Patents by Inventor Alison L. Sparks

Alison L. Sparks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7883903
    Abstract: Chemiluminescent substrate delivery systems comprising a conjugate a dendrimer and at least one chemiluminescent substrate are provided. The substrate delivery systems can also include a chemiluminescence enhancer. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in kits including an enzyme capable of activating the chemiluminescent substrate to produce a peroxygenated intermediate that decomposes to produce light. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in assays to detect the presence of an analyte (e.g., an enzyme, an antibody, an antigen or a nucleic acid) in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Alison L. Sparks
  • Publication number: 20080227124
    Abstract: Solid supports for chemiluminescent assays are provided. The solid support includes a plurality of probes covalently or physically attached to the support surface and a chemiluminescent enhancing moiety incorporated onto the surface or into the bulk of the support. The solid support can be a multi-layered support including an upper probe binding layer (e.g., an azlactone polymer layer or porous functional polyamide layer) adjacent to a cationic microgel layer. The azlactone-functional polymer can be a copolymer of dimethylacrylamide and vinylazlactone crosslinked with ethylenediamine. The cationic microgel layer can be a cross-linked quaternary onium salt containing polymer. A method and a kit for conducting chemiluminescent assays using the solid supports is also provided. The kit comprises a dioxetane substrate, a biopolymer probe-enzyme complex, and a solid support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
  • Patent number: 7399645
    Abstract: The invention pertains to bioconjugation systems comprising sterically constrained cis-diols and borates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Ricky F. Baggio, Alison L. Sparks, Rouh-Rong Juo, Jaime E. Arenas
  • Patent number: 7368296
    Abstract: Solid supports for chemiluminescent assays are provided. The solid support includes a plurality of probes covalently or physically attached to the support surface and a chemiluminescent enhancing moiety incorporated onto the surface or into the bulk of the support. The solid support can be a multi-layered support including an upper probe binding layer (e.g., an azlactone polymer layer or porous functional polyamide layer) adjacent to a cationic microgel layer. The azlactone-functional polymer can be a copolymer of dimethylacrylamide and vinylazlactone crosslinked with ethylenediamine. The cationic microgel layer can be a cross-linked quaternary onium salt containing polymer. A method and a kit for conducting chemiluminescent assays using the solid supports is also provided. The kit comprises a dioxetane substrate, a biopolymer probe-enzyme complex, and a solid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
  • Patent number: 7214546
    Abstract: Chemiluminescent substrate delivery systems comprising a conjugate of a dendrimer and at least one chemiluminescent substrate are provided. The substrate delivery systems can also include a chemiluminescence enhancer. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in kits including an enzyme capable of activating the chemiluminescent substrate to produce a peroxygenated intermediate that decomposes to produce light. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in assays to detect the presence of an analyte (e.g., an enzyme, an antibody, an antigen or a nucleic acid) in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventor: Alison L. Sparks
  • Patent number: 6933126
    Abstract: Intracellular enzyme-activated fluorescent substrates that can be transported into a cell are provided. The membrane transportable fluorescent substrates are complexes (e.g., ionic complexes) formed between an enzyme activated fluorescent substrate and a carrier molecule. The fluorescent substrates can be used in an intracellular assay of enzyme activity and/or expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventor: Alison L. Sparks
  • Publication number: 20030134286
    Abstract: Solid supports for chemiluminescent assays are provided. The solid support includes a plurality of probes covalently or physically attached to the support surface and a chemiluminescent enhancing moiety incorporated onto the surface or into the bulk of the support. The solid support can be a multi-layered support including an upper probe binding layer (e.g., an azlactone polymer layer or porous functional polyamide layer) adjacent to a cationic microgel layer. The azlactone-functional polymer can be a copolymer of dimethylacrylamide and vinylazlactone crosslinked with ethylenediamine. The cationic microgel layer can be a cross-linked quaternary onium salt containing polymer. A method and a kit for conducting chemiluminescent assays using the solid supports is also provided. The kit comprises a dioxetane substrate, a biopolymer probe-enzyme complex, and a solid support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030103902
    Abstract: Intracellular enzyme-activated fluorescent substrates that can be transported into a cell are provided. The membrane transportable fluorescent substrates are complexes (e.g., ionic complexes) formed between an enzyme activated fluorescent substrate and a carrier molecule. The fluorescent substrates can be used in an intracellular assay of enzyme activity and/or expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Alison L. Sparks
  • Publication number: 20020155523
    Abstract: Chemiluminescent substrate delivery systems comprising a conjugate a dendrimer and at least one chemiluminescent substrate are provided. The substrate delivery systems can also include a chemiluminescence enhancer. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in kits including an enzyme capable of activating the chemiluminescent substrate to produce a peroxygenated intermediate that decomposes to produce light. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in assays to detect the presence of an analyte (e.g., an enzyme, an antibody, an antigen or a nucleic acid) in a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Alison L. Sparks