Methods and reagents for the detection of biomolecules using luminescence
OwnerManuel Arturo Lopez Quintela, Fernando Dominguez Puente +1inventors
InventorsManuel Arturo Lopez Quintela, Fernando Dominguez Puente, Jose Ma Jimeno Donaque
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Abstract
The present invention relates to luminescent complexes comprising a charged transfer complex of metal atomic quantum clusters (AQCs) of at least two different sizes and a biotin-binding molecule, preferably streptavidin, and the use thereof for the detection of biotinylated compounds. The invention also relates to the use of conjugates comprising a charged transfer complex of AQCs and a biomolecule and the use thereof for the detection of binding partners of the biomolecule in a sample based on the luminescent properties of the AQCs nanosystems.
Claims34
A complex containing a biotin-binding molecule and a charge-transfer complex (CTC) of at least two different size metal atomic quantum clusters (AQCs), Mn and M′n′, of general formula (I):
- Mn+M′n′− (I),
- wherein
- the metals, M and M′, of the metal AQCs are the same or different metals,
- Mn, is the smaller AQC which is present in its oxidized form, Mn+,
- M′n′, is the larger AQC which is present in its reduced form, M′n′−,
- Mn+ and M′n′− are bound by electrostatic interactions,
- n and n′ are respectively the number of metal atoms of M and M′, and
- n is smaller than n′
- wherein the biotin-binding molecule and the charge-transfer complex are not covalently bound.
A conjugate comprising a biomolecule and a charge-transfer complex of at least two different size metal AQC, Mn and M′n′, of general formula (I):
- Mn+M′n′− (I),
- wherein
- the metals, M and M′, of the metal AQCs are the same or different metals,
- Mn, is the smaller AQC which is present in its oxidized form, Mn+,
- M′n′, is the larger AQC which is present in its reduced form, M′n′−,
- Mn+ and M′n′− are bound by electrostatic interactions,
- n and n′ are respectively the number of metal atoms of M and M′, and
- n is smaller than n′,
- wherein the conjugate further comprises ω-hydroxyacids and ω-mercaptoacids ligands attached to the atomic quantum clusters, Mn and M′n′ and wherein the biomolecule is covalently attached to the ω-hydroxyacids and/or to the ω-mercaptoacids ligands.
The method according to claim 27 wherein if the target molecule is a first polypeptide, then the biomolecule forming part of the conjugate is selected from the group consisting of a second polypeptide and an aptamer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.