US 2026/0298917 A1 · NANOPARTICLE ENHANCED METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR DETECTING MISFOLDED POLYPEPTIDES

Abstract

This document relates to methods and materials for detecting the presence or absence of misfolded polypeptides in a sample. For example, a sample (e.g., a biological sample or an environmental sample) can be exposed to nanoparticles (e.g., nanoparticles having a size of no more than 2 μm (e.g., no more than 1 μm) such as silica nanoparticles (siNPs) having a size of no more than 2 μm (e.g., siNPs having a size of no more than 1 μm)) during a seeded amplification assay to accelerate the aggregation of misfolded polypeptides present in the sample into fibrils and/or polypeptide aggregates (e.g., globular polypeptide aggregates). In some cases, methods and materials provided herein can be used to determine if a mammal (e.g., a human) has a proteinopathy based, at least in part, in the presence or absence of misfolded polypeptides in a sample obtained from the mammal.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method for detecting the presence or absence of misfolded polypeptides in a sample, wherein said method comprises:

(a) exposing said sample to (i) nanoparticles having a size of no more than 1 μm or (ii) a nanoporous material having a pore size of from 2 nm to about 200 nm, during a seeded amplification assay, wherein misfolded polypeptides, when present within said sample, form fibrils;
(b) detecting said fibrils if formed in step (a);
(c) identifying said sample as having said presence of said misfolded polypeptides if said fibrils are detected;
and
(d) identifying said sample as lacking said misfolded polypeptides if said fibrils are not detected.

2 more elements

A method for detecting the presence or absence of misfolded polypeptides in a sample, wherein said method comprises:

(a1) exposing said sample to nanoparticles having a size of no more than 1 μm during a seeded amplification assay, wherein said seeded amplification assay comprises exposing said sample to acoustic waves, wherein misfolded polypeptides, when present within said sample, form fibrils;
(b1) detecting said fibrils if formed in step (a);
(c1) identifying said sample as having said presence of said misfolded polypeptides if said fibrils are detected;
and
(d1) identifying said sample as lacking said misfolded polypeptides if said fibrils are not detected;
or
wherein said method comprises:
(a2) exposing said sample to nanoparticles having a size of no more than 1 μm during a seeded amplification assay, wherein said seeded amplification assay comprises exposing said sample to acoustic waves, wherein misfolded polypeptides, when present within said sample, form globular polypeptide aggregates;
(b2) detecting said globular polypeptide aggregates if formed in step (a);
(c2) identifying said sample as having said presence of said misfolded polypeptides if said globular polypeptide aggregates are detected;
and
(d2) identifying said sample as lacking said misfolded polypeptides if said globular polypeptide aggregates are not detected;
or
wherein said method comprises:
(a3) exposing said sample to metallic nanoparticles having a size of no more than 1 μm during a seeded amplification assay, wherein said seeded amplification assay comprises exposing said sample light illumination of said sample, wherein misfolded polypeptides, when present within said sample, form fibrils;
(b3) detecting said fibrils if formed in step (a);
(c3) identifying said sample as having said presence of said misfolded polypeptides if said fibrils are detected;
and
(d3) identifying said sample as lacking said misfolded polypeptides if said fibrils are not detected;
or
wherein said method comprises:
(a4) exposing said sample to metallic nanoparticles having a size of no more than 1 μm during a seeded amplification assay, wherein said seeded amplification assay comprises exposing said sample light illumination of said sample, wherein misfolded polypeptides, when present within said sample, form globular polypeptide aggregates;
(b4) detecting said globular polypeptide aggregates if formed in step (a);
(c4) identifying said sample as having said presence of said misfolded polypeptides if said globular polypeptide aggregates are detected;
and
(d4) identifying said sample as lacking said misfolded polypeptides if said globular polypeptide aggregates are not detected.

23 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Nanoparticle enhanced methods and materials for detecting misfolded polypeptides

Life of this patent

Nanoparticle enhanced methods and materials for detecting misfolded polypeptides

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32