Small organometallic probes
AssigneeNanoprobes, Inc.
InventorsJames F. Hainfeld, Robert D. Leone, Frederic R. Furuya, Richard D. Powell
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Abstract
Small organometallic probes comprise a core of metal atoms bonded to organic moieties. The metal atoms are gold, silver, platinum, palladium, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, a multifunctional organometallic probe comprises a core of metal atoms surrounded by a shell of organic moieties covalently attached to the metal atoms, a fluorescent molecule, e.g., fluorescein, covalently attached to one of the organic moieties, and a targeting molecule, e.g., an antibody, covalently attached to another of the organic moieties.
Claims17
A compound having the formula M.sub.n (OrF).sub.m (Or'T).sub.l (Or").sub.p
- wherein M.sub.n represents a cluster of metal atoms selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, and combinations thereof,
- wherein n=about 50 to 70,
- wherein Or, Or' and Or" may be the same or different and represent organic moieties covalently attached to said metal atoms, with Or, Or', and Or" being a triphenyl phosphine or a derivative thereof,
- wherein F represents a fluorescent moiety attached to the Or organic moiety, and m=1 to 10,
- wherein T represents a moiety which is attached to the Or' organic moiety and is capable of attaching to a targeted molecule, and l=0 or 1, and
- wherein p=4 to 16.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.