pair. The paramagnetic label may be present on the target nucleic acid or the probe nucleic acid, depending upon whether the target or probe are the immobile phase.
Claims16
A method for increasing the hybridization rate of nucleic acids in a nucleic acid assay, said method comprising:
- a) attaching probe nucleic acid molecules of known sequence to a solid support;
- b) labeling nucleic acid target molecules with paramagnetic labels;
- c) contacting the labeled target molecules with the solid support;
- d) activating a magnetic field whereby the labeled molecules are attracted to the solid support;
- e) washing the support and inverting the polarity of the magnetic field to remove any unbound or nonspecifically bound molecules;
- and
- f) detecting the hybridized target nucleic acid molecules.
A method for increasing the hybridization rate of nucleic acids in a nucleic acid assay, said method comprising:
- a) attaching nucleic acid target molecules to a solid support;
- b) labeling nucleic acid molecules of known sequence with paramagnetic labels;
- c) contacting the support with the labeled nucleic acid molecules of known sequence;
- d) activating a magnetic field whereby the labeled molecules are attracted to the solid support;
- e) washing the support and inverting the polarity of the magnetic field to remove any unbound or nonspecifically bound molecules;
- and
- f) detecting the hybridized target nucleic acid molecules.
A method of claim 9 in which the solid support is selected from the group consisting of silicon, glass, and metals.
A method of claim 10 in which the solid support is or is coated with a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, gold, platinum (II), mercury, mercury (II), thallium, cadmium (II), platinum (IV) and palladium (II).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.