Organo Luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probes for biological applications and process for making and using such probes

An organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe capable of bonding with a detectable substance and capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation in a narrow wavelength band when excited comprising:

• a) a semiconductor nanocrystal capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation in a narrow wavelength band when excited;
• b) at least one linking agent linked to said semiconductor nanocrystal and having a second portion capable of linking to an affinity molecule;
• and
• c) an affinity molecule linked to said second portion of said linking agent, and capable of selectively bonding to said detectable substance;
• whereby treatment of a material with said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe, and subsequent exposure of said treated material to excitation energy to determine the presence of said detectable substance within said material will excite said semiconductor nanocrystal in said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe bonded to said detectable substance causing the emission of electromagnetic radiation of a narrow wavelength band signifying the presence, in said material, of said detectable substance bonded to said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe.

A process for treating a material to determine the presence of one or more detectable substances in said material which comprises:

• a) contacting said material with a first organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe capable of bonding with a first detectable substance, if present, in said material, and capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation in a first narrow wavelength band when excited, said first organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe comprising:
• i) a first semiconductor nanocrystal capable of being excited over a broad bandwidth and capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation in said first narrow wavelength band when excited;
• ii) an affinity molecule capable of selectively bonding to said detectable substance;
• and
• iii) a linking agent linked to said first semiconductor nanocrystal and also linked to said affinity molecule;
• b) removing, from said material, portions of said first organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe not bonded to said first detectable substance;
• and
• c) exposing said material to energy capable of exciting said first semiconductor nanocrystal to emit electromagnetic radiation in said first narrow wavelength band, indicative of the presence of said first detectable substance in said material;
• and
• d) detecting said electromagnetic radiation in said first narrow wavelength band emitted by said first semiconductor nanocrystal in said first organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe.

A process for treating a material to determine the presence of a detectable substance in said material which comprises:

• a) contacting said material with an organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe capable of bonding with a first detectable substance, if present, in said material, and capable of absorbing energy when exposed to said energy, said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe comprising:
• i) a semiconductor nanocrystal capable of absorbing energy over a broad bandwidth when exposed to said energy;
• ii) an affinity molecule capable of selectively bonding to said detectable substance;
• and
• iii) a linking agent linked to said first semiconductor nanocrystal and also linked to said affinity molecule;
• b) removing, from said material, portions of said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe not bonded to said first detectable substance;
• and
• c) exposing said material to energy capable of being absorbed by said first semiconductor nanocrystal, indicative of the presence of said first detectable substance in said material;
• and
• d) detecting the change in absorbed energy, indicative of the presence of said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe in said material bonded to said detectable substance.

A process for treating a material to determine the presence of a detectable substance in said material which comprises:

• a) contacting said material with an organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe capable of bonding with a first detectable substance, if present, in said material, and capable of scattering or diffracting energy when excited, said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe comprising:
• i) a semiconductor nanocrystal capable of scattering or diffracting energy over a broad bandwidth with a characteristic cross-section;
• ii) an affinity molecule capable of selectively bonding to said detectable substance;
• and
• iii) a linking agent linked to said first semiconductor nanocrystal and also linked to said affinity molecule;
• b) removing, from said material, portions of said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe not bonded to said first detectable substance;
• and
• c) exposing said material to energy capable of exciting said first semiconductor nanocrystal to scatter or diffract energy, indicative of the presence of said first detectable substance in said material;
• and
• d) detecting the change in scattered or diffracted energy, indicative of the presence of said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe in said material bonded to said detectable substance.

An organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe capable of bonding with a detectable substance and capable of absorbing energy in a narrow wavelength band comprising:

• a) a semiconductor nanocrystal capable of absorbing energy in a narrow wavelength band;
• b) at least one linking agent linked to said semiconductor nanocrystal and having a second portion capable of lining to an affinity molecule;
• and
• c) an affinity molecule linked to said second portion of said linking agent, and capable of selectively bonding to said detectable substance;
• whereby treatment of a material with said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe, and subsequent exposure of said treated material to energy to determine the presence of said detectable substance within said material will cause said semiconductor nanocrystal in said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe, bonded to said detectable substance, to absorb energy of a narrow wavelength band signifying the presence, in said material, of said detectable substance bonded to said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe.

An organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe capable of bonding with a detectable substance and capable of scattering or diffracting energy in a narrow wavelength band when excited comprising:

• a) a semiconductor nanocrystal capable of scattering or diffracting energy in a narrow wavelength band when excited;
• b) at least one linking agent linked to said semiconductor nanocrystal and having a second portion capable of linking to an affinity molecule;
• and
• c) an affinity molecule linked to said second portion of said linking agent, and capable of selectively bonding to said detectable substance;
• whereby treatment of a material with said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe, and subsequent exposure of said treated material to excitation energy to determine the presence of said detectable substance within said material will excite said semiconductor nanocrystal in said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe bonded to said detectable substance causing the scattering or diffracting of energy of a narrow wavelength band signifying the presence, in said material, of said detectable substance bonded to said organo luminescent semiconductor nanocrystal probe.