Abstract: Microparticles comprising a core and electrochemiluminescent moieties within the core and methods of using the same in assays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing electrochemiluminescence assays are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an apparatus comprises an ECL-inactive electrode surface having a first assay-ligand immobilized thereon and an ECL-active microparticle having a second assay ligand immobilized thereon. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a method comprises (a) forming a mixture comprising an electrochemiluminescent label and a microparticle having a first assay-ligand immobilized thereon, (b) applying electrochemical energy to an electrode surface in the presence of said mixture, and (c) measuring emitted electrochemiluminescence, where the microparticle is ECL-active and where the electrode surface is ECL-inactive when electorchemical energy is aplied to it in the presence of said mixture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing nested disposable bag packs for selective use to increase user efficiency, to enhance health and sanitation, to provide a savings of time and money in using disposable bags, to selectively provide needed bag strength, and/or to facilitate use of the disposable bags. A nested disposable bag pack is used to allow a new bag or bag-set to be available upon extraction of a previous bag/bag-set. The nested bag pack is a pre-packaged, multi-inserted bag pack, wherein the bags have been inserted within one another during the manufacturing process. The bags comprise a disposable material, such as a polymer (e.g., polyethylene or another polymer material), paper, or another material. The nested bag pack has a variety of uses in a variety of industries, including household and commercial use.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel means by which chemical preparations can be made. Reactions can be accelerated on special cartridges using microwave energy. The chips contain materials that efficiently absorb microwave energy causing chemical reaction rate increases. The invention is important in many chemical transformations including those used in protein chemistry, in nucleic acid chemistry, in analytical chemistry, and in the polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: Electrochemiluminescent-labels and enzyme substrates, which preferably are conjugated, are used in immunoassays and electrochemiluminescence is generated catalytically. In conventional electrochemiluminescence immunoassays, an anti-analyte antibody molecule can give rise to typically 6-8 electrochemiluminescence-active ruthenium atoms, while in the present invention, each enzyme-labeled anti-analyte molecule can give rise to thousands of electrochemiluminescence-active ruthenium atoms per second. An exemplary immunoassay is based on a catalytic process employing &bgr;-lactamase-conjugated anti-analytes which enzymatically hydrolyze electrochemiluminescent-labeled substrates, making them strongly electrochemiluminescent. The electrochemiluminescence signal generated by each anti-analyte molecule (i.e., each analyte molecule) is much greater than with the conventional method. Accordingly, greater sensitivity can be gained in the measurement of low concentrations of a given immunoassay analyte.

Abstract: Catalytic antibodies are disclosed. The catalytic antibodies are specific for prodrug compounds. The catalytic antibodies enhance cleavage of an active drug moiety from a prodrug residue, thereby activating the drug.

Abstract: A process is disclosed by which a polynucleotide is directly synthesized from the peptide or protein that it encodes without the need for sequencing (or sequence analysis) of the peptide or protein. Information contained in the sequence of the peptide or protein is directly coupled, by the process of reverse translation, to the synthesis of the polynucleotide. The usefulness of reverse translation is that it facilitates the amplification of information held in the amino acid sequence (the primary structure) of an unknown protein or peptide. Amplification is useful for, among other things, the identification and/or scientific investigation of the peptide or protein.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are prodrugs activated by catalytic proteins, such as enzymes and catalytic antibodies. The invention comprehends such prodrugs, as well as haptens, to elicit catalytic antibodies to activate the prodrugs. The prodrugs are useful as cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents; e.g., as antitumor agents.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel means by which chemical preparations can be made. Reactions can be accelerated on special chips using microwave energy. The chips contain materials that efficiently absorb microwave energy causing chemical reaction rate increases. The invention is important in many small scale chemical transformations including those used in protein chemistry and in combinatorial chemistry.

Abstract: Electrochemiluminescent-labels and enzyme substrates, which preferably are conjugated, are used in immunoassays and electrochemiluminescence is generated catalytically. In conventional electrochemiluminescence immunoassays, an anti-analyte antibody molecule can give rise to typically 6-8 electrochemiluminescence-active ruthenium atoms, while in the present invention, each enzyme-labeled anti-analyte molecule can give rise to thousands of electrochemiluminescence-active ruthenium atoms per second. An exemplary immunoassay is based on a catalytic process employing &bgr;-lactamase-conjugated anti-analytes which enzymatically hydrolyze electrochemiluminescent-labeled substrates, making them strongly electrochemiluminescent. The electrochemiluminescence signal generated by each anti-analyte molecule (i.e., each analyte molecule) is much greater than with the conventional method. Accordingly, greater sensitivity can be gained in the measurement of low concentrations of a given immunoassay analyte.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, reagents and compositions for conducting electrochemiluminescence binding assays which improve one or more characteristics of the assay or the instruments used to conduct the assay. The method is achieved using microparticles that include electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material has one or more copies of an assay ligand immobilized an its outer surface and a plurality of electrochemiluminescent moieties immobilized an its outer surface. The assay ligand may be linked to the electrochemiluminescent moiety.

Abstract: Graphitic nanotubes, which include tubular fullerenes (commonly called “buckytubes”) and fibrils, which are functionalized by chemical substitution, are used as solid supports in electrogenerated chemiluminescence assays. The graphitic nanotubes are chemically modified with functional group biomolecules prior to use in an assay. Association of electrochemiluminescent ruthenium complexes with the functional group biomolecule-modified nanotubes permits detection of molecules including nucleic acids, antigens, enzymes, and enzyme substrates by multiple formats.

Abstract: Described and claimed are compounds of the formula 1

Abstract: Graphitic nanotubes, which include tubular fullerenes (commonly called “buckytubes”) and fibrils, which are functionalized by chemical substitution, are used as solid supports in electrogenerated chemiluminescence assays. The graphitic nanotubes are chemically modified with functional group biomolecules prior to use in an assay. Association of electrochemiluminescent ruthenium complexes with the functional group biomolecule-modified nanotubes permits detection of molecules including nucleic acids, antigens, enzymes, and enzyme substrates by multiple formats.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, reagents and compositions, for conducting electrochemiluminescence binding assays which improve one or more characteristics of the assay or the instruments used to conduct the assay. The method is achieved using microparticles that include electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material has one or more copies of an assay ligand immobilized an its outer surface and a plurality of electrochemiluminescent moieties immobilized an its outer surface. The assay ligand may be linked to the electrochemiluminescent moiety.

Abstract: Detectable compounds comprising a chemically-transformable first compound covalently linked to an electrochemiluminescent compound are provided. Such compounds are useful in processes and kits that monitor the status of the first compound and derive information from such monitoring. A rapid single step assay suitable for the detection or quantification of &bgr;-lactam antibiotics and &bgr;-lactamases. The assay can be performed directly on samples of food, such as milk and meat, blood or serum and is useful in determining the suitability of a particular antibiotic in treating a particular bacterial infection and in diagnosis of a bacterial infection. The assay is also useful in determining and quantifying &bgr;-lactam antibiotic resistance. The assay can be performed on an IGEN OrigenR Analyzer.

Abstract: A method of generating a electrochemiluminescent emission, which comprises exposing an electrochemiluminescent label linked to a coreactant, to conditions suitable for inducing electrochemiluminescence; said compound; a system for generating an electrochemiluminescent emission, which comprises said compound, means for exposing said compound to electrochemical energy, and means for detecting or measuring luminescence emitted from said compound or a composition containing same; and a kit for performing an assay using said compound.

Abstract: Prodrugs that are activated by and conjugated to a catalytic antibody conjugated to a moiety that binds to a tumor cell population are provided.

Abstract: A method of generating a electrochemiluminescent emission, which comprises exposing an electrochemiluminescent label linked to a coreactant, to conditions suitable for inducing electrochemiluminescence; said compound; a system for generating an electrochemiluminescent emission, which comprises said compound, means for exposing said compound to electrochemical energy, and means for detecting or measuring luminescence emitted from said compound or a composition containing same; and a kit for performing an assay using said compound.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are methods for selecting a recombinant virus, phage or cell expressing a catalytic antibody or catalytic portion thereof, or for selecting catalytic activity by a moiety. The method employs reaction-based selection for catalytic activity. The method can also be used to concentrate (increase the proportion of catalytic to non-catalytic moieties) a sample containing a catalytic moiety or viruses, phages or cells expressing a catalytic moiety. The selection or concentrating can be by employing a mechanism-based inhibitor, catalysis-accelerated movement, surface binding, changes in enthalpic component of binding as a function of temperature, or changes in binding by competition, or combinations thereof. The invention also comprehends a method for producing a recombinant virus or a cell-line expressing a catalytic moiety such as a catalytic antibody or catalytic portion thereof; and, this method can include infecting a suitable host with viruses which are screened for the expression.