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US 8,008,067 B2Granted
Microwave trigger metal-enhanced chemiluminescence (MT MEC) and spatial and temporal control of same
AssigneeUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County
InventorsChris D. Geddes, Michael Previte
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of imaging structures and features using plasmonic emissions from metallic surfaces caused by chemiluminescence based chemical and biological reactions wherein imaging of the reactions is enhanced by the use of microwave energy and further enhanced by using metallic geometric structures for spatially and temporally controlling the biological and chemical reactions.
Claims32
A method for measuring a target molecule in a test sample, the method comprising:
- immobilizing metallic structures on a surface substrate, wherein the metallic structures are in a patterned shape and the patterned shape is a triangle with an apex and wherein the apexes of two triangles are arranged in alignment and adjacent to a reactive zone formed between the apexes, wherein the reactive zone has a diameter from about 1 mm to about 5 mm;
- positioning a capture molecule having affinity for the target molecule on the metallic structures or adjacent to the metallic structures;
- contacting the capture molecule with the test sample suspected of comprising the target molecules, wherein the target molecule will bind to the capture molecule to form a complex;
- contacting the complex with a detector molecule having affinity for the target molecule, wherein the detector molecule comprises a chemiluminescent label;
- exposing the chemiluminescent label to a trigger molecule that will chemically react with the chemiluminescent label to induce a chemical reaction that produces a chemically electronically excited state;
- and
- exposing the chemical reaction to microwave energy in an amount to enhance emissions;
- and
- measuring the intensity of emissions.
6 more elements
A method for measuring a target molecule in a test sample, the method comprising:
- immobilizing metallic structures on a surface substrate, wherein the surface substrate is a polymeric material including multiple wells, wherein each well has at least two triangle metallic structures adjacent thereto and wherein an apex of each triangle is aligned with each other and positioned opposite to each other thereby providing a reactive zone therebetween, wherein the reactive zone has a diameter from about 1 mm to about 5 mm;
- positioning a capture molecule having affinity for the target molecule on the metallic structures or adjacent to the metallic structures;
- contacting the capture molecule with the test sample suspected of comprising the target molecules, wherein the target molecule will bind to the capture molecule to form a complex;
- contacting the complex with a detector molecule having affinity for the target molecule, wherein the detector molecule comprises a chemiluminescent label;
- exposing the chemiluminescent label to a trigger molecule that will chemically react with the chemiluminescent label to induce a chemical reaction that produces a chemically electronically excited state;
- and
- exposing the chemical reaction to microwave energy in an amount to enhance emissions;
- and measuring the intensity of emissions.
5 more elements
A system for measuring chemiluminescence, the system comprising:
- a substrate surface comprising metallic structures, wherein the metallic structures are in a patterned shape and the patterned shape is a triangle with an apex and wherein the apexes of two triangles are arranged in alignment and adjacent to a reactive zone formed between the apexes, wherein the reactive zone has a diameter of about 1 mm to about 5 mm;
- a capture molecule attached to the metallized substrates or positioned adjacent thereto for capture of a target molecule in a testing sample;
- a detector molecule having an affinity for the target molecule, wherein the detector molecule comprises a chemiluminescence label;
- a triggering agent that chemically reacts with the chemiluminescence label to generate a chemically induced electronically exited state;
- a source of microwave energy;
- and
- a measuring device to measure electromagnetic emissions from the metallized substrates.
4 more elements
A system for measuring chemiluminescence, the system comprising:
- a substrate surface comprising metallic structures, wherein the surface substrate is a polymeric material including multiple wells, wherein each well has at least two triangle metallic structures adjacent thereto and wherein an apex of each triangle is aligned with each other and positioned opposite to each other thereby providing a reactive zone therebetween, wherein the reactive zone has a diameter from about 1 mm to about 5 mm;
- a capture molecule attached to the metallized substrates or positioned adjacent thereto for capture of a target molecule in a testing sample;
- a detector molecule having an affinity for the target molecule, wherein the detector molecule comprises a chemiluminescence label;
- a triggering agent that chemically reacts with the chemiluminescence label to generate a chemically induced electronically exited state;
- a source of microwave energy;
- and
- a measuring device to measure electromagnetic emissions from the metallized substrates.
4 more elements
An assay kit comprising:
- a substrate surface comprising at least two metallized structures, wherein each of the metallic structures are shaped as a triangle with an apex and wherein the apexes of the two triangles are arranged in alignment and adjacent to a reactive zone formed between the apexes, wherein the reactive zone has a diameter of about 1 mm to about 5 mm;
- a capture molecule positioned on the metallized substrate or adjacent thereto wherein the capture molecule has affinity for a target molecule to be determined;
- a detector molecule having an affinity for the target molecule, wherein the detector molecule comprises a chemiluminescence label;
- a triggering component that chemically reacts with the chemiluminescence label to generate a chemically induced electronically exited state that can be detected to determine target molecule.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.