Colloidal Nanoparticles

I. Overview of Nanoparticle Technology

This technology is based on the ability to produce a wide range of intense "crystalline" colors that form stable colloidal nanoparticles in a wide size range (50-2000 nm). These nanoparticles (NP) form stable non-covalent bonds with a broad range of ligands (L): antibodies, Proteins A and G and streptavidin or enzymes (E). The ligand coated nanoparticles (NPL) are useful diagnostic reagents (immunoconjugates) that are employed to detect analytes in a number of immunoassay formats requiring a visual read. The visual read formats include: IHC, Rapid tests and Blotting. In addition, nanoparticles (NP) can be dual-coated with both ligands (L) and enzymes (E) to form NPLE complexes, which have both visual read and enzymatic properties. NPLE are used in IHC, Blotting and ELISA formats. By carefully controlling the ratio of enzyme to ligand in the NPLE a detection reagent can be produced that has a higher molar ratio of enzyme to ligand than traditional covalent conjugates. Most importantly, nanoparticle immunoconjugates are easy to prepare. A kit is available that enables a "customer" to produce custom-conjugates in a wide variety of colors at the "bench" in less than an hour.

II. Technical Specifications of the Nanoparticles

Colors: Red, Blue, Green, Violet, Maroon (fluorescent)

Ligands: Poly/Monoclonal antibodies, Protein A, Protein G, Streptavidin

Enzymes: Alk Phos, Glucose Oxidase, HRP, Urease

Applications: IHC, ELISA, agglutination, Blotting:Western/Northern/Southern

Particle size: 50-2000 nm

Concentration: 10- 25 AU (custom)

III. Protocol for making Nanoparticle Immunoconjugates

These nanoparticles (NP) are supplied alone or as a kit ready to use so that custom conjugates can be produced quickly in almost limitless variety. The customer simply supplies the ligand and in about 1 hour a unique conjugate is ready to test. By comparison, colloidal gold conjugates require extensive ligand titrations and suffer stability problems when forming the conjugate itself and during storage.

   Kit Components (included)

• Unconjugated nanoparticles
• Universal Binding Buffer
• Block Buffer

   Kit Protocol (end user)

• Dilute Ligand in Universal Binding Buffer.
• Add unconjugated nanoparticles and incubate 15-30 minutes.
• Add Block Buffer and incubate 15-30 minutes.
• Centrifuge/ultrafilter immunoconjugate and resuspend in Block Buffer

IV. Intellectual Property

The IP is owned by BBS and is held as trade secrets. The IP is patentable and documentation exists that would support filing one or more patents. This technology is available for licensing or acquisition and the products produced there from are available for distribution or on a custom basis to end users.

Contact:

Brent L. Dorval, Ph.D., President and Managing Partner