# US 2010/0167283 A1 · Analyte Detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0167283 A1 - Document ID: US20100167283A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/438,159 - Filed: 2007-09-06 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-08 - Inventors: Adrian Martin Horgan; Graham John Worsley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167283A1 ## CPC - G01N 33/54373: {involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings} - G01N 33/58: involving labelled substances (G01N33/53 takes precedence) - C12Q 1/6825: Nucleic acid detection involving sensors - 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 ## Abstract A method of detecting an analyte in a sample, comprises the steps of: a) contacting the sample with a first ligand which binds specifically to the analyte and which is immobilised either on, or in the vicinity of, a sensor; b) prior to step (a) contacting the sample, or subsequent to step (a) contacting the immobilised analyte, with a material including a second ligand which binds specifically to the analyte, the material being activatable to form a polymerisation initiator; and c) activating the material; wherein the polymerisation initiator interacts with the sensor to change its physical properties, which causes a change in the optical or acoustic properties of the sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detecting an analyte in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: a) contacting the sample with a first ligand which binds specifically to the analyte and which is immobilised either on, or in the vicinity of, a sensor; b) prior to step (a) contacting the sample, or subsequent to step (a) contacting the immobilised analyte, with a material including a second ligand which binds specifically to the analyte, the material being activatable to form a polymerisation initiator; and c) activating the material; wherein the polymerisation initiator interacts with the sensor to change its physical properties, which causes a change in the optical or acoustic properties of the sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymerisation initiator is a free-radical initiator that interacts directly with the sensor to change its physical properties. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to either claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a polymer precursor and the polymerisation initiator interacts with the polymer precursor to form a polymer in the sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising the step of contacting the sensor with a polymer precursor, so that the polymerisation initiator interacts with the polymer precursor to form a polymer in the sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first ligand is an antibody or nucleic acid, preferably cDNA. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyte is an antigen, spore or nucleic acid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the second ligand is an antibody linked to activatable material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the material can be activated by a chemical reaction, a redox reaction, heat or irradiation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyte is a nucleic acid and the method additionally involves replicating the analyte between steps a) and b). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the replicating comprises a polymerase chain reaction, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, ligase chain reaction, strand displacement amplification, DNA cleavage-based signal amplification or rolling cycle amplification. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein nucleotides labelled with the activatable material are used with modified polymerases. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises means for producing an interference effect when illuminated with laser light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the means comprises a depolarising layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has an optical filter thereon. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the optical filter is a bandpass filter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the change in optical or acoustic characteristics is detected using a device selected from the group consisting of an optical reader, a mobile phone, a computer and a digital camera. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a holographic sensor comprising a matrix having a hologram therein or thereon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a matrix having a crystalline colloidal array therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a matrix having immobilised thereon a viscosity-sensitive fluorescent probe. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a matrix having surface relief. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the matrix is a hydrogel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a quartz crystal resonator having electrodes attached thereto and a polymer precursor immobilised thereon, and the method additionally comprises the step of contacting the sensor with additional polymer precursor, so that the polymerisation initiator interacts with immobilised and additional polymer precursors to form a polymer immobilised on the resonator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the hologram is only visible under magnification. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the holographic image is of an object or gives a 2- or 3-dimensional effect. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the hologram is viewable under white light, UV light or infra-red radiation. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the hologram is viewable under specific temperature, magnetism or pressure conditions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the hologram is generated by the diffraction of light. ### Claim 28 A kit for use in a method of detecting an analyte wherein said kit comprises a first ligand which is capable of binding specifically to the analyte, and a sensor, wherein the first ligand is immobilised either on the sensor or on a substrate which is positioned during use in the vicinity of the sensor; and a material including a second ligand which is capable of binding specifically to the analyte, the material being activatable to form a polymerisation initiator. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The kit according to claim 28, wherein the sensor has a polymer precursor coupled thereto. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The kit according to claim 28, which additionally comprises a polymer precursor. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, used in agricultural studies, environmental studies, human or veterinary prognostics, theranostics, diagnostics or therapy. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The kit according to claim 28, wherein the sensor is located on a test strip, chip, cartridge, swab, tube, pipette or a fluid sampling or analysis device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The kit according to claim 28, wherein the sensor is a holographic sensor comprising a matrix having a hologram therein or thereon.