Diagnostic methods for the detection and quantification of blood-related diseases
AssigneeAdolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg
InventorsNico BRUNS, Omar RIFAIE GRAHAM, Jonas POLLARD
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Abstract
A diagnostic method suitable for detection and quantification of blood-related diseases or conditions. The methods utilize biomarkers, such as hemoglobin and hemozoin as catalysts in an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reaction performed above a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of a polymer which allows the polymerization to be tracked by rate of turbidity formation. The rate of turbidity formation is correlated to the concentration of the biomarker, making the tests useful quantitative techniques which can be utilized as point-of-care tests in the field.
Claims20
A diagnostic method for the detection of a biomarker in a biological sample comprising the steps of:
- combining a plurality of radically polymerizable initiators, a plurality of radically polymerizable monomers, and a biological sample containing a biomarker that serves as a catalyst for polymerization reaction, at or above a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) whereby a polymer formed by the monomers is precipitable;
- determining turbidity formation;
- and
- determining a concentration of the biomarker in the biological sample based on the turbidity formation.
A diagnostic method for the detection of a biomarker in a biological sample comprising the steps of:
- A) combining a plurality of radically polymerizable initiators, a plurality of radically polymerizable monomers, and a biological sample containing a biomarker that serves as a catalyst for polymerization reaction, at or above a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) whereby a polymer formed by the monomers is precipitable;
- B) determining turbidity at i) a point in time after initiation of polymerization or ii) a time to reach a certain turbidity after the initiation, or both i) and ii), and
- C) determining a concentration of the biomarker in the biological sample based on the determination made in step B.
A diagnostic test kit, comprising:
- a first container comprising a plurality of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators;
- a second container comprising a plurality of ATRP polymerizable monomers that are able to form a polymer exhibiting a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at or above which the polymer precipitates, and a reducing agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.