Metal-antibody tagging and plasma-based detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016161415-A1
Application number	US-201615042969-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 12, 2016
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A target within a sample can be characterized using an energy source configured to transform a metal in the sample into a plasma and an optical spectroscopic detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plasma to provide an optical-spectrum signal. A processor can determine presence of the metal in the sample using the optical-spectrum signal. The target can include a microbe or biological toxin. A recognition construct comprising a metal and a scaffold can be applied to the sample. The scaffold can bind to the target. Energy can be applied to transform at least some of the sample into a plasma. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plasma can be detected to provide an optical-spectrum signal of the sample. A preparation subsystem can add the recognition construct to the sample and a washing subsystem can wash unbound recognition construct out of the sample.

First claim

1 . A system for characterizing a target within a sample, the system comprising:
an energy source configured to transform a metal in the sample into a plasma; and an optical spectroscopic detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plasma and to provide an optical-spectrum signal corresponding to at least some of the electromagnetic radiation.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor; and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining presence of the metal in the sample based at least in part on the optical-spectrum signal.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , the operations further comprising:
performing spectral unmixing or spectral fingerprint classification on the optical-spectrum signal.

4 . The system according to claim 2 , the operations further comprising:
determining presence of a second metal in the sample based at least in part on the optical-spectrum signal, wherein the second metal is different from the metal.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a substrate configured to retain the sample in operative arrangement with the energy source.

6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the substrate comprises silicon or polystyrene.

7 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the substrate comprises recognition macromolecules.

8 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising the sample, wherein the sample comprises:
a scaffold; and the metal linked to the scaffold.

9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the scaffold comprises at least one of an antibody, adNectin, iMab, anticalin, microbody, peptide aptamer, designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin), affilin, tetranectin, or avimer.

10 . A method for characterizing a target within a sample, the method comprising:
applying to the sample a recognition construct comprising a metal and a scaffold, wherein the scaffold is configured to bind to the target; applying energy to the sample, wherein the applied energy is sufficient to transform at least some of the sample into a plasma; and detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plasma to provide an optical-spectrum signal of the sample.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the applying energy comprises heating at least part of the sample.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the applying energy comprises irradiating at least part of the sample using a laser.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the applying energy comprises applying a spark to at least part of the sample.

14 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
determining presence of the metal in the sample based at least in part on the optical-spectrum signal by performing at least spectral unmixing or constrained energy minimization (CEM).

15 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
preparing the recognition construct by bonding the metal to the scaffold, wherein the scaffold comprises a biological scaffold and the metal comprises a metal atom or ion.

16 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the target includes a microbe and the scaffold comprises an antibody against epitopes present on a surface of the microbe.

17 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the target includes a biological toxin and the scaffold comprises an antibody against the biological toxin.

18 . An apparatus for detecting a biological target in a sample, the apparatus comprising:
a preparation subsystem configured to add a recognition construct to the sample, the recognition construct comprising a metal; a washing subsystem configured to form a washed sample by washing at least some unbound recognition construct out of the sample; a heating subsystem configured to heat at least some of the washed sample; and a spectroscopic detector configured to detect at least some electromagnetic radiation emitted by metal in the at least some of the washed sample in response to the heating of the washed sample.

19 . The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the heating subsystem comprises a laser.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the heating subsystem comprises two electrodes and a high-voltage power supply connected to the two electrodes and configured to selectively produce a spark across the two electrodes.

Assignees

• Purdue Research Foundation

Inventors

• Robinson Joseph Paul
• Rajwa Bartlomiej P
• Patsekin Valery P
• Bae Euiwon

Classifications

• G01N21/67

  using electric arcs or discharges · CPC title

• G01N33/58

  involving labelled substances (G01N33/53 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N33/569

  for microorganisms, e.g. protozoa, bacteria, viruses · CPC title

• G01N2469/00

  Immunoassays for the detection of microorganisms · CPC title

• G01N21/718 Primary

  Laser microanalysis, i.e. with formation of sample plasma · CPC title