Methods and compositions for a microemulsion-based tissue treatment
OwnerBrian Kram, Christopher Bieniarz +1inventors
InventorsBrian Kram, Christopher Bieniarz, Paul Drumheller
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Abstract
The invention is directed to methods and compositions for deparaffinizing paraffin-embedded biological samples for subsequent tissue staining. The compositions are microemulsions that may include water/oil/surfactant microemulsions, and optionally a cosurfactant. The microemulsions enable deparaffinization without the use of xylene or toluene, and also enable solvent exchange without the use of intermediary alcohol dehydration or alcohol rehydration compositions.
Claims24
A method of removing paraffin-based embedding medium from a paraffin-embedded biological sample comprising:
- contacting the paraffin-embedded biological sample with a deparaffinizing microemulsion comprising surfactant, nonpolar organic solvent and water, wherein the surfactant is soluble in both the water and the nonpolar organic solvent, thereby transferring the paraffin to the microemulsion;
- and
- removing the microemulsion.
A method of preparing a paraffin-embedded biological sample for staining comprising:
- deparaffinizing the paraffin-embedded biological sample by dissolving the paraffin with a nonpolar organic solvent;
- and
- exchanging the nonpolar organic solvent in the deparaffinized tissue with an exchanging composition comprising surfactant and water, wherein the surfactant is soluble in both the water and the nonpolar organic solvent.
A method of preparing a paraffin-embedded biological sample for staining comprising:
- deparaffinizing the paraffin-embedded biological sample by dissolving the paraffin with a nonpolar organic solvent;
- and
- exchanging the nonpolar organic solvent in the deparaffinized tissue with a microemulsion comprising surfactant, nonpolar organic solvent and water wherein the surfactant is soluble in both the water and the nonpolar organic solvent.
A method of preparing a paraffin-embedded biological sample for staining comprising:
- deparaffinizing the paraffin-embedded biological sample by dissolving the paraffin with a nonpolar organic solvent;
- and
- exchanging the nonpolar organic solvent in the deparaffinized tissue with a microemulsion comprising surfactant, nonpolar organic solvent, water, and polar organic cosurfactant wherein the surfactant is soluble in both the water and the nonpolar organic solvent.
A method of preparing a deparaffinized tissue sample containing a nonpolar organic solvent for subsequent staining, comprising contacting said tissue with a microemulsion comprising a surfactant, a nonpolar organic solvent and water for enough time to replace the nonpolar organic solvent with the microemulsion wherein the surfactant is soluble in both the water and the nonpolar organic solvent.
A method of exchanging water-for-oil in a tissue sample predominantly containing water comprising contacting the tissue sample with an exchanging composition comprising a surfactant in oil wherein the surfactant is also soluble in water.
A method of exchanging oil-for-water in a tissue sample predominantly containing oil comprising contacting the tissue sample with an exchanging composition comprising a surfactant in oil wherein the surfactant is also soluble in water.
A method of exchanging oil-for-water in a tissue sample predominantly containing oil comprising contacting the tissue sample with an exchanging composition comprising a surfactant in water wherein the surfactant is also soluble in oil.
A method of exchanging water-for-oil in a tissue sample predominantly containing water comprising contacting the tissue sample with an exchanging composition comprising a surfactant in water wherein the surfactant is also soluble in oil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.