Patents by Inventor Ralph Sperling

Ralph Sperling 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: 10775374
    Abstract: The invention presents a stationary phase for detecting at least one specific analyte in a mixture. The stationary phase includes a solid phase divided into a plurality of zones for transporting liquid by capillary force. The solid phase includes at least one first zone suitable for receiving a liquid sample, a second zone on which a receptor is immobilized, wherein the receptor is suitable for binding to a ligand, and a third zone on which quantum dots are immobilized, function as FRET donors and are linked to at least one suitable FRET acceptor via at least one oligonucleotide linker. The stationary phase exhibits improved detection sensitivity and allows simultaneous and multiparametric detection of a wide variety of analytes. The invention proposes uses of the stationary phase and also presents a method for detecting at least one specific analyte in a mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Ralph Sperling, Ralf Himmelreich, Tobias Schunck, Raphael Thiermann
  • Publication number: 20190285628
    Abstract: The invention presents a stationary phase for detecting at least one specific analyte in a mixture. The stationary phase includes a solid phase divided into a plurality of zones for transporting liquid by capillary force. The solid phase includes at least one first zone suitable for receiving a liquid sample, a second zone on which a receptor is immobilized, wherein the receptor is suitable for binding to a ligand, and a third zone on which quantum dots are immobilized, function as FRET donors and are linked to at least one suitable FRET acceptor via at least one oligonucleotide linker. The stationary phase exhibits improved detection sensitivity and allows simultaneous and multiparametric detection of a wide variety of analytes. The invention proposes uses of the stationary phase and also presents a method for detecting at least one specific analyte in a mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FĂ–RDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E. V.
    Inventors: Ralph SPERLING, Ralf HIMMELREICH, Tobias SCHUNCK, Raphael THIERMANN
  • Publication number: 20150159224
    Abstract: This disclosure employs the combination of a microfluidics platform and drop-based digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to create a breakthrough technology that enables the detection of CTC genes and the isolation of single CTCs from the blood. In the first method, cDNA molecules from lysed CTCs are amplified in microfluidic drops and detected via fluorescence signal. In the second method, intact single CTCs are encapsulated, and amplification-positive drops are sorted from the remaining cells. To demonstrate the clinical utility of our technology, mutations in the KRAS gene in colorectal cancer are analyzed to study resistance to EGFR-based treatment as a test case. The methods herein present robust techniques for both the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, as well as for the obtainment of a pure CTC sample from billions of other cells in the blood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Huidan ZHANG, Ralph SPERLING, Neil DAVEY, David A. WEITZ
  • Publication number: 20120100075
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a fluorescent gold nanocluster, comprising: a dihydrolipoic acid ligand (DHLA) on the surface thereof, wherein the fluorescent gold nanocluster generates fluorescence by the interaction between the dihydrolipoic acid ligand and the nanocluster and the particle diameter of the fluorescent gold nanocluster is between 0.5 nm and 3 nm, wherein the wavelength of the emission fluorescence of the fluorescent gold nanocluster is between 400 nm and 1000 nm. In addition, the fluorescent gold nanocluster is used as bioprobes and/or applied in fluorescent biological label, clinical image as contrast medium, clinical detection, clinical trace, and clinical treatment etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Walter Hong-Shong Chang, Cheng-An Lin, Ting-Ya Yang, Chih-Hsien Lee, Ralph A. Sperling, Wolfgang J. Parak
  • Publication number: 20090298115
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a fluorescent gold nanocluster, comprising: a dihydrolipoic acid ligand (DHLA) on the surface thereof, wherein the fluorescent gold nanocluster generates fluorescence by the interaction between the dihydrolipoic acid ligand and the nanocluster and the particle diameter of the fluorescent gold nanocluster is between 0.5 nm and 3 nm, wherein the wavelength of the emission fluorescence of the fluorescent gold nanocluster is between 400 nm and 1000 nm. In addition, the fluorescent gold nanocluster is used as bioprobes and/or applied in fluorescent biological label, clinical image as contrast medium, clinical detection, clinical trace, and clinical treatment etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Walter Hong-Shong Chang, Cheng-An Lin, Ting-Ya Yang, Chih-Hsien Lee, Ralph A. Sperling, Wolfgang J. Parak
  • Publication number: 20090036625
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an amphiphilic polymer, comprising a polymer backbone, at least one hydrophobic side chain, and at least one hydrophilic side chain wherein one end of the hydrophobic side chain is bound to the polymer backbone and one end of the hydrophilic side chain is bound to the polymer backbone. The polymer backbone is derived from a homopolymer or copolymer of an anhydride. In addition, the present invention discloses a water-soluble polymer micell having the above described amphiphilic polymer and forming method and applications thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Walter Hong-Shong Chang, Cheng-An J. Lin, Jimmy Kuan-Jung Li, Martin Oheim, Aleksey Yakovlev, Anne Feltz, Camilla Luccardini, Maria Teresa Fernandez-Arguelles, Ralph A. Sperling, Wolfgang J. Parak
  • Publication number: 20070134679
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for separating nanoparticles with a controlled number of active groups is disclosed. First, a plurality of nanoparticles are provided, wherein the surface of the nanoparticle comprises a plurality of first active groups. Next, a plurality of functional ligands are provided, wherein the functional ligand comprises at least one second active group and at least one third active group. Then, a binding process is performed to bind the nanoparticle with the functional ligand, wherein the first active group connects with the second active group. After the binding process, a separation process is performed to isolate a plurality of nanoparticles with a controlled number of the third active groups. The controlled number is integers from 0 to 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Walter Chang, Jimmy Li, Ralph Sperling, Teresa Pellegrino, Wolfgang Parak