Immunoliposome-nucleic acid amplification (ILNAA) assay
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsTimothy J. O'Leary, Jeffrey T. Mason
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Abstract
Immunoliposomes and use thereof in highly specific and sensitive nucleic acid amplification assays relying on amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences released from encapsulation within a liposome after a receptor on the liposome couples with a targeted analyte/antigen immobilized on a select surface. The immunoliposome nucleic acid amplification assay permits both quantitative and qualitative analyte detection.
Claims27
A method for detecting an analyte with an immunoliposome-nucleic acid amplification assay, comprising:
- encapsulating 50 to 1,000 identical nucleic acid segments within closed shell liposomal bilayers,
- associating receptors to the extravesicular surface of said liposomal bilayers,
- exposing the receptors to an immobilized target analyte, which binds to the liposomal bilayer associated receptors;
- removing unbound liposomal bilayers;
- lysing the bound liposomal bilayers to release the nucleic acid segments;
- amplifying the nucleic acid segments released from said liposomal bilayers, and
- detecting the amplification products of the nucleic acid segments to quantify the amount of the target analyte.
A method for detecting an analyte with an immunoliposome-nucleic acid amplification assay comprising:
- encapsulating 50 to 1,000 identical nucleic acid segments within closed shell liposomal bilayers,
- incorporating receptors into the outer surface of said liposomal bilayers;
- and exposing the receptors to a target analyte, causing aggregation of the receptors within the plane of the liposomal bilayer, wherein the aggregation causes the liposomal bilayers to become unstable leading to spontaneous rupture of the liposomal bilayers, and release of the nucleic acid segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.