Isoelectric particles and uses thereof
AssigneeGentius, Inc
InventorBranko Kozulic
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Abstract
A plurality of particles of from about 5 nm to 100 μm possessing predetermined isoelectric points in the pH range from about 2.5 to 11 is used in a method of detection of a plurality of analytes, wherein the isoelectric particles of each isoelectric point further contain a label and a member of a binding pair capable of interacting with a selected analyte. The particles that formed specific binding pairs are recovered and separated by isoelectric focusing, followed by the detection of the labels associated with the particles. A flow cytometer may be used as a detector of the isoelectric particles.
Claims13
A plurality of particles of a size of about 5 nm to 50 μm and having a predetermined isoelectric point in a pH range of about 2.5 to 11, each particle comprising at least 100 positively and negatively charged groups respectively derived from at least one organic acid monomer and at least one organic base monomer, wherein the ratio of said monomers is selected such that after free radical copolymerization their charged groups determine the isoelectric point of the particles, wherein, under the influence of an electric field, the particles are adapted to migrate in a medium containing a pH gradient formed by carrier ampholytes and to focus at a position in the pH gradient that is not broader than 0.2 pH units and corresponds to their isoelectric point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.