Detection of analytes in aqueous environments
AssigneeSensors for Medicine and Science, Inc.
InventorArthur E. Colvin, Jr.
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Abstract
The invention relates to indicator molecules for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a medium, such as a liquid, and to methods for achieving such detection. More particularly, the invention relates to copolymer macromolecules containing relatively hydrophobic indicator component monomers, and hydrophilic monomers, such that the macromolecule is capable of use in an aqueous environment.
Claims65
An indicator macromolecule for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in an aqueous environment, said macromolecule comprising a copolymer of:
- a) one or more indicator component monomers which individually are not sufficiently water soluble to permit their use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte;
- and
- b) one or more hydrophilic monomers;
- such that the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment.
A method for the production of an indicator macromolecule for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in an aqueous environment, said method comprising copolymerizing:
- a) one or more indicator component monomers which individually are not sufficiently water soluble to permit their use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte;
- and
- b) one or more hydrophilic monomers;
- such that the resulting macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment.
A method for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample having an aqueous environment, said method comprising:
- a) exposing the sample to an indicator macromolecule, said macromolecule comprising a copolymer of:
- i) one or more indicator component monomers which individually are not sufficiently water soluble to permit their use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte;
- and
- ii) one or more hydrophilic monomers;
- such that the resulting macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment, and wherein the indicator macromolecule has a detectable quality that changes in a concentration-dependent manner when said macromolecule is exposed to said analyte;
- and
- b) measuring any change in said detectable quality to thereby determine the presence or concentration of said analyte in said sample.
A macromolecule which is capable of exhibiting an excimer effect, which comprises a copolymer of:
- a) one or more excimer forming monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other;
- and
- b) one or more other monomers;
- such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect.
A method for producing a macromolecule which is capable of exhibiting an excimer effect, which method comprises copolymerizing:
- a) one or more excimer forming monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other;
- and
- b) one or more other monomers;
- such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect.
A method for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample, said method comprising:
- a) exposing the sample to an indicator macromolecule, said macromolecule comprising a copolymer of:
- i) one or more indicator component monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other, and which are also capable of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte;
- and
- ii) one or more other monomers;
- such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect, and wherein the indicator macromolecule has a detectable quality that changes in a concentration-dependent manner when said macromolecule is exposed to said analyte;
- and
- b) measuring any change in said detectable quality to thereby determine the presence or concentration of said analyte in said sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.