U.S. patent application number 15/457672 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-29 for target analyte sensors utilizing microspheres.
This patent application is currently assigned to TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE. The applicant listed for this patent is TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE. Invention is credited to KARRI LYNN MICHAEL-BALLARD, DAVID R. WALT.
Application Number | 20170184484 15/457672 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46302570 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170184484 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WALT; DAVID R. ; et
al. |
June 29, 2017 |
TARGET ANALYTE SENSORS UTILIZING MICROSPHERES
Abstract
A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system and method for
making the same is disclosed in which microspheres or particles
carrying bioactive agents may be combined randomly or in ordered
fashion and dispersed on a substrate to form an array while
maintaining the ability to identify the location of bioactive
agents and particles within the array using an optically
interrogatable, optical signature encoding scheme. A wide variety
of modified substrates may be employed which provide either
discrete or non-discrete sites for accommodating the microspheres
in either random or patterned distributions. The substrates may be
constructed from a variety of materials to form either
two-dimensional or three-dimensional configurations. In a preferred
embodiment, a modified fiber optic bundle or array is employed as a
substrate to produce a high density array. The disclosed system and
method have utility for detecting target analytes and screening
large libraries of bioactive agents.
Inventors: |
WALT; DAVID R.; (MEDFORD,
MA) ; MICHAEL-BALLARD; KARRI LYNN; (MEDFORD,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE |
MEDFORD |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE
MEDFORD
MA
|
Family ID: |
46302570 |
Appl. No.: |
15/457672 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
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Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12371470 |
Feb 13, 2009 |
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15457672 |
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10920637 |
Aug 17, 2004 |
7622294 |
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12371470 |
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09925292 |
Aug 8, 2001 |
6859570 |
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10920637 |
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09151877 |
Sep 11, 1998 |
6327410 |
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09925292 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C40B 40/10 20130101;
B01J 2219/00659 20130101; B01J 2219/00722 20130101; G01N 15/1456
20130101; B01J 2219/00466 20130101; B01J 2219/00585 20130101; Y02A
50/30 20180101; B01J 2219/00459 20130101; G01N 2035/0097 20130101;
B82Y 30/00 20130101; Y10S 435/808 20130101; B01J 2219/005 20130101;
B01J 2219/00626 20130101; G01N 21/7703 20130101; B01J 2219/0061
20130101; C12Q 1/6837 20130101; G01N 21/6452 20130101; G01N 21/78
20130101; G01N 2021/6441 20130101; B01J 2219/00605 20130101; G01N
2021/6484 20130101; G01N 21/6456 20130101; G01N 2201/0826 20130101;
Y02A 50/55 20180101; G01N 33/54313 20130101; Y10S 436/805 20130101;
B01J 2219/00677 20130101; B01J 19/0046 20130101; C40B 40/06
20130101; B01J 2219/00621 20130101; B01J 2219/00637 20130101; B01J
2219/0074 20130101; G01N 33/543 20130101; G01N 2015/1438 20130101;
B01J 2219/00725 20130101; B01J 2219/00648 20130101; G01N 21/6428
20130101; B01J 2219/00317 20130101; B01J 2219/00596 20130101; B01J
2219/00524 20130101; B01J 2219/00612 20130101; B01J 2219/00704
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 15/14 20060101
G01N015/14; B01J 19/00 20060101 B01J019/00; C12Q 1/68 20060101
C12Q001/68; G01N 33/543 20060101 G01N033/543 |
Claims
1. A composition comprising: a) a substrate with a surface
comprising discrete sites; and b) a population of microspheres
distributed on said sites.
2-18. (canceled)
19. A method of determining the presence of a target analyte in a
sample comprising: a) contacting said sample with a composition
comprising: i) a substrate with a surface comprising discrete
sites; and ii) a population of microspheres comprising at least a
first and a second subpopulation each comprising: 1) a bioactive
agent; and 2) an optical signature capable of identifying said
bioactive agent; wherein said microspheres are distributed on said
surface such that said discrete sites contain microspheres; and b)
determining the presence or absence of said target analyte.
20-23. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S.
application Ser. No. 08/818,199, filed Mar. 14, 1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of optical fibers and optical fiber strands in
combination with light absorbing dyes for chemical analytical
determinations has undergone rapid development, particularly within
the last decade. The use of optical fibers for such purposes and
techniques is described by Milanovich et al., "Novel Optical Fiber
Techniques For Medical Application", Proceedings of the SPIE 28th
Annual International Technical Symposium On Optics and
Electro-Optics, Volume 494, 1980; Seitz, W. R., "Chemical Sensors
Based On Immobilized Indicators and Fiber Optics" in C.R.C.
Critical Reviews In Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 19, 1988, pp.
135-173; Wolfbeis, O. S., "Fiber Optical Fluorosensors In
Analytical Chemistry" in Molecular Luminescence Spectroscopy,
Methods and Applications (S. G. Schulman, editor), Wiley &
Sons, New York (1988); Angel, S. M., Spectroscopy 2 (4):38 (1987);
Walt, et al., "Chemical Sensors and Microinstrumentation", ACS
Symposium Series, Vol. 403, 1989, p. 252, and Wolfbeis, O. S.,
Fiber Optic Chemical Sensors, Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.,
1991, 2nd Volume.
[0003] When using an optical fiber in an in vitro/in vivo sensor,
one or more light absorbing dyes are located near its distal end.
Typically, light from an appropriate source is used to illuminate
the dyes through the fiber's proximal end. The light propagates
along the length of the optical fiber; and a portion of this
propagated light exits the distal end and is absorbed by the dyes.
The light absorbing dye may or may not be immobilized; may or may
not be directly attached to the optical fiber itself; may or may
not be suspended in a fluid sample containing one or more analytes
of interest; and may or may not be retainable for subsequent use in
a second optical determination.
[0004] Once the light has been absorbed by the dye, some light of
varying wavelength and intensity returns, conveyed through either
the same fiber or collection fiber(s) to a detection system where
it is observed and measured. The interactions between the light
conveyed by the optical fiber and the properties of the light
absorbing dye provide an optical basis for both qualitative and
quantitative determinations.
[0005] Of the many different classes of light absorbing dyes which
conventionally are employed with bundles of fiber strands and
optical fibers for different analytical purposes are those more
common compositions that emit light after absorption termed
"fluorophores" and those which absorb light and internally convert
the absorbed light to heat, rather than emit it as light, termed
"chromophores."
[0006] Fluorescence is a physical phenomenon based upon the ability
of some molecules to absorb light (photons) at specified
wavelengths and then emit light of a longer wavelength and at a
lower energy. Substances able to fluoresce share a number of common
characteristics: the ability to absorb light energy at one
wavelength .lamda..sub.ab; reach an excited energy state; and
subsequently emit light at another light wavelength,
.lamda..sub.em. The absorption and fluorescence emission spectra
are individual for each fluorophore and are often graphically
represented as two separate curves that are slightly overlapping.
The same fluorescence emission spectrum is generally observed
irrespective of the wavelength of the exciting light and,
accordingly, the wavelength and energy of the exciting light may be
varied within limits; but the light emitted by the fluorophore will
always provide the same emission spectrum. Finally, the strength of
the fluorescence signal may be measured as the quantum yield of
light emitted. The fluorescence quantum yield is the ratio of the
number of photons emitted in comparison to the number of photons
initially absorbed by the fluorophore. For more detailed
information regarding each of these characteristics, the following
references are recommended: Lakowicz, J. R., Principles of
Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Plenum Press, New York, 1983;
Freifelder, D., Physical Biochemistry, second edition, W. H.
Freeman and Company, New York, 1982; "Molecular Luminescence
Spectroscopy Methods and Applications: Part I" (S. G. Schulman,
editor) in Chemical Analysis, vol. 77, Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
1985; The Theory of Luminescence, Stepanov and Gribkovskii, Iliffe
Books, Ltd., London, 1968.
[0007] In comparison, substances which absorb light and do not
fluoresce usually convert the light into heat or kinetic energy.
The ability to internally convert the absorbed light identifies the
dye as a "chromophore." Dyes which absorb light energy as
chromophores do so at individual wavelengths of energy and are
characterized by a distinctive molar absorption coefficient at that
wavelength. Chemical analysis employing fiber optic strands,
bundles, or arrays and absorption spectroscopy using visible and
ultraviolet light wavelengths in combination with the absorption
coefficient allow for the determination of concentration for
specific analyses of interest by spectral measurement. The most
common use of absorbance measurement via optical fibers is to
determine concentration which is calculated in accordance with
Beers' law; accordingly, at a single absorbance wavelength, the
greater the quantity of the composition which absorbs light energy
at a given wavelength, the greater the optical density for the
sample. In this way, the total quantity of light absorbed directly
correlates with the quantity of the composition in the sample.
[0008] Many of the recent improvements employing optical fiber
sensors in both qualitative and quantitative analytical
determinations concern the desirability of depositing and/or
immobilizing various light absorbing dyes at the distal end of the
optical fiber. In this manner, a variety of different optical fiber
chemical sensors and methods have been reported for specific
analytical determinations and applications such as pH measurement,
oxygen detection, and carbon dioxide analyses. These developments
are exemplified by the following publications: Freeman, et al.,
Anal Chem. 53:98 (1983); Lippitsch et al., Anal. Chem. Acta. 205:1,
(1988); Wolfbeis et al., Anal. Chem. 60:2028 (1988); Jordan, et
al., Anal. Chem. 59:437 (1987); Lubbers et al., Sens. Actuators
1983; Munkholm et al., Talanta 35:109 (1988); Munkholm et al.,
Anal. Chem. 58:1427 (1986); Seitz, W. R., Anal. Chem. 56:16A-34A
(1984); Peterson, et al., Anal. Chem. 52:864 (1980): Saari, et al.,
Anal. Chem. 54:821 (1982); Saari, et al., Anal. Chem. 55:667
(1983); Zhujun et al., Anal. Chem. Acta. 160:47 (1984); Schwab, et
al., Anal. Chem. 56:2199 (1984); Wolfbeis, O. S., "Fiber Optic
Chemical Sensors", Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 1991, 2nd
Volume; and Pantano, P., Walt, D. R., Anal. Chem., 481A-487A, Vol.
67, (1995).
[0009] More recently, fiber optic sensors have been constructed
that permit the use of multiple dyes with a single, discrete fiber
optic strand, fiber optic bundles or fiber optic arrays, such as
imaging fibers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,244,636 and 5,250,264 to Walt, et
al. disclose systems for affixing multiple, different dyes on the
distal end of the bundle, the teachings of each of these patents
being incorporated herein by this reference. The disclosed
configurations enable separate optical fibers of the bundle to
optically access individual dyes. This avoids the problem of
deconvolving the separate signals in the returning light from each
dye, which arises when the signals from two or more dyes are
combined, each dye being sensitive to a different analyte, and
there is significant overlap in the dyes' emission spectra.
[0010] The innovation of the two previous patents was the placement
of multiple chemical functionalities at the end of a single optical
fiber bundle sensor. This configuration yielded an analytic
chemistry sensor that could be remotely monitored via the typically
small bundle. The drawback, however, was the difficulty in applying
the various chemistries associated with the chemical
functionalities at the sensor's end; the functionalities were built
on the sensor's end in a serial fashion. This was a slow process,
and in practice, only tens of functionalities could be applied.
Accordingly, compositions and methods are desirable that allow the
generation of large fiber optic arrays including microspheres that
can be either encoded or decoded to allow the detection of target
analytes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with the above objects, the present invention
provides compositions comprising a substrate with a surface
comprising discrete sites, and a population of microspheres
distributed on the sites. The sites may be wells or chemically
functionalized sites.
[0012] In an additional aspect the invention provides methods of
determining the presence of a target analyte in a sample. The
methods comprise contacting the sample with a composition
comprising a substrate with a surface comprising discrete sites,
and a population of microspheres comprising at least a first and a
second subpopulation. Each subpopulation comprises a bioactive
agent and an optical signature capable of identifying the bioactive
agent. The microspheres are distributed on the surface such that
the discrete sites contain microspheres. The presence or absence of
the target analyte is then determined.
[0013] In a further aspect, the invention provides methods of
making a composition comprising forming a surface comprising
individual sites on a substrate, distributing microspheres on the
surface such that the individual sites contain microspheres. The
microspheres comprise at least a first and a second subpopulation,
each comprising a bioactive agent, and an optical signature capable
of identifying said bioactive agent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to
the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the optical
signature encoding and chemical functionalizing of the microspheres
according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a process diagram describing the preparation,
encoding, and functionalizing of the microspheres of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a microsphere
system including microspheres with different chemical
functionalities and encoded descriptions of the
functionalities;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the inventive fiber optic
sensor and associated instrumentation and control system;
[0019] FIGS. 5A and 5B are micrographs illustrating the preferred
technique for attaching or affixing the microspheres to the distal
end of the optical fiber bundle;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a process diagram describing well formation in the
optical fiber bundle and affixation of the microspheres in the
wells;
[0021] FIGS. 7A and 7B are micrographs showing the array of
microspheres in their corresponding wells prior and subsequent to
physical agitation, tapping and air pulsing, demonstrating the
electrostatic binding of the microspheres in the wells;
[0022] FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are micrographs from alkaline
phosphatase microspheres when exposed to fluorescein diphosphate,
at the fluorescein emission wavelength, at an encoding wavelength
for DiIC, and at an encoding wavelength for TRC, respectively;
[0023] FIGS. 9A and 9B are micrographs showing the optical signal
from .beta.-galactosidase microspheres when exposed to fluorescein
.beta.-galactopyranoside at the fluorescein emission wavelength and
at an encoding wavelength for DiIC, respectively; and
[0024] FIGS. 10A and 10B are micrographs showing the optical
response from rabbit antibody microspheres prior to and post,
respectively, exposure to fluorescein labeled antigens.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The present invention is based on two synergistic
inventions: 1) the development of a bead-based analytic chemistry
system in which beads, also termed microspheres, carrying different
chemical functionalities may be mixed together while the ability is
retained to identify the functionality of each bead using an
optically interrogatable encoding scheme (an "optical signature");
and 2) the use of a substrate comprising a patterned surface
containing individual sites that can bind or associate individual
beads. This allows the synthesis of the bioactive agents (i.e.
compounds such as nucleic acids and antibodies) to be separated
from their placement on an array, i.e. the bioactive agents may be
synthesized on the beads, and then the beads are randomly
distributed on a patterned surface. Since the beads are first coded
with an optical signature, this means that the array can later be
"decoded", i.e. after the array is made, a correlation of the
location of an individual site on the array with the bead or
bioactive agent at that particular site can be made. This means
that the beads may be randomly distributed on the array, a fast and
inexpensive process as compared to either the in situ synthesis or
spotting techniques of the prior art. Once the array is loaded with
the beads, the array can be decoded, or can be used, with full or
partial decoding occurring after testing, as is more fully outlined
below.
[0026] Accordingly, the present invention provides array
compositions comprising at least a first substrate with a surface
comprising individual sites. By "array" herein is meant a plurality
of bioactive agents in an array format; the size of the array will
depend on the composition and end use of the array. Arrays
containing from about 2 different bioactive agents (i.e. different
beads) to many millions can be made, with very large fiber optic
arrays being possible. Generally, the array will comprise from two
to as many as a billion or more, depending on the size of the beads
and the substrate, as well as the end use of the array, thus very
high density, high density, moderate density, low density and very
low density arrays may be made. Preferred ranges for very high
density arrays are from about 10,000,000 to about 2,000,000,000,
with from about 100,000,000 to about 1,000,000,000 being preferred.
High density arrays range about 100,000 to about 10,000,000, with
from about 1,000,000 to about 5,000,000 being particularly
preferred. Moderate density arrays range from about 10,000 to about
50,000 being particularly preferred, and from about 20,000 to about
30,000 being especially preferred. Low density arrays are generally
less than 10,000, with from about 1,000 to about 5,000 being
preferred. Very low density arrays are less than 1,000, with from
about 10 to about 1000 being preferred, and from about 100 to about
500 being particularly preferred. In some embodiments, the
compositions of the invention may not be in array format; that is,
for some embodiments, compositions comprising a single bioactive
agent may be made as well. In addition, in some arrays, multiple
substrates may be used, either of different or identical
compositions. Thus for example, large arrays may comprise a
plurality of smaller substrates.
[0027] In addition, one advantage of the present compositions is
that particularly through the use of fiber optic technology,
extremely high density arrays can be made. Thus for example,
because beads of 200 nm can be used, and very small fibers are
known, it is possible to have as many as 250,000 different fibers
and beads in a 1 mm.sup.2 fiber optic array or bundle, with
densities of greater than 15,000,000 individual beads and fibers
per 0.5 cm.sup.2 obtainable.
[0028] The compositions comprise a substrate. By "substrate" or
"solid support" or other grammatical equivalents herein is meant
any material that can be modified to contain discrete individual
sites appropriate for the attachment or association of beads and is
amenable to at least one detection method. As will be appreciated
by those in the art, the number of possible substrates are very
large, and include, but are not limited to, glass and modified or
functionalized glass, plastics (including acrylics, polystyrene and
copolymers of styrene and other materials, polypropylene,
polyethylene, polybutylene, polyurethanes, Teflon.TM., etc.),
polysaccharides, nylon or nitrocellulose, resins, silica or
silica-based materials including silicon and modified silicon,
carbon, metals, inorganic glasses, plastics, optical fiber bundles,
and a variety of other polymers. In general, the substrates allow
optical detection and do not appreciably fluoresce.
[0029] Generally the substrate is planar, although as will be
appreciated by those in the art, other configurations of substrates
may be used as well; for example, three dimensional configurations
can be used, for example by embedding the beads in a porous block
of plastic that allows sample access to the beads and using a
confocal microscope for detection. Similarly, the beads may be
placed on the inside surface of a tube, for flow-through sample
analysis to minimize sample volume. Preferred substrates include
optical fiber bundles as discussed below, and flat planar
substrates such as glass, polystyrene and other plastics and
acrylics.
[0030] At least one surface of the substrate is modified to contain
discrete, individual sites for later association of microspheres.
These sites may comprise physically altered sites, i.e. physical
configurations such as wells or small depressions in the substrate
that can retain the beads, such that a microsphere can rest in the
well, or the use of other forces (magnetic or compressive), or
chemically altered or active sites, such as chemically
functionalized sites, electrostatically altered sites,
hydrophobically/hydrophilically functionalized sites, spots of
adhesive, etc.
[0031] The sites may be a pattern, i.e. a regular design or
configuration, or randomly distributed. A preferred embodiment
utilizes a regular pattern of sites such that the sites may be
addressed in the X-Y coordinate plane. "Pattern" in this sense
includes a repeating unit cell, preferably one that allows a high
density of beads on the substrate. However, it should be noted that
these sites may not be discrete sites. That is, it is possible to
use a uniform surface of adhesive or chemical functionalities, for
example, that allows the attachment of beads at any position. That
is, the surface of the substrate is modified to allow attachment of
the microspheres at individual sites, whether or not those sites
are contiguous or non-contiguous with other sites. Thus, the
surface of the substrate may be modified such that discrete sites
are formed that can only have a single associated bead, or
alternatively, the surface of the substrate is modified and beads
may go down anywhere, but they end up at discrete sites.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the surface of the substrate is
modified to contain wells, i.e. depressions in the surface of the
substrate. This may be done as is generally known in the art using
a variety of techniques, including, but not limited to,
photolithography, stamping techniques, molding techniques and
microetching techniques. As will be appreciated by those in the
art, the technique used will depend on the composition and shape of
the substrate.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, physical alterations are made in
a surface of the substrate to produce the sites. In a preferred
embodiment, the substrate is a fiber optic bundle or array and the
surface of the substrate is a terminal end of the fiber bundle or
array. In this embodiment, wells are made in a terminal or distal
end of a fiber optic bundle or array comprising individual fibers.
In this embodiment, the cores of the individual fibers are etched,
with respect to the cladding, such that small wells or depressions
are formed at one end of the fibers. The required depth of the
wells will depend on the size of the beads to be added to the
wells.
[0034] Generally in this embodiment, the microspheres are
non-covalently associated in the wells, although the wells may
additionally be chemically functionalized as is generally described
below, cross-linking agents may be used, or a physical barrier may
be used, i.e. a film or membrane over the beads.
[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the surface of the substrate is
modified to contain chemically modified sites, that can be used to
attach, either covalently or non-covalently, the microspheres of
the invention to the discrete sites or locations on the substrate.
"Chemically modified sites" in this context includes, but is not
limited to, the addition of a pattern of chemical functional groups
including amino groups, carboxy groups, oxo groups and thiol
groups, that can be used to covalently attach microspheres, which
generally also contain corresponding reactive functional groups;
the addition of a pattern of adhesive that can be used to bind the
microspheres (either by prior chemical functionalization for the
addition of the adhesive or direct addition of the adhesive); the
addition of a pattern of charged groups (similar to the chemical
functionalities) for the electrostatic attachment of the
microspheres, i.e. when the microspheres comprise charged groups
opposite to the sites; the addition of a pattern of chemical
functional groups that renders the sites differentially hydrophobic
or hydrophilic, such that the addition of similarly hydrophobic or
hydrophilic microspheres under suitable experimental conditions
will result in association of the microspheres to the sites on the
basis of hydroaffinity. For example, the use of hydrophobic sites
with hydrophobic beads, in an aqueous system, drives the
association of the beads preferentially onto the sites. As outlined
above, "pattern" in this sense includes the use of a uniform
treatment of the surface to allow attachment of the beads at
discrete sites, as well as treatment of the surface resulting in
discrete sites. As will be appreciated by those in the art, this
may be accomplished in a variety of ways.
[0036] The compositions of the invention further comprise a
population of microspheres. By "population" herein is meant a
plurality of beads as outlined above for arrays. Within the
population are separate subpopulations, which can be a single
microsphere or multiple identical microspheres. That is, in some
embodiments, as is more fully outlined below, the array may contain
only a single bead for each bioactive agent; preferred embodiments
utilize a plurality of beads of each type.
[0037] By "microspheres" or "beads" or "particles" or grammatical
equivalents herein is meant small discrete particles. The
composition of the beads will vary, depending on the class of
bioactive agent and the method of synthesis. Suitable bead
compositions include those used in peptide, nucleic acid and
organic moiety synthesis, including, but not limited to, plastics,
ceramics, glass, polystyrene, methylstyrene, acrylic polymers,
paramagnetic materials, thoria sol, carbon graphited, titanium
dioxide, latex or cross-linked dextrans such as Sepharose,
cellulose, nylon, cross-linked micelles and teflon may all be used.
"Microsphere Detection Guide" from Bangs Laboratories, Fishers Ind.
is a helpful guide.
[0038] The beads need not be spherical; irregular particles may be
used. In addition, the beads may be porous, thus increasing the
surface area of the bead available for either bioactive agent
attachment or tag attachment. The bead sizes range from nanometers,
i.e. 100 nm, to millimeters, i.e. 1 mm, with beads from about 0.2
micron to about 200 microns being preferred, and from about 0.5 to
about 5 micron being particularly preferred, although in some
embodiments smaller beads may be used.
[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates the construction of a bead or microsphere
10 according to the principles of the present invention. In common
with the prior art, the microsphere 10 is given a bioactive agent
12, which is typically applied to the microsphere's surface. The
bioactive agent is designed so that in the presence of the
analyte(s) to which it is targeted, an optical signature of the
microsphere, possibly including region surrounding it, is
changed.
[0040] It should be noted that a key component of the invention is
the use of a substrate/bead pairing that allows the association or
attachment of the beads at discrete sites on the surface of the
substrate, such that the beads do not move during the course of the
assay.
[0041] Each microsphere comprises two components: a bioactive agent
and an optical signature. By "candidate bioactive agent" or
"bioactive agent" or "chemical functionality" or "binding ligand"
herein is meant as used herein describes any molecule, e.g.,
protein, oligopeptide, small organic molecule, polysaccharide,
polynucleotide, etc. which can be attached to the microspheres of
the invention. It should be understood that the compositions of the
invention have two primary uses. In a preferred embodiment, as is
more fully outlined below, the compositions are used to detect the
presence of a particular target analyte; for example, the presence
or absence of a particular nucleotide sequence or a particular
protein, such as an enzyme, an antibody or an antigen. In an
alternate preferred embodiment, the compositions are used to screen
bioactive agents, i.e. drug candidates, for binding to a particular
target analyte.
[0042] Bioactive agents encompass numerous chemical classes, though
typically they are organic molecules, preferably small organic
compounds having a molecular weight of more than 100 and less than
about 2,500 daltons. Bioactive agents comprise functional groups
necessary for structural interaction with proteins, particularly
hydrogen bonding, and typically include at least an amine,
carbonyl, hydroxyl or carboxyl group, preferably at least two of
the functional chemical groups. The bioactive agents often comprise
cyclical carbon or heterocyclic structures and/or aromatic or
polyaromatic structures substituted with one or more of the above
functional groups. Bioactive agents are also found among
biomolecules including peptides, nucleic acids, saccharides, fatty
acids, steroids, purines, pyrimidines, derivatives, structural
analogs or combinations thereof. Particularly preferred are nucleic
acids and proteins.
[0043] Bioactive agents can be obtained from a wide variety of
sources including libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. For
example, numerous means are available for random and directed
synthesis of a wide variety of organic compounds and biomolecules,
including expression of randomized oligonucleotides. Alternatively,
libraries of natural compounds in the form of bacterial, fungal,
plant and animal extracts are available or readily produced.
Additionally, natural or synthetically produced libraries and
compounds are readily modified through conventional chemical,
physical and biochemical means. Known pharmacological agents may be
subjected to directed or random chemical modifications, such as
acylation, alkylation, esterification and/or amidification to
produce structural analogs.
[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the bioactive agents are
proteins. By "protein" herein is meant at least two covalently
attached amino acids, which includes proteins, polypeptides,
oligopeptides and peptides. The protein may be made up of naturally
occurring amino acids and peptide bonds, or synthetic
peptidomimetic structures. Thus "amino acid", or "peptide residue",
as used herein means both naturally occurring and synthetic amino
acids. For example, homo-phenylalanine, citrulline and norleucine
are considered amino acids for the purposes of the invention. The
side chains may be in either the (R) or the (S) configuration. In
the preferred embodiment, the amino acids are in the (S) or
L-configuration. If non-naturally occurring side chains are used,
non-amino acid substituents may be used, for example to prevent or
retard in vivo degradations.
[0045] In one preferred embodiment, the bioactive agents are
naturally occurring proteins or fragments of naturally occurring
proteins. Thus, for example, cellular extracts containing proteins,
or random or directed digests of proteinaceous cellular extracts,
may be used. In this way libraries of procaryotic and eukaryotic
proteins may be made for screening in the systems described herein.
Particularly preferred in this embodiment are libraries of
bacterial, fungal, viral, and mammalian proteins, with the latter
being preferred, and human proteins being especially preferred.
[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the bioactive agents are peptides
of from about 5 to about 30 amino acids, with from about 5 to about
20 amino acids being preferred, and from about 7 to about 15 being
particularly preferred. The peptides may be digests of naturally
occurring proteins as is outlined above, random peptides, or
"biased" random peptides. By "randomized" or grammatical
equivalents herein is meant that each nucleic acid and peptide
consists of essentially random nucleotides and amino acids,
respectively. Since generally these random peptides (or nucleic
acids, discussed below) are chemically synthesized, they may
incorporate any nucleotide or amino acid at any position. The
synthetic process can be designed to generate randomized proteins
or nucleic acids, to allow the formation of all or most of the
possible combinations over the length of the sequence, thus forming
a library of randomized bioactive proteinaceous agents.
[0047] In a preferred embodiment, a library of bioactive agents are
used. The library should provide a sufficiently structurally
diverse population of bioactive agents to effect a
probabilistically sufficient range of binding to target analytes.
Accordingly, an interaction library must be large enough so that at
least one of its members will have a structure that gives it
affinity for the target analyte. Although it is difficult to gauge
the required absolute size of an interaction library, nature
provides a hint with the immune response: a diversity of
10.sup.7-10.sup.8 different antibodies provides at least one
combination with sufficient affinity to interact with most
potential antigens faced by an organism. Published in vitro
selection techniques have also shown that a library size of
10.sup.7 to 10.sup.8 is sufficient to find structures with affinity
for the target. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, at least 10.sup.6,
preferably at least 10.sup.7, more preferably at least 10.sup.8 and
most preferably at least 10.sup.9 different bioactive agents are
simultaneously analyzed in the subject methods. Preferred methods
maximize library size and diversity.
[0048] In one embodiment, the library is fully randomized, with no
sequence preferences or constants at any position. In a preferred
embodiment, the library is biased. That is, some positions within
the sequence are either held constant, or are selected from a
limited number of possibilities. For example, in a preferred
embodiment, the nucleotides or amino acid residues are randomized
within a defined class, for example, of hydrophobic amino acids,
hydrophilic residues, sterically biased (either small or large)
residues, towards the creation of cysteines, for cross-linking,
prolines for SH-3 domains, serines, threonines, tyrosines or
histidines for phosphorylation sites, etc., or to purines, etc.
[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the bioactive agents are nucleic
acids (generally called "probe nucleic acids" or "candidate probes"
herein). By "nucleic acid" or "oligonucleotide" or grammatical
equivalents herein means at least two nucleotides covalently linked
together. A nucleic acid of the present invention will generally
contain phosphodiester bonds, although in some cases, as outlined
below, nucleic acid analogs are included that may have alternate
backbones, comprising, for example, phosphoramide (Beaucage, et
al., Tetrahedron, 49(10):1925 (1993) and references therein;
Letsinger, J. Org. Chem., 35:3800 (1970); Sprinzl, et al., Eur. J.
Biochem., 81:579 (1977); Letsinger, et al., Nucl. Acids Res.,
14:3487 (1986); Sawai, et al., Chem. Lett., 805 (1984), Letsinger,
et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 110:4470 (1988); and Pauwels, et al.,
Chemica Scripta, 26:141 (1986)), phosphorothioate (Mag, et al.,
Nucleic Acids Res., 19:1437 (1991); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,048),
phosphorodithioate (Briu, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 111:2321
(1989)), O-methylphophoroamidite linkages (see Eckstein,
Oligonucleotides and Analogues: A Practical Approach, Oxford
University Press), and peptide nucleic acid backbones and linkages
(see Egholm, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 114:1895 (1992); Meier, et al.,
Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 31:1008 (1992); Nielsen, Nature, 365:566
(1993); Carlsson, et al., Nature, 380:207 (1996), all of which are
incorporated by reference)). Other analog nucleic acids include
those with positive backbones (Denpcy, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA, 92:6097 (1995)); non-ionic backbones (U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,386,023; 5,637,684; 5,602,240; 5,216,141; and U.S. Pat. No.
4,469,863; Kiedrowshi, et al., Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. English,
30:423 (1991); Letsinger, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 110:4470
(1988); Letsinger, et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 13:1597
(1994); Chapters 2 and 3, ASC Symposium Series 580, "Carbohydrate
Modifications in Antisense Research", Ed. Y. S. Sanghui and P. Dan
Cook; Mesmaeker, et al., Bioorganic & Medicinal Chem. Lett.,
4:395 (1994); Jeffs, et al., J. Biomolecular NMR, 34:17 (1994);
Tetrahedron Lett., 37:743 (1996)) and non-ribose backbones,
including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,235,033 and
5,034,506, and Chapters 6 and 7, ASC Symposium Series 580,
"Carbohydrate Modifications in Antisense Research", Ed. Y. S.
Sanghui and P. Dan Cook. Nucleic acids containing one or more
carbocyclic sugars are also included within the definition of
nucleic acids (see Jenkins, et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., (1995) pp.
169-176). Several nucleic acid analogs are described in Rawls, C
& E News, Jun. 2, 1997, page 35. All of these references are
hereby expressly incorporated by reference. These modifications of
the ribose-phosphate backbone may be done to facilitate the
addition of additional moieties such as labels, or to increase the
stability and half-life of such molecules in physiological
environments. In addition, mixtures of naturally occurring nucleic
acids and analogs can be made. Alternatively, mixtures of different
nucleic acid analogs, and mixtures of naturally occurring nucleic
acids and analogs may be made. The nucleic acids may be single
stranded or double stranded, as specified, or contain portions of
both double stranded or single stranded sequence. The nucleic acid
may be DNA, both genomic and cDNA, RNA or a hybrid, where the
nucleic acid contains any combination of deoxyribo- and
ribo-nucleotides, and any combination of bases, including uracil,
adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, inosine, xanthanine,
hypoxanthanine, isocytosine, isoguanine, and basepair analogs such
as nitropyrrole and nitroindole, etc.
[0050] As described above generally for proteins, nucleic acid
bioactive agents may be naturally occurring nucleic acids, random
nucleic acids, or "biased" random nucleic acids. For example,
digests of procaryotic or eukaryotic genomes may be used as is
outlined above for proteins.
[0051] In general, probes of the present invention are designed to
be complementary to a target sequence (either the target analyte
sequence of the sample or to other probe sequences, as is described
herein), such that hybridization of the target and the probes of
the present invention occurs. This complementarity need not be
perfect; there may be any number of base pair mismatches that will
interfere with hybridization between the target sequence and the
single stranded nucleic acids of the present invention. However, if
the number of mutations is so great that no hybridization can occur
under even the least stringent of hybridization conditions, the
sequence is not a complementary target sequence. Thus, by
"substantially complementary" herein is meant that the probes are
sufficiently complementary to the target sequences to hybridize
under the selected reaction conditions. High stringency conditions
are known in the art; see for example Maniatis et al., Molecular
Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2d Edition, 1989, and Short Protocols
in Molecular Biology, ed. Ausubel, et al., both of which are hereby
incorporated by reference. Stringent conditions are
sequence-dependent and will be different in different
circumstances. Longer sequences hybridize specifically at higher
temperatures. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic
acids is found in Tijssen, Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology--Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes, "Overview of
principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid
assays" (1993). Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be
about 5-10.degree. C. lower than the thermal melting point
(T.sub.m) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength pH.
The T.sub.m is the temperature (under defined ionic strength, pH
and nucleic acid concentration) at which 50% of the probes
complementary to the target hybridize to the target sequence at
equilibrium (as the target sequences are present in excess, at
T.sub.m, 50% of the probes are occupied at equilibrium). Stringent
conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less
than about 1.0 M sodium ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M sodium
ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the
temperature is at least about 30.degree. C. for short probes (e.g.
10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 60.degree. C. for long
probes (e.g. greater than 50 nucleotides). Stringent conditions may
also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as
formamide. In another embodiment, less stringent hybridization
conditions are used; for example, moderate or low stringency
conditions may be used, as are known in the art; see Maniatis and
Ausubel, supra, and Tijssen, supra.
[0052] The term `target sequence" or grammatical equivalents herein
means a nucleic acid sequence on a single strand of nucleic acid.
The target sequence may be a portion of a gene, a regulatory
sequence, genomic DNA, cDNA, RNA including mRNA and rRNA, or
others. It may be any length, with the understanding that longer
sequences are more specific. As will be appreciated by those in the
art, the complementary target sequence may take many forms. For
example, it may be contained within a larger nucleic acid sequence,
i.e. all or part of a gene or mRNA, a restriction fragment of a
plasmid or genomic DNA, among others. As is outlined more fully
below, probes are made to hybridize to target sequences to
determine the presence or absence of the target sequence in a
sample. Generally speaking, this term will be understood by those
skilled in the art.
[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the bioactive agents are organic
chemical moieties, a wide variety of which are available in the
literature.
[0054] In a preferred embodiment, each bead comprises a single type
of bioactive agent, although a plurality of individual bioactive
agents are preferably attached to each bead. Similarly, preferred
embodiments utilize more than one microsphere containing a unique
bioactive agent; that is, there is redundancy built into the system
by the use of subpopulations of microspheres, each microsphere in
the subpopulation containing the same bioactive agent.
[0055] As will be appreciated by those in the art, the bioactive
agents may either be synthesized directly on the beads, or they may
be made and then attached after synthesis. In a preferred
embodiment, linkers are used to attach the bioactive agents to the
beads, to allow both good attachment, sufficient flexibility to
allow good interaction with the target molecule, and to avoid
undesirable binding reactions.
[0056] In a preferred embodiment, the bioactive agents are
synthesized directly on the beads. As is known in the art, many
classes of chemical compounds are currently synthesized on solid
supports, such as peptides, organic moieties, and nucleic acids. It
is a relatively straightforward matter to adjust the current
synthetic techniques to use beads.
[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the bioactive agents are
synthesized first, and then covalently attached to the beads. As
will be appreciated by those in the art, this will be done
depending on the composition of the bioactive agents and the beads.
The functionalization of solid support surfaces such as certain
polymers with chemically reactive groups such as thiols, amines,
carboxyls, etc. is generally known in the art. Accordingly, "blank"
microspheres may be used that have surface chemistries that
facilitate the attachment of the desired functionality by the user.
Some examples of these surface chemistries for blank microspheres
are listed in Table I.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Surface chemistry Name: NH.sub.2 Amine COOH
Carboxylic Acid CHO Aldehyde CH.sub.2--NH.sub.2 Aliphalic Amine
CONH.sub.2 Amide CH.sub.2--Cl Chloromethyl CONH--NH.sub.2 Hydrazide
OH Hydroxyl SO.sub.4 Sulfate SO.sub.3 Sulfonate ArNH.sub.2 Aromatic
Amine
[0058] These functional groups can be used to add any number of
different bioactive agents to the beads, generally using known
chemistries. For example, bioactive agents containing carbohydrates
may be attached to an amino-functionalized support; the aldehyde of
the carbohydrate is made using standard techniques, and then the
aldehyde is reacted with an amino group on the surface. In an
alternative embodiment, a sulfhydryl linker may be used. There are
a number of sulfhydryl reactive linkers known in the art such as
SPDP, maleimides, .alpha.-haloacetyls, and pyridyl disulfides (see
for example the 1994 Pierce Chemical Company catalog, technical
section on cross-linkers, pages 155-200, incorporated herein by
reference) which can be used to attach cysteine containing
proteinaceous agents to the support. Alternatively, an amino group
on the bioactive agent may be used for attachment to an amino group
on the surface. For example, a large number of stable bifunctional
groups are well known in the art, including homobifunctional and
heterobifunctional linkers (see Pierce Catalog and Handbook, pages
155-200). In an additional embodiment, carboxyl groups (either from
the surface or from the bioactive agent) may be derivatized using
well known linkers (see the Pierce catalog). For example,
carbodiimides activate carboxyl groups for attack by good
nucleophiles such as amines (see Torchilin et al., Critical Rev.
Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 7(4):275-308 (1991), expressly
incorporated herein). Proteinaceous bioactive agents may also be
attached using other techniques known in the art, for example for
the attachment of antibodies to polymers; see Slinkin et al.,
Bioconj. Chem. 2:342-348 (1991); Torchilin et al., supra;
Trubetskoy et al., Bioconj. Chem. 3:323-327 (1992); King et al.,
Cancer Res. 54:6176-6185 (1994); and Wilbur et al., Bioconjugate
Chem. 5:220-235 (1994), all of which are hereby expressly
incorporated by reference). It should be understood that the
bioactive agents may be attached in a variety of ways, including
those listed above. What is important is that manner of attachment
does not significantly alter the functionality of the bioactive
agent; that is, the bioactive agent should be attached in such a
flexible manner as to allow its interaction with a target.
[0059] Specific techniques for immobilizing enzymes on microspheres
are known in the prior art. In one case, NH.sub.2 surface chemistry
microspheres are used. Surface activation is achieved with a 2.5%
glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffered saline (10 mM) providing a pH
of 6.9. (138 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM, KCl). This is stirred on a stir bed
for approximately 2 hours at room temperature. The microspheres are
then rinsed with ultrapure water plus 0.01% tween 20
(surfactant)-0.02%, and rinsed again with a pH 7.7 PBS plus 0.01%
tween 20. Finally, the enzyme is added to the solution, preferably
after being prefiltered using a 0.45 .mu.m amicon micropure
filter.
[0060] In addition to a bioactive agent, the microspheres comprise
an optical signature that can be used to identify the attached
bioactive agent. That is, each subpopulation of microspheres
comprise a unique optical signature or optical tag that can be used
to identify the unique bioactive agent of that subpopulation of
microspheres; a bead comprising the unique optical signature may be
distinguished from beads at other locations with different optical
signatures. As is outlined herein, each bioactive agent will have
an associated unique optical signature such that any microspheres
comprising that bioactive agent will be identifiable on the basis
of the signature. As is more fully outlined below, it is possible
to reuse or duplicate optical signatures within an array, for
example, when another level of identification is used, for example
when beads of different sizes are used, or when the array is loaded
sequentially with different batches of beads.
[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the optical signature is
generally a mixture of reporter dyes, preferably fluorescent. By
varying both the composition of the mixture (i.e. the ratio of one
dye to another) and the concentration of the dye (leading to
differences in signal intensity), matrices of unique tags may be
generated. This may be done by covalently attaching the dyes to the
surface of the beads, or alternatively, by entrapping the dye
within the bead. The dyes may be chromophores or phosphors but are
preferably fluorescent dyes, which due to their strong signals
provide a good signal-to-noise ratio for decoding. Suitable dyes
for use in the invention include, but are not limited to,
fluorescent lanthanide complexes, including those of Europium and
Terbium, fluorescein, rhodamine, tetramethylrhodamine, eosin,
erythrosin, coumarin, methyl-coumarins, pyrene, Malacite green,
stilbene, Lucifer Yellow, Cascade Blue.TM., Texas Red, and others
described in the 1989-1991 Molecular Probes Handbook by Richard P.
Haugland, hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the encoding can be accomplished
in a ratio of at least two dyes, although more encoding dimensions
may be added in the size of the beads, for example. In addition,
the labels are distinguishable from one another; thus two different
labels may comprise different molecules (i.e. two different fluors)
or, alternatively, one label at two different concentrations or
intensity.
[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the dyes are covalently attached
to the surface of the beads. This may be done as is generally
outlined for the attachment of the bioactive agents, using
functional groups on the surface of the beads. As will be
appreciated by those in the art, these attachments are done to
minimize the effect on the dye.
[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the dyes are non-covalently
associated with the beads, generally by entrapping the dyes in the
bead matrix or pores of the beads. Referring to the embodiment of
FIG. 1, reporter dyes 14 are added to the microsphere 10 with the
encoding occurring in the ratio of two or more dyes. The reporter
dyes 14 may be chromophore-type. Fluorescent dyes, however, are
preferred because the strength of the fluorescent signal provides a
better signal-to-noise ratio when decoding. Additionally, encoding
in the ratios of the two or more dyes, rather than single dye
concentrations, is preferred since it provides insensitivity to the
intensity of light used to interrogate the reporter dye's signature
and detector sensitivity. In one embodiment, the dyes are added to
the bioactive agent, rather than the beads, although this is
generally not preferred.
[0065] FIG. 2 is a process diagram illustrating the preparation of
the microspheres. In step 50, an aliquot of stock microspheres are
vacuum filtered to produce a dry cake. In one implementation,
microsphere copolymers of methylstyrene (87%) and divinylbenzene
(13%) are used that have a 3.1 micrometer (.mu.m) diameter. The dry
cake is then broken apart and a dye solution added to it in step 52
to encode optical signatures of the microspheres with information
concerning the intended surface chemical functionalities. Dyes may
be covalently bonded to the microspheres' surface, but this
consumes surface binding sites desirably reserved for the chemical
functionalities. Preferably, the microspheres are placed in a dye
solution comprising a ratio of two or more fluorescent reporter
dyes dissolved in an organic solvent that will swell the
microspheres, e.g., dimethylformamide (DMF). The length of time the
microspheres are soaked in the dye solution will determine their
intensity and the broadness of the ratio range.
[0066] In an exemplary two dye system, Texas Red Cadaverine (TRC)
is used, which is excited at .lamda..sub.ab=580 mm and emits at
.lamda..sub.em=630 mm, in combination with indodicarbocyanine
(DiIC): 610/670 (.lamda..sub.ab/.lamda..sub.em). Generally, dyes
are selected to be compatible with the chemistries involved in the
analysis and to be spectrally compatible. This avoids deconvolution
problems associated with determining signal contributions based on
the presence of both the analyte and the encoding dye ratios
contributing to an overlapping emission spectral region.
[0067] Examples of other dyes that can be used are Oxazin
(662/705), IR-144 (745/825), IR-140 (776/882), IR-125 (786/800)
from Exciton, and Bodipy 665/676 from Molecular Probes, and
Naphthofluorescein (605/675) also from Molecular Probes. Lathanide
complexes may also be used. Fluorescent dyes emitting in other than
the near infrared may also be used. Chromophore dyes are still
another alternative that produce an optically interrogatable
signature, as are more exotic formulations using Raman
scattering-based dyes or polarizing dyes, for example. The ability
of a particular dye pair to encode for different chemical
functionalities depends on the resolution of the ratiometric
measurement. Conservatively, any dye pair should provide the
ability to discriminate at least twenty different ratios. The
number of unique combinations of two dyes made with a particular
dye set is shown in the following Table II.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II NUMBER OF COMBINATIONS DYES IN SET POSSIBLE
3 3 4 6 5 10 6 15
[0068] Thus, using six dyes and twenty distinct ratios for each dye
pair, 300 separate chemical functionalities may be encoded in a
given population of microspheres. Combining more than two dyes
provides additional diversity in the encoding combinations.
[0069] Furthermore, the concentration of the dyes will contribute
to their intensity; thus intensity is another way to increase the
number of unique optical signatures.
[0070] In step 54, the microspheres are vacuum filtered to remove
excess dye. The microspheres are then washed in water or other
liquid that does not swell the microspheres, but in which the dyes
are still soluble. This allows the residual dye to be rinsed off
without rinsing the dye out of the microspheres.
[0071] In step 56, the bioactive agent is attached to the
microsphere surface if not already present. It should be understood
that surface chemistries may be present throughout the
microsphere's volume, and not limited to the physical
circumferential surface.
[0072] Once the microspheres are made comprising at least one
bioactive agent and an optical signature, the microspheres are
added to discrete sites on the surface of the substrate. This can
be done in a number of ways, but generally comprises adding the
beads to the surface under conditions that will allow the
association of the microspheres on or at the discrete sites. The
association of the beads on the surface may comprise a covalent
bonding of the bead to the surface, for example when chemical
attachment sites are added to both the substrate and the bead; an
electrostatic or hydroaffinity, when charge, hydrophobicity or
hydrophilicity is used as the basis of the binding; a physical yet
non-covalent attachment such as the use of an adhesive; or a
spatial attachment, for example the localization of a bead within a
well. In some embodiments it may be preferable to effect a more
permanent attachment after the initial localization, for example
through the use of cross-linking agents, a film or membrane over
the array.
[0073] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a microsphere system, or
array of microspheres, 100 formed from microsphere populations that
have different bioactive agents. While a large number of
microspheres and bioactive agents may be employed, in this example
only three microsphere populations are shown. The individual
populations, or subpopulations, of microspheres are represented as
10a,10b,10c carrying respective bioactive agents or probe sequences
60a,60b,60c, as exemplary functionalities. The subpopulations may
be combined in either a random or ordered fashion on a substrate,
with a corresponding distribution of their respective bioactive
agents.
[0074] Typically, with conventional methods, mixing microsphere
populations having different bioactive agents results in the loss
of information regarding the selectivity for each of the
corresponding target sequences. In a solution of microspheres with
each of the probe sequences 60a, 60b, and 60c, it is possible to
determine that at least one of the target sequences 62a, 62b, and
62c is present when a fluorescent marker dye 64 concentration is
observed on the microspheres 10. However, with conventional
approaches, typically there is no way to determine which bioactive
agent or probe sequence 60a, 60b, and 60c is generating the
activity since the information concerning which microsphere
contained which probe sequence was lost when the subpopulations
were mixed.
[0075] However, with the microsphere system 100 and method of the
present invention, each microsphere in each subpopulation is
encoded with a common optical signature. In the illustrated
example, the subpopulation represented by microsphere 10a has a two
reporter dye ratio of 10:1; the subpopulation of microspheres 10b
has a ratio of 1:1 of the same reporter dyes, and subpopulation of
microspheres 10c has a ratio of 1:10 of the reporter dyes.
[0076] Thus, the randomly mixed subpopulations of microspheres are
useful as an analytic chemistry system based on each of the carried
bioactive agents 60a-60c separately. The microsphere array or
system 100 is exposed to an analyte of interest to which some of
the bioactive agents may interact. Any interaction changes the
optical response of the corresponding microspheres by, for example,
binding a fluorescent dye 64 to the microspheres. By identifying
the chemical functionalities of the microsphere in which the
optical signature has changed, using the encoded dye combinations,
information regarding the chemical identity and concentration of an
analyte may be gained based upon the interaction or noninteraction
of each bioactive agent contained in the microsphere system
100.
[0077] The microspheres exhibiting activity or changes in their
optical signature may be identified by a conventional optical train
and optical detection system. Decoding can also be performed either
manually or automatically with the aid of a computer. Depending on
the particular encoding or reporter dyes used and their operative
wavelengths, optical filters designed for a particular wavelengths
may be employed for optical interrogation of the microspheres of
bioactive agents. In a preferred embodiment, the analytic chemistry
microsphere system is used in conjunction with an optical fiber
bundle or fiber optic array as a substrate.
[0078] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a
microsphere-based analytic chemistry system employing a fiber optic
assembly 200 with an optical detection system. The fiber optic
assembly 200 comprises a fiber optic bundle or array 202, that is
constructed from clad fibers so that light does not mix between
fibers. A microsphere array or system, 100 is attached to the
bundle's distal end 212, with the proximal end 214 being received
by a z-translation stage 216 and x-y micropositioner 218. These two
components act in concert to properly position the proximal end 214
of the bundle 202 for a microscope objective lens 220. Light
collected by the objective lens 220 is passed to a reflected light
fluorescence attachment with three pointer cube slider 222. The
attachment 222 allows insertion of light from a 75 Watt Xe lamp 224
through the objective lens 220 to be coupled into the fiber bundle
202. The light from the source 224 is condensed by condensing lens
226, then filtered and/or shuttered by filter and shutter wheel
228, and subsequently passes through a ND filter slide 230.
[0079] Light returning from the distal end 212 of the bundle 202 is
passed by the attachment 222 to a magnification changer 232 which
enables adjustment of the image size of the fiber's proximal or
distal end. Light passing through the magnification changer 232 is
then shuttered and filtered by a second wheel 234. The light is
then imaged on a charge coupled device (CCD) camera 236. A computer
238 executes imaging processing software to process the information
from the CCD camera 236 and also possibly control the first and
second shutter and filter wheels 228, 234. The instrumentation
exclusive of the fiber sensor 200, i.e., to the left of the
proximal end of the bundle 202 is discussed more completely by
Bronk, et al., Anal. Chem. 1995, Vol. 67, number 17, pp.
2750-2752.
[0080] The microsphere array or system 100 may be attached to the
distal end of the optical fiber bundle or fiber optic array using a
variety of compatible processes. It is important that the
microspheres are located close to the end of the bundle. This
ensures that the light returning in each optical fiber
predominantly comes from only a single microsphere. This feature is
necessary to enable the interrogation of the optical signature of
individual microspheres to identify reactions involving the
microsphere's functionality and also to decode the dye ratios
contained in those microspheres. The adhesion or affixing
technique, however, must not chemically insulate the microspheres
from the analyte.
[0081] FIGS. 5A and 5B are micrographs of the distal end 212 of the
bundle 202 illustrating the preferred technique for attaching the
microspheres 10 to the bundle 202. Wells 250 are formed at the
center of each optical fiber 252 of the bundle 202. As shown in
FIG. 5B, the size of the wells 250 are coordinated with the size of
the microspheres 10 so that the microspheres 10 can be placed
within the wells 250. Thus, each optical fiber 252 of the bundle
202 conveys light from the single microsphere 10 contained in 5 its
well. Consequently, by imaging the end of the bundle 202 onto the
CCD array 236, the optical signatures of the microspheres 10 are
individually interrogatable.
[0082] FIG. 6 illustrates how the microwells 250 are formed and
microspheres 10 placed in the wells. A 1 mm hexagonally-packed
imaging fiber contains approximately 20,600 individual optical
fibers that have cores approximately 3.7 .mu.m across (Part No.
ET26 from Galileo Fibers). Typically, the cores of each fiber are
hexagonally shaped as a result the starting preform; that is,
during drawing the fiber does not usually change shape. In some
cases, the shape can be circular, however.
[0083] In step 270, both the proximal and distal ends 212,214 of
the fiber bundle 202 are successively polished on 12 .mu.m, 9
.mu.m, 3 .mu.m, 1 .mu.m, and 0.3 .mu.m lapping films. Subsequently,
the ends can be inspected for scratches on an atomic force
microscope. In step 272, a representative etching is performed on
the distal end 212 of the bundle 202. A solution of 0.2 grams
NH.sub.4F (ammonium fluoride) with 600 .mu.l distilled Hp and 100
.mu.l of HF (hydrofluoric acid), 50% stock solution, may be used.
The distal end 212 is etched in this solution for a specified time,
preferably approximately 30 to 600 seconds, with about 80 seconds
being preferred.
[0084] Upon removal from this solution, the bundle end is
immediately placed in deionized water to stop any further etching
in step 274. The fiber is then rinsed in running tap water. At this
stage, sonication is preferably performed for several minutes to
remove any salt products from the reaction. The fiber is then
allowed to air dry.
[0085] The foregoing procedure produces wells by the anisotropic
etching of the fiber cores 254 favorably with respect to the
cladding 256 for each fiber of the bundle 202. The wells have
approximately the diameter of the cores 254, 3.7 .mu.m. This
diameter is selected to be slightly larger than the diameters of
the microspheres used, 3.1 .mu.m, in the example. The preferential
etching occurs because the pure silica of the cores 254 etches
faster in the presence of hydrofluoric acid than the
germanium-doped silica claddings 256.
[0086] The microspheres are then placed in the wells 250 in step
276 according to a number of different techniques. The placement of
the microspheres may be accomplished by dripping a solution
containing the desired randomly mixed subpopulations of the
microspheres over the distal end 212, sonicating the bundle to
settle the microspheres in the wells, and allowing the microsphere
solvent to evaporate. Alternatively, the subpopulations could be
added serially to the bundle end. Microspheres 10 may then be fixed
into the wells 250 by using a dilute solution of sulfonated Nafion
that is dripped over the end. Upon solvent evaporation, a thin film
of Nation was formed over the microspheres which holds them in
place. This approach is compatible for fixing microspheres for pH
indication that carry FITC functionality. The resulting array of
fixed microspheres retains its pH sensitivity due to the
permeability of the sulfonated Nafion to hydrogen ions. This
approach, however, can not be employed generically as Nafion is
impermeable to most water soluble species. A similar approach can
be employed with different polymers. For example, solutions of
polyethylene glycol, polyacrylamide, or polyhydroxymethyl
methacrylate (polyHEMA) can be used in place of Nation, providing
the requisite permeability to aqueous species.
[0087] An alternative fixation approach employs microsphere
swelling to entrap each microsphere 10 in its corresponding
microwell 250. In this approach, the microspheres are first
distributed into the microwells 250 by sonicating the microspheres
suspended in a non-swelling solvent in the presence of the
microwell array on the distal end 212. After placement into the
microwells, the microspheres are subsequently exposed to an aqueous
buffer in which they swell, thereby physically entrapping them,
analogous to muffins rising in a muffin tin.
[0088] One of the most common microsphere formations is tentagel, a
styrene-polyethylene glycol co-polymer. These microspheres are
unswollen in nonpolar solvents such as hexane and swell
approximately 20-40% in volume upon exposure to a more polar or
aqueous media. This approach is extremely desirable since it does
not significantly compromise the diffusional or permeability
properties of the microspheres themselves.
[0089] FIGS. 7A and 7B show polymer coated microspheres 12 in wells
250 after their initial placement and then after tapping and
exposure to air pulses. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate that there is no
appreciable loss of microspheres from the wells due to mechanical
agitation even without a specific fixing technique. This effect is
probably due to electrostatic forces between the microspheres and
the optical fibers. These forces tend to bind the microspheres
within the wells. Thus, in most environments, it may be unnecessary
to use any chemical or mechanical fixation for the
microspheres.
[0090] In a preferred embodiment, particularly when wells are used,
a sonication step may be used to place beads in the wells.
[0091] It should be noted that not all sites of an array may
comprise a bead; that is, there may be some sites on the substrate
surface which are empty. In addition, there may be some sites that
contain more than one bead, although this is not preferred.
[0092] In some embodiments, for example when chemical attachment is
done, it is possible to attach the beads in a non-random or ordered
way. For example, using photoactivatible attachment linkers or
photoactivatible adhesives or masks, selected sites on the array
may be sequentially rendered suitable for attachment, such that
defined populations of beads are laid down.
[0093] In addition, since the size of the array will be set by the
number of unique optical signatures, it is possible to "reuse" a
set of unique optical signatures to allow for a greater number of
test sites. This may be done in several ways; for example, by using
a positional coding scheme within an array; different sub-bundles
may reuse the set of optical signatures. Similarly, one embodiment
utilizes bead size as a coding modality, thus allowing the reuse of
the set of unique optical signatures for each bead size.
Alternatively, sequential partial loading of arrays with beads can
also allow the reuse of optical signatures.
[0094] In a preferred embodiment, a spatial or positional coding
system is done. In this embodiment, there are sub-bundles or
subarrays (i.e. portions of the total array) that are utilized. By
analogy with the telephone system, each subarray is an "area code",
that can have the same tags (i.e. telephone numbers) of other
subarrays, that are separated by virtue of the location of the
subarray. Thus, for example, the same unique tags can be reused
from bundle to bundle. Thus, the use of 50 unique tags in
combination with 100 different subarrays can form an array of 5000
different bioactive agents. In this embodiment, it becomes
important to be able to identify one bundle from another; in
general, this is done either manually or through the use of marker
beads, i.e. beads containing unique tags for each subarray.
[0095] In alternative embodiments, additional encoding parameters
can be added, such as microsphere size. For example, the use of
different size beads may also allow the reuse of sets of optical
signatures; that is, it is possible to use microspheres of
different sizes to expand the encoding dimensions of the
microspheres. Optical fiber arrays can be fabricated containing
pixels with different fiber diameters or cross-sections;
alternatively, two or more fiber optic bundles or arrays, each with
different cross-sections of the individual fibers, can be added
together to form a larger bundle or array; or, fiber optic bundles
or arrays with fiber of the same size cross-sections can be used,
but just with different sized beads. With different diameters, the
largest wells can be filled with the largest microspheres and then
moving onto progressively smaller microspheres in the smaller wells
until all size wells are then filled. In this manner, the same dye
ratio could be used to encode microspheres of different sizes
thereby expanding the number of different oligonucleotide sequences
or chemical functionalities present in the array. Although outlined
for fiber optic substrates, this as well as the other methods
outlined herein can be used with other substrates and with other
attachment modalities as well.
[0096] In a preferred embodiment, the coding and decoding is
accomplished by sequential loading of the microspheres into the
array. As outlined above for spatial coding, in this embodiment,
the optical signatures can be "reused". In this embodiment, the
library of microspheres each comprising a different bioactive agent
(or the subpopulations each comprise a different bioactive agent),
is divided into a plurality of sublibraries; for example, depending
on the size of the desired array and the number of unique tags, 10
sublibraries each comprising roughly 10% of the total library may
be made, with each sublibrary comprising roughly the same unique
tags. Then, the first sublibrary is added to the fiber optic bundle
or array comprising the wells, and the location of each bioactive
agent is determined, using its optical signature. The second
sublibrary is then added, and the location of each optical
signature is again determined. The signal in this case will
comprise the "first" optical signature and the "second" optical
signature; by comparing the two matrices the location of each bead
in each sublibrary can be determined. Similarly, adding the third,
fourth, etc. sublibraries sequentially will allow the array to be
filled.
[0097] Thus, arrays are made of a large spectrum of chemical
functionalities utilizing the compositions of invention comprising
microspheres and substrates with discrete sites on a surface.
Specifically, prior art sensors which can be adapted for use in the
present invention include four broad classifications of microsphere
sensors: 1) basic indicator chemistry sensors; 2) enzyme-based
sensors; 3) immuno-based sensors (both of which are part of a
broader general class of protein sensors); and 4) geno-sensors.
[0098] In a preferred embodiment, the bioactive agents are used to
detect chemical compounds. A large number of basic indicator
sensors have been previously demonstrated. Examples include:
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE III TARGET ANALYTE BIOACTIVE AGENT NOTES
(.lamda..sub.AB/.lamda..sub.EM) pH Sensors seminaphthofluoresceins
e.g., carboxyl-SNAFL based on: seminaphthorhodafluors e.g.,
carboxyl-SNARF 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6- trisulfonic acid fluorescein
CO2 Sensors seminaphthofluoresceins e.g., carboxyl-SNAFL based On:
seminaphthorhodafluors e.g., carbody-SNARF 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-
trisulfonic acid Metal Ions desferriozamine B e.g., Fe Sensors
based on: cyclen derivative e.g., Cu, Zn derivatized peptides e.g.,
FITC-Gly-Gly-His, and FITC-Gly His, Cu, Zn fluorexon (calcine)
e.g., Ca, Mg, Cu, Pb, Ba calcine blue e.g., Ca, Mg, Cu methyl
calcine blue e.g., Ca, Mg, Cu ortho-dianisidine tetracetic e.g., Zn
acid (ODTA) bis-salicylidene e.g., Al ethylenediamine (SED)
N-(6-methozy-8-quinolyl-p- e.g., Zn toluenesulfonamine (TSQ) Indo-1
e.g., Mn, Ni Fura-2 e.g., Mn, Ni Magesium Green e.g., Mg, Cd, Tb
O.sub.2 Siphenylisobenzofuran 409/476 Methoxyvinyl pyrene 352/401
Nitrite diaminonaphthalene 340/377 NO luminol 355/411
dihydrohodamine 289/none Ca.sup.2- Bis-fura 340/380 Calcium Green
visible light/530 Fura-2 340/380 Indo-1 405/485 Fluo-3 visible
light/525 Rhod-2 visible light/570 Mg.sup.2+ Mag-Fura-2 340/380
Mag-Fura-5 340/380 Mag-Indo-1 405/485 Magnesium Green 475/530
Magnesium Orange visible light/545 Zn.sup.2- Newport Green 506/535
TSQ Methoxy-Quinobyl 334/385 Cu.sup.+ Phen Green 492/517 Na.sup.+
SBFI 339/565 SBFO 354/575 Sodium Green 506/535 K.sup.+ PBFI 336/557
Cl.sup.- SPQ 344/443 MQAE 350/460
Each of the chemicals listed in Table III directly produces an
optically interrogatable signal or a change in the optical
signature, as is more fully outlined below, in the presence of the
targeted analyte.
[0099] Enzyme-based microsphere sensors have also been demonstrated
and could be manifest on microspheres. Examples include:
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE IV SENSOR TARGET Bioactive agent Glucose
Sensor glucose oxidase (enz.) + O.sub.2-sensitive dye (see Table I)
Penicillin Sensor penicillinase (enz.) + pH-sensitive dye (see
Table I) Urea Sensor urease (enz.) + pH-sensitive dye (see Table I)
Acetylcholine Sensor acetylcholinesterase (enz.) + pH-sensitive dye
(see Table I)
Generally, as more fully outlined above, the induced change in the
optical signal due to the presence of the enzyme-sensitive chemical
analyte occurs indirectly in this class of chemical
functionalities. The microsphere-bound enzyme, e.g., glucose
oxidase, decomposes the target analyte, e.g., glucose, consume a
co-substrate, e.g., oxygen, or produce some by-product, e.g.,
hydrogen peroxide. An oxygen sensitive dye is then used to trigger
the signal change.
[0100] Immuno-based microsphere sensors have been demonstrated for
the detection for environmental pollutants such as pesticides,
herbicides, PCB's and PAH's. Additionally, these sensors have also
been used for diagnostics, such as bacterial (e.g., leprosy,
cholera, lyme disease, and tuberculosis), viral (e.g., HIV, herpes
simplex, cytomegalovirus), fungal (e.g., aspergillosis,
candidiasis, cryptococcoses), Mycoplasmal (e.g., mycoplasmal
pneumonia), Protozoal (e.g., amoebiasis, toxoplasmosis),
Rickettsial (e.g., Rocky Mountain spotted fever), and pregnancy
tests.
[0101] Microsphere genosensors may also be made (see the Examples).
These are typically constructed by attaching a probe sequence to
the microsphere surface chemistry, typically via an NH.sub.2 group.
A fluorescent dye molecule, e.g., fluorescein, is attached to the
target sequence, which is in solution. The optically interrogatable
signal change occurs with the binding of the target sequences to
the microsphere. This produces a higher concentration of dye
surrounding the microsphere than in the solution generally. A few
demonstrated probe and target sequences, see Ferguson, J. A. et al.
Nature Biotechnology, Vol. 14, December 1996, are listed below in
Table V.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE V PROBE SEQUENCES TARGET SEQUENCES
B-glo(+)(segment of B-glo(+)-CF human B-globin) 5'-Fluorescein-TC
AAC 5'-NH.sub.2-(CH.sub.2).sub.8-)TT TTT GTG GAT GAA GTT C-3' TTT
TCA ACT TCA TCC ACG TTC ACC-3 IFNG(interferon gamma 1) IFNG-CF
5'-NH.sub.2-(CH.sub.2).sub.8-T.sub.12-TGG CTT 5'-Fluorescein-AG TAA
CTC TTG GCT GTT ACT-3' CAG CCA AGA GAA CCC AAA-3'
IL2(interleukin-2) IL2-CF 5'-NH.sub.2-(CH.sub.2).sub.8-T.sub.12-TA
ACC 5'-Fluorescein-CT GGT GAA TCC CAA ACT CAC CAG-3' GAG TTT GGG
ATT CTT GTA-3' IL4(interleukin-4) IL4-CF
5'NH.sub.2-(CH.sub.2).sub.8-T.sub.12-CC AAC 5'-Fluorescein-AC AGA
TGC TTC CCC CTC TGT-3' GGG GGA AGC AGT TGG-3' IL6(interleukin-6)
IL6-CF 5'NH.sub.2-(CH.sub.2).sub.8-T.sub.12-GT TGG
5'-Fluorescein-AA TAA GTC AGG GGT GGT TAT T-3' CCA CCC CTG ACC CAA
C-3'
It should be further noted that the genosensors can be based on the
use of hybridization indicators as the labels. Hybridization
indicators preferentially associate with double stranded nucleic
acid, usually reversibly. Hybridization indicators include
intercalators and minor and/or major groove binding moieties. In a
preferred embodiment, intercalators may be used; since
intercalation generally only occurs in the presence of double
stranded nucleic acid, only in the presence of target hybridization
will the label light up.
[0102] The present invention may be used with any or all of these
types of sensors. As will be appreciated by those in the art, the
type and composition of the sensor will vary widely, depending on
the composition of the target analyte. That is, sensors may be made
to detect nucleic acids, proteins (including enzyme sensors and
immunosensors), lipids, carbohydrates, etc; similarly, these
sensors may include bioactive agents that are nucleic acids,
proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, etc. In addition, a single array
sensor may contain different binding ligands for multiple types of
analytes; for example, an array sensor for HIV may contain multiple
nucleic acid probes for direct detection of the viral genome,
protein binding ligands for direct detection of the viral particle,
immuno-components for the detection of anti-HIV antibodies,
etc.
[0103] In addition to the beads and the substrate, the compositions
of the invention may include other components, such as light
sources, optical components such as lenses and filters, detectors,
computer components for data analysis, etc.
[0104] The arrays of the present invention are constructed such
that information about the identity of the bioactive agent is built
into the array, such that the random deposition of the beads on the
surface of the substrate can be "decoded" to allow identification
of the bioactive agent at all positions. This may be done in a
variety of ways.
[0105] In a preferred embodiment, the beads are loaded onto the
substrate and then the array is decoded, prior to running the
assay. This is done by detecting the optical signature associated
with the bead at each site on the array. This may be done all at
once, if unique optical signatures are used, or sequentially, as is
generally outlined above for the "reuse" of sets of optical
signatures. Alternatively, decoding may occur after the assay is
run.
[0106] Once made and decoded if necessary, the compositions find
use in a number of applications. Generally, a sample containing a
target analyte (whether for detection of the target analyte or
screening for binding partners of the target analyte) is added to
the array, under conditions suitable for binding of the target
analyte to at least one of the bioactive agents, i.e. generally
physiological conditions. The presence or absence of the target
analyte is then detected. As will be appreciated by those in the
art, this may be done in a variety of ways, generally through the
use of a change in an optical signal. This change can occur via
many different mechanisms. A few examples include the binding of a
dye-tagged analyte to the bead, the production of a dye species on
or near the beads, the destruction of an existing dye species, a
change in the optical signature upon analyte interaction with dye
on bead, or any other optical interrogatable event.
[0107] In a preferred embodiment, the change in optical signal
occurs as a result of the binding of a target analyte that is
labeled, either directly or indirectly, with a detectable label,
preferably an optical label such as a fluorochrome. Thus, for
example, when a proteinaceous target analyte is used, it may be
either directly labeled with a fluor, or indirectly, for example
through the use of a labeled antibody. Similarly, nucleic acids are
easily labeled with fluorochromes, for example during PCR
amplification as is known in the art. Alternatively, upon binding
of the target sequences, an intercalating dye (e.g., ethidium
bromide) can be added subsequently to signal the presence of the
bound target to the probe sequence. Upon binding of the target
analyte to a bioactive agent, there is a new optical signal
generated at that site, which then may be detected. Alternatively,
in some cases, as discussed above, the target analyte such as an
enzyme generates a species (for example, a fluorescent product)
that is either directly or indirectly detectable optically.
[0108] Furthermore, in some embodiments, a change in the optical
signature may be the basis of the optical signal. For example, the
interaction of some chemical target analytes with some fluorescent
dyes on the beads may alter the optical signature, thus generating
a different optical signal. For example, fluorophore derivatized
receptors may be used in which the binding of the ligand alters the
signal.
[0109] As will be appreciated by those in the art, in some
embodiments, the presence or absence of the target analyte may be
done using changes in other optical or non-optical signals,
including, but not limited to, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy,
surface plasmon resonance, radioactivity, etc.
[0110] The assays may be run under a variety of experimental
conditions, as will be appreciated by those in the art. A variety
of other reagents may be included in the screening assays. These
include reagents like salts, neutral proteins, e.g. albumin,
detergents, etc which may be used to facilitate optimal
protein-protein binding and/or reduce non-specific or background
interactions. Also reagents that otherwise improve the efficiency
of the assay, such as protease inhibitors, nuclease inhibitors,
anti-microbial agents, etc., may be used. The mixture of components
may be added in any order that provides for the requisite binding.
Various blocking and washing steps may be utilized as is known in
the art.
[0111] In a preferred embodiment, the compositions are used to
probe a sample solution for the presence or absence of a target
analyte. By "target analyte" or "analyte" or grammatical
equivalents herein is meant any atom, molecule, ion, molecular ion,
compound or particle to be either detected or evaluated for binding
partners. As will be appreciated by those in the art, a large
number of analytes may be used in the present invention; basically,
any target analyte can be used which binds a bioactive agent or for
which a binding partner (i.e. drug candidate) is sought.
[0112] Suitable analytes include organic and inorganic molecules,
including biomolecules. When detection of a target analyte is done,
suitable target analytes include, but are not limited to, an
environmental pollutant (including pesticides, insecticides,
toxins, etc.); a chemical (including solvents, polymers, organic
materials, etc.); therapeutic molecules (including therapeutic and
abused drugs, antibiotics, etc.); biomolecules (including hormones,
cytokines, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, cellular
membrane antigens and receptors (neural, hormonal, nutrient, and
cell surface receptors) or their ligands, etc); whole cells
(including procaryotic (such as pathogenic bacteria) and eukaryotic
cells, including mammalian tumor cells); viruses (including
retroviruses, herpesviruses, adenoviruses, lentiviruses, etc.); and
spores; etc. Particularly preferred analytes are nucleic acids and
proteins.
[0113] In a preferred embodiment, the target analyte is a protein.
As will be appreciated by those in the art, there are a large
number of possible proteinaceous target analytes that may be
detected or evaluated for binding partners using the present
invention. Suitable protein target analytes include, but are not
limited to, (1) immunoglobulins; (2) enzymes (and other proteins);
(3) hormones and cytokines (many of which serve as ligands for
cellular receptors); and (4) other proteins.
[0114] In a preferred embodiment, the target analyte is a nucleic
acid. These assays find use in a wide variety of applications.
[0115] In a preferred embodiment, the probes are used in genetic
diagnosis. For example, probes can be made using the techniques
disclosed herein to detect target sequences such as the gene for
nonpolyposis colon cancer, the BRCA1 breast cancer gene, P53, which
is a gene associated with a variety of cancers, the Apo E4 gene
that indicates a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease, allowing for
easy presymptomatic screening of patients, mutations in the cystic
fibrosis gene, or any of the others well known in the art.
[0116] In an additional embodiment, viral and bacterial detection
is done using the complexes of the invention. In this embodiment,
probes are designed to detect target sequences from a variety of
bacteria and viruses. For example, current blood-screening
techniques rely on the detection of anti-HIV antibodies. The
methods disclosed herein allow for direct screening of clinical
samples to detect HIV nucleic acid sequences, particularly highly
conserved HIV sequences. In addition, this allows direct monitoring
of circulating virus within a patient as an improved method of
assessing the efficacy of anti-viral therapies. Similarly, viruses
associated with leukemia, HTLV-I and HTLV-II, may be detected in
this way. Bacterial infections such as tuberculosis, clymidia and
other sexually transmitted diseases, may also be detected.
[0117] In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acids of the
invention find use as probes for toxic bacteria in the screening of
water and food samples. For example, samples may be treated to lyse
the bacteria to release its nucleic acid, and then probes designed
to recognize bacterial strains, including, but not limited to, such
pathogenic strains as, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Vibrio cholerae,
Leishmania, enterotoxic strains of E. coli, and Legionnaire's
disease bacteria. Similarly, bioremediation strategies may be
evaluated using the compositions of the invention.
[0118] In a further embodiment, the probes are used for forensic
"DNA fingerprinting" to match crime-scene DNA against samples taken
from victims and suspects.
[0119] In an additional embodiment, the probes in an array are used
for sequencing by hybridization.
[0120] The present invention also finds use as a methodology for
the detection of mutations or mismatches in target nucleic acid
sequences. For example, recent focus has been on the analysis of
the relationship between genetic variation and phenotype by making
use of polymorphic DNA markers. Previous work utilized short tandem
repeats (STRs) as polymorphic positional markers; however, recent
focus is on the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs),
which occur at an average frequency of more than 1 per kilobase in
human genomic DNA. Some SNPs, particularly those in and around
coding sequences, are likely to be the direct cause of
therapeutically relevant phenotypic variants. There are a number of
well known polymorphisms that cause clinically important
phenotypes; for example, the apoE2/3/4 variants are associated with
different relative risk of Alzheimer's and other diseases (see
Cordor et al., Science 261(1993). Multiplex PCR amplification of
SNP loci with subsequent hybridization to oligonucleotide arrays
has been shown to be an accurate and reliable method of
simultaneously genotyping at least hundreds of SNPs; see Wang et
al., Science, 280:1077 (1998); see also Schafer et al., Nature
Biotechnology 16:33-39 (1998). The compositions of the present
invention may easily be substituted for the arrays of the prior
art.
[0121] In a preferred embodiment, the compositions of the invention
are used to screen bioactive agents to find an agent that will
bind, and preferably modify the function of, a target molecule. As
above, a wide variety of different assay formats may be run, as
will be appreciated by those in the art. Generally, the target
analyte for which a binding partner is desired is labeled; binding
of the target analyte by the bioactive agent results in the
recruitment of the label to the bead, with subsequent
detection.
[0122] In a preferred embodiment, the binding of the bioactive
agent and the target analyte is specific; that is, the bioactive
agent specifically binds to the target analyte. By "specifically
bind" herein is meant that the agent binds the analyte, with
specificity sufficient to differentiate between the analyte and
other components or contaminants of the test sample. However, as
will be appreciated by those in the art, it will be possible to
detect analytes using binding which is not highly specific; for
example, the systems may use different binding ligands, for example
an array of different ligands, and detection of any particular
analyte is via its "signature" of binding to a panel of binding
ligands, similar to the manner in which "electronic noses" work.
This finds particular utility in the detection of chemical
analytes. The binding should be sufficient to remain bound under
the conditions of the assay, including wash steps to remove
non-specific binding, although in some embodiments, wash steps are
not desired; i.e. for detecting low affinity binding partners. In
some embodiments, for example in the detection of certain
biomolecules, the dissociation constants of the analyte to the
binding ligand will be less than about 10.sup.-4-10.sup.-6
M.sup.-1, with less than about 10.sup.-5 to 10.sup.-9M.sup.-1 being
preferred and less than about 10.sup.-7-10.sup.-9 M.sup.-1 being
particularly preferred.
[0123] The following examples serve to more fully describe the
manner of using the above-described invention, as well as to set
forth the best modes contemplated for carrying out various aspects
of the invention. It is understood that these examples in no way
serve to limit the true scope of this invention, but rather are
presented for illustrative purposes. All references cited herein
are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Enzyme-Based Sensor
Subpopulation A
[0124] Bioactive agent: Alkaline phosphatase Target substrate:
fluorescein diphosphate (FDP) Reported dye ratio: 1:1 ratio of
DiIC:TRC, where DiIC is
1,1',3,3,3',3'-hexamethyl-indodicarbocyanine iodide and TRC is
Texas Red cadaverine A range of ratios of light intensities are
selected that are representative of the optical signature for the
dye ratio of the subpopulation based on the quantum yield of the
two dyes. The optical signature for this subpopulation is:
iIC .lamda. intensity - ave . DiIC background TRC .lamda. intensity
- ave . TRC background = 0.847 .+-. 0.23 ##EQU00001##
Subpopulation B
[0125] Bioactive agent: B-Galactosidase; Target
substrate=fluorescein di-B-galactopyranoside (FDG) Reporter dye
ratio: 10:1 ratio of DiIC:TRC which translates to an optical
signature of:
DiIC .lamda. intensity - ave . DiIC background TRC .lamda.
intensity - ave . TRC background = 4.456 .+-. 1.27 ##EQU00002##
Subpopulation C
[0126] Bioactive agent: B-glucuronidase Target
substrate=fluorescein di-B-D-glucuronide (FDGicu). Reporter dye
ratio: 1:10 ratio of DiIC:TRC, which translates to an optical
signature of:
DiIC A intensity - ave . DiIC background TRC A intensity - ave .
TRC background = 0.2136 + 0.03 ##EQU00003##
[0127] When the microsphere populations are in the presence of one
or more of the substrates, the respective enzymes on the
microspheres catalyze the breakdown of the substrates producing
fluorescein which is fluorescent, emitting light at 530 nanometers
when excited at 490 nm. The production of fluorescein localized to
particular beads is then monitored. In this approach, the
localization of fluorescein around the microspheres is increased by
using a substrate solution of 90% glycerol and 10% substrate. The
glycerol inhibits the generated fluorescein from diffusing away
from the microsphere reaction sites.
[0128] During the experiment, images in the encoded wavelengths are
first taken. Since both DiIC and TRC are excited at 577 nm. Each
microsphere's emissions at 670 nm, indicative of the presence of
DiIC and 610 nm indicative of the presence of TRC were recorded
using a 595 nm dichroic and an acquisition time of 5 seconds for
the CCD 236. Next, the distal end 212 of the fiber bundle is placed
in a buffer and another image taken while illuminating the beams
with 490 nm light. Emissions in the 530 nm fluorescein wavelengths
were recorded with a 505 nm dichroic. In this case, a CCD
acquisition time of one second was used. This process provides a
background normalizing image. The buffer was removed and the fiber
allowed to dry to avoid substrate solution dilution.
[0129] The substrate solution is then introduced and CCD images
acquired every 30 seconds to a minute for 30 minutes While
illuminating the microspheres with 490 nm light and collecting
emissions in the 530 nm range. Fiber is then placed back in the
buffer solution and another background image captured. Those beads
that generate a signal indicative of fluorescein production are
decoded. Depending in the ratio of the intensity of light from the
two reporter dyes, DiIC:TRC, the bioactive agent of the optically
active beads may be decoded according to the following table.
TABLE-US-00006 0.617-1.08 alkaline phosphatase bead 3.188-5.725
.beta.-galactosidase bead 0.183-0.243 .beta.-glucunonidese bead
This process is then repeated for the remaining two substrates.
[0130] FIGS. 8A-8C are images generated by the CCD 236 when the
bead populations are exposed to fluorescein diphosphate. FIG. 8A
illustrates the signals from the alkaline phosphatase microspheres
when excited at 490 nm and recording emissions at 530 nm, emissions
at this wavelength being indicative of fluorescein production. FIG.
8B shows the image captured by the CCD when the microspheres are
excited at 577 nm and emissions at 670 nm are recorded. This
wavelength is an encoding wavelength indicative of the
concentration of DiIC on the microspheres. Finally, FIG. 8C shows
the image when the microspheres are excited with 577 nm light and
emissions in the 610 nm range are recorded being indicative of the
concentration of TRC in the microspheres.
[0131] In a similar vein, FIGS. 9A and 9B are images when the
microspheres are exposed to fluorescein .beta.-d-galactosidase.
FIG. 9A shows emissions at 530 nm indicative of the fluorescein
production; and FIG. 9B shows light emitted at the 670 nm range
indicative of the presence of DiIC.
[0132] These micrographs, FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9B illustrate that
fluorescein production around the microspheres may be detected as
an optical signature change indicative of reactions involving the
bioactive agent of the microspheres. The micrographs also
illustrate that the optical signatures may be decoded to determine
the chemical functionalities on each microsphere.
Immunosensor
[0133] Three separate subpopulations of beads were used. In
subpopulation A, xrabbit antibodies (Ab) were affixed to the
surface of the microspheres; in subpopulation B, xgoat antibodies
were affixed to the microspheres; and in subpopulation C, xmouse
antibodies were affixed to the microspheres. These three separate
subpopulations were identified using a DiIC:TRC encoding ratio
similar to that in the previously described experiment.
[0134] For the first step of the experiment, images at the encoded
wavelengths were captured using 577 nm excitation and looking for
emissions at 610 and 670 nm. After this decoding, the fiber was
placed in a buffer and an image taken at 530 nm with 490 nm
excitation. This provided a background normalizing signal at the
fluorescein emission wavelength. Next, the fiber was placed in
rabbit IgG antigen (Ag) which is fluorescein labeled. Images were
then captured every few minutes at the 530 nm emission wavelength
for fluorescein. FIGS. 10A and 10B are micrographs showing the
image captured by the CCD prior to and subsequent to exposure to a
rabbit antigen, which clearly show reaction of the selected
micropheres within the population.
[0135] Note, if the fluorescein background from the antigen
solution is too high to see the antibody-antigen signal, the fiber
bundle may be placed in a buffer. This removes the background
florescence leaving only the Ab-Ag
[0136] While this invention has been particularly shown and
described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
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