Submicron particles, preparation and utilization in immunodiagnosis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of binding an immunological material, selected from antigens and antibodies, to submicron latex particles by covalency or adsorption, in which method, which comprises the stabilization of the latex, (A) (1) acrylic latex particles based on polybutyl methacrylate, whose mean diameter is less than or equal to 100 nm, said latex containing a molar quantity of butyl methacrylate units greater than 50%, having a density of 0.9 to 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 and containing from 100 to 450 microequivalents of COOH groups per gram of latex, are brought into contact, in an appropriate liquid medium having an ionic strength in the range from 0.01 to 0.5 at a pH of 4 to 10, at a temperature of 0.degree. to 60.degree. C., with (2) the immunological material to give latex particles sensitized by an immunological material and such that said immunological material is bound to each latex particle, and (B) said immunological reagent obtained in this way is stabilized by means of a stabilizing material selected from the group consisting of hydroxylated substances containing one or, preferably, several OH groups per molecule, protein-type substances, peptide-type substances, amino acids, polyose-type substances containing one or more carboxylic acid and/or carboxylate groups, polyvinylpyrrolidone and mixtures thereof. It further relates to the immunological reagent obtained by this method and to its use in the field of immunoassays.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.