Abstract: An immunoglobulin binding peptide having the general formula, from amino terminus to carboxy terminus, of Z-R1—R2—R3—R4—R5—R6—X, is described, wherein: R1 is H or Y; R2 is a hydrophobic, preferentially aromatic, amino acid (for example W, F, Y, V); R3 is a positively charged or aromatic amino acid (for example R, H, F, W); R4 is a hydrophobic or positively charged amino acid (for example G, Y, R, K, L); R5 is a positively charged or aromatic amino acid (for example W, F, R, H, Y); R6 a random amino acid but preferably hydrophobic or negatively charged (for example V, W, L, D, H); X is present or absent and when present is a linking group; and Z is present or absent and when present is a capping group bonded to the N terminus of R1; and wherein the amino acids of said peptide are in D form, L form, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymers and microfluidic devices comprising a covalently attached substrate binding element, and methods for producing and using the same.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel surface-functionalized carrier material with a polymeric surface and at least one linker compound according to the general formula (I), which is covalently bound to the surface. In the formula, P indicates the polymeric surface; R2 has the meaning OR4 or NR4R5 and R1, R4 and R5, independently of one another, indicate H, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R3 indicates H, an alkyl, an aryl, an acyl, an alkoxycarbonyl or an aryloxycarbonyl group; and the alkyl, aryl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl and/or aryloxycarbonyl group of the radicals R1, R3, R4 and R5, independently of one another, are substituted or unsubstituted. The material according to the invention can be very easily produced by photochemical coupling and serves for the solid-phase synthesis of amino acids, peptides, proteins or molecules with at least one peptidic structural unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a test device for detecting or quantifying an analyte in a sample. This method involves contacting a membrane with a mixture including derivatized, marker-loaded liposomes, and substantially dehydrating the mixture on the membrane under vacuum pressure at a temperature of from about 4° C. to about 80° C., wherein said mixture further includes one or more sugars in an amount sufficient to promote the stability of the liposomes during dehydration and rehydration. The present invention also relates to a test device and method for detecting or quantifying an analyte in a sample. The test device includes a membrane which includes an immobilized liposome zone, wherein the immobilized liposome zone has bound thereto dehydrated, derivatized, marker-loaded liposomes dehydrated under vacuum pressure at a temperature of from about 4° C. to about 80° C.

Abstract: A biologically active conjugate is disclosed comprising a biopolymer and a therapeutic agent joined by a disulfide bond. The conjugate, when formulated in a pharmaceutical composition with a suitable carrier, has improved in vivo stability and activity, and can be targeted to a variety of cells, tissues and organs.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a method capable of easily realizing immobilization with the optimum density derived from a concentration control and without phase separation in coadsorption of a number of molecules. The immobilization method can include the step of dissolving a plurality of molecules to be immobilized to a solid phase substrate with a solvent to obtain a solution of the plurality of molecules, and the step of incubating the solution and the solid phase substrate in touch therewith. Each of the molecules can include a solid phase substrate joint portion having a jointing property to the solid phase substrate, a functional portion having a specific function, and a linker portion positioned between the solid phase substrate joint portion and the functional portion.

Abstract: The invention pertains to bioconjugation systems comprising sterically constrained cis-diols and borates.

Abstract: To provide fine particle films including fine particles which are arranged at a high density in a highly accurate and regular manner is enabled. The fine particle film is a fine particle film including a substrate and plural number of protein fine particles which are arranged on the surface of the substrate in a plane direction parallel to the surface of the substrate, wherein each of the protein fine particles has plural number of first binding sites and one or more second binding sites respectively including a condensed amino acid, and each of the first binding sites binds to other first binding site carried by an adjacent fine particle while the second binding site binds to the substrate, wherein at least a part of the condensed amino acids constituting the second binding site are substituted.

Abstract: The invention in particular embodiments provides an evanescent wave sensor which includes a ligand bound to a sensor substrate via a NCYX linker moiety, as defined herein. Methods of making the subject evanescent wave sensors are also provided which include contacting a first reactive moiety which has an isocyanato (or isothiocyanato) moiety with a second reactive moiety which has an hydroxyl, thiol, or amino moiety, as further described herein. Also provided by the invention are methods in which a subject evanescent wave sensor is contacted with a sample, and binding of analytes in the sample to the sensor is assessed by evanescent wave detection. The invention also provides kits and systems for performing the subject methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to magnetic fine particles having immobilized thereto a polymer having an upper critical solution temperature, and a process for producing the same, a method of separating or concentrating a microorganism, a method of purifying, detecting, or concentrating a nucleic acid, a separating agent, a method of separating a biological substance, and a method of converting a substance.

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.

Abstract: A nanoparticle having a self assembly monolayer of molecules as a shell on the nanoparticle. The monolayer may include organic molecules working as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) reporters. Also, the core shell may include at least a receptor, and/or the like, to ensure that a target analyte can be bound for measurement with SERS. The target analyte may be organic, chemical, biological, inorganic, gas, liquid, solid, and so forth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assay methods for the determination of cobalamin or vitamin B12 in a body fluid and in particular to assay methods for the metabolically active pool of cobalamin, comprising contacting a cell free sample of a body fluid with an immobilised or immobilizable specific binding ligand for TC II or holo TC II, separating a ligand bound fraction from a non-ligand bound fraction and measuring the holo-TC II or TC-II bound cobalamin content therein.

Abstract: An objective of the invention is to provide a carrier particle latex for an assay reagent capable of assaying a biological sample at a wide range of the concentration in an immunoserological test and capable of being stored stably for a prolonged period, as well as an assay reagent employing the same. The invention is a carrier particle latex for an assay reagent comprising a carrier particle comprising a copolymer of a polymerizable monomer having a phenyl group and a polymerizable monomer having a phenyl group and a sulfonate, wherein said carrier particle has a surface sulfonic acid group amount of 0.005 to 0.7 ?mol/m2 and an average particle size of 0.01 to 1.5 ?m.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of retentate chromatography for resolving analytes in a sample. The methods involve adsorbing the analytes to a substrate under a plurality of different selectivity conditions, and detecting the analytes retained on the substrate by desorption spectrometry The methods are useful in biology and medicine, including clinical diagnostics and drug discovery.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide ionic polymers that can provide for polymer-comprising substrates whose surfaces can stably and easily immobilize ligands such as sugar chains interacting with biological substances, in which the ligand portion exists stably even in water or buffer, and its detection capability does not decrease for a long period of time; and substrates comprising the polymers. The ionic polymer of this invention comprises two or more ionic functional groups (A) and two or more biointeracting groups represented by formula L-X-B-[wherein, L denotes a ligand capable of interacting with a biological substance, X denotes a spacer, and B denotes a binding group] as side chains covalently bound to a main chain polymer.

Abstract: A method for detecting a cytokine in a biological fluid sample with a high sensitivity is provided. A time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) method including a step of forming on a solid phase a composite in which a cytokine is captured and which includes a fluorescent structural portion which has been complexed with a lanthanoid metal ion, and measuring fluorescence of the fluorescent structural portion. The composite is formed of a structure in which (a) a first antibody including a portion bound to a solid phase and a region bindable to a cytokine; (b) the cytokine; (c) a second antibody including a region bindable to the cytokine and a portion to which biotin is bound; (d) a conjugate including streptoavidin or avidin and a fluorescent structural portion capable of being complexed with a lanthanoid metal ion; and (e) the lanthanoid metal ion are bound. The fluorescent structural portion is represented by General Formula (I): R—Ar—C(?O)—CH2—C(?O)—CnF2n—X.

Abstract: A process for isolating and/or identifying at least one active chemical substance from a mixture of active and inactive chemical substances, is characterized by the steps: a) adding a target to said mixture and forming a complex of target and at least one active chemical substance of the mixture, b) separating the complex from the inactive chemical substances of the mixture, and either c) liberating and isolating and/or identifying at least one active chemical substance from the separated complex or d) identifying at least one active chemical substance of the mixture by subtracting from a chromatogram of the mixture of active and inactive chemical substances a chromatogram of the mixture of inactive chemical substances which is obtained after separation of the complex, and possibly liberating and isolating the at least one active substance from the separated complex.

Abstract: A compound linked to a solid support (R) through a divalent linker moiety (X) and which is represented by the following formula: is disclosed. In particular, the 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid is directly linked to the support under mild conditions (i.e., in aqueous or organic solvents at neutral pH and at room temperature). The polymer bound 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid can be used for the derivatization of amines as well as for single step amino group modification of proteins, peptides, and amines via acylation or sulfonylation reactions. A flow through device and method for the single step amino group modifications of proteins, peptides, and amines is disclosed. Also disclosed is a flow through device for the detection of amines in a sample. Additionally, a device and method for the detection of amines in a sample using 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device is used to detect the presence of amines in a spoiled meat product.

Abstract: The use of polyalkylene oxide modified reagents is disclosed in a method for the detection of an analyte or in suitable reagent kits for such methods.

Abstract: A process for detecting the forms of the prion pathogens responsible for subacute, transmissible, spongiform encephalopathies, including a macrocyclic adjuvant ligand (AML), free or bound to a support, that is added to a biological sample capable of containing PrPsc, the resulting suspension then being reacted with an anti-PrPsc antibody, and the presence of PrP is then detected.

Abstract: A heterobifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) is provided having a hydrolytically degradable linkage, a first terminus comprising an acrylate group, and a second terminus comprising a target such as a protein or pharmaceutical agent or a reactive moiety capable of coupling to a target. Hydrogels can be prepared. The hydrogels can be used as a carrier for a protein or a pharmaceutical agent that can be readily released in a controlled fashion.

Abstract: A biosensor includes a substrate with a layer of receptive material disposed thereon overlying a layer containing a photo-reactive agent. The receptive material is specific for an analyte of interest. A pattern of active and inactive areas of the receptive material are defined in the receptive material layer by a masking process wherein the photo-reactive agent is activated in the exposed regions of the mask.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition and method for regulating the adhesion of cells and biomolecules to hydrophobic surfaces and hydrophobic coated surfaces. The composition is a biomolecule conjugated end-group activated polymer (EGAP). The biomolecule conjugated EGAP can be put to numerous uses including cell adhesion, cell growth, cell sorting, and other biological assays.

Abstract: Artificial antibodies or antibody mimics are described. They consist of polymers that carry specific binding sites mimicking the properties of antibodies. There is also described a method for producing artificial antibodies, in which polymerisable monomers carrying functional groups and crosslinking monomers are polymerised in the presence of a print molecule and subsequently the print molecule is removed leaving specific binding sites complementary to the print molecules. There are also described methods for determination and isolation of organic molecules using the artificial antibodies as well as therapeutic and diagnostic methods using these antibodies.

Abstract: Sensors for determining the presence and concentration of biomolecules in a biological sample are provided in the form of polymer brushes, which comprise a substrate having a surface modified with a hydrophobic polymer segment, attached to which is a water-dispersible or water-soluble polymer segment having functional groups that bind probes. The method of synthesis of such sensors preferably includes use of controlled free radical polymerization techniques, which allows for controlled architecture polymers to modify the surface of the substrate, and the use of monomers possessing functional groups which do not require activation prior to probe attachment. In this manner functional groups in the polymer chain are removed from the surface, which allows for solution chemistry to be more realistically reproduced with the benefits of a solid bound probe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stimulus-responding polymer obtained by polymerizing at least a monomer represented by a general formula (1) and a monomer represented by a general formula (2), and a separation method or concentration method of microorganisms, a purification method, detection method or concentration method of nucleic acids, a separating agent, a separation method of biomaterials and a conversion method of materials, which use this polymer, (in the formula, R11 represents hydrogen atom or methyl group, and R12 represents single bond or a straight or branched alkylene group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms) (in the formula, R13 represents hydrogen atom or methyl group, and R14 represents hydrogen atom, a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group, alkoxyl group or alkylamino group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group).

Abstract: Toxin derivatives are prepared by proteolytic treatment of holotoxin, and their toxicity is reduced by contacting the preparation with a ligand, which can be a metal or an antibody or another ligand. This ligand selectively binds to the toxin but not to the toxin derivative. Removing the ligand and toxin bound to the ligand further reduces toxicity. A second ligand is used to remove conjugates of the toxin and the first ligand. Compositions contain the purified derivative, optionally plus the toxin and the ligand.

Abstract: A method of sensing an environmental agent, comprising obtaining a sample from the environment and transferring the sample into the working fluid for dispensation to a detection module. The sample and working fluid mixture is filtered through a porous polymer Bragg grating. By comparing the refractive index of the grating with the mixture to the refractive index of a grating without the sample, a difference in the refractive index aids in the identification of a hazardous agent in the environment. The sensor also acts as a chemical filter by trapping specific target agents by a highly specific reaction with a conjugate molecule. Recirculation of the working fluid throughout the system provides a sensor that is “always on.

Abstract: A versatile linker compound has a structure represented by following general formula (1), wherein Y has a structure represented by O or NH, and X has a structure serving as a multi-branched moiety including four hydrocarbon derivative chains each of which has an aromatic amino group at an end thereof, and may or may not have a carbon-nitrogen bond in a backbone thereof. With the versatile linker compound, sugar molecules can be two-dimensionally arranged on a surface of a protein-analyzing supporter with high reproducibility. Also, a ligand includes the versatile linker compound and a sugar molecule introduced thereinto.

Abstract: A polysaccharide coated carrier having a coating of at least two successive layers of polysaccharide. The first polysaccharide layer spontaneously associates with a second polysaccharide layer and, optionally, the carrier. Each successive layer of polysaccharide spontaneously associates with a preceding layer. Spontaneous association occurs due to the presence of oppositely charged functional groups on each layer of polysaccharide or due to a spontaneous reaction between the functional groups the layers. The carrier may be any surface such as a tube, microtitration plate, bead, particle or the like and is suitable for use in diagnostic or therapeutic methods.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for reducing non-specific binding in a binding assay for the determination of an analyte in a sample where one of the reagents for conducting the binding assay comprises a solid support comprising a polysaccharide. The method comprises including in an assay medium for conducting the binding assay a soluble compound comprising a protein linked to a polysaccharide. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for determining the presence and/or amount of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The methods include as reagents a solid support comprising a polysaccharide and a soluble compound comprising a protein linked to a polysaccharide.

Abstract: A heterobifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) is provided having a hydrolytically degradable linkage, a first terminus comprising an acrylate group, and a second terminus comprising a target such as a protein or pharmaceutical agent or a reactive moiety capable of coupling to a target. Hydrogels can be prepared. The hydrogels can be used as a carrier for a protein or a pharmaceutical agent that can be readily released in a controlled fashion.

Abstract: An on-spot selectively activated hydrophobic slide/microarray. The preparation method relates to a hydrophobic copolymer prepared by blending, grafting or co-polymerization of a hydrophobic material and a compound bearing a functional group protected by a protecting group, wherein the functional group is imide or cyclic amide, and the protecting group is a photo acid group such as a tosyloxy group. The hydrophobic copolymer coated on a substrate is then subjected to selective photolithographical activation so that the slide will have functional active copolymer spots separated by inactive copolymers. The resulting slide is suitable for the preparation of high-density and high-efficiency bio-chip/microarray.

Abstract: Diagnostic devices are disclosed which contain porous material. The porous material preferably comprises silica and alumina. Chemical and/or biological molecules can be bound to the porous material in high concentrations while both having high accessibility to molecules in solution, and retaining their natural conformation. Such diagnostic devices may be used for a wide array of assays including protein (e.g. ELISA) and nucleic acid (e.g. hybridization on chips or beads) detection and/or quantification methods.

Abstract: Solid-state colorimetric biosensors having sensory groups and interdendritic cross-linking segments of alternating conjugated double and triple bonds are prepared by intermolecular polymerization of diacetylene-functionalized dendritic polymer precursors. The polymerization process may be used to form solid films that are capable of indicating the presence of an analyte by a detectable change in color. The disclosed solid-state colorimetric biosensors may exhibit excellent stability at elevated temperatures and in the presence of organic solvents, and due to the dendritic architecture and high density of sensing functionality achieve high sensitivity to analytes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for making a medical device having at least one biomolecule immobilized on a substrate surface is provided. One method of the present invention includes immobilizing a biomolecule comprising an unsubstituted amide moiety on a biomaterial surface. Another method of the present invention includes immobilizing a biomolecule on a biomaterial surface comprising an unsubstituted amide moiety. Still another method of the present invention may be employed to crosslink biomolecules comprising unsubstituted amide moieties immobilized on medical device surfaces. Additionally, one method of the present invention may be employed to crosslink biomolecules comprising unsubstituted amide moieties in solution, thereby forming a crosslinked biomaterial or a crosslinked medical device coating.

Abstract: An on-spot selectively activated hydrophobic slide/microarray. The preparation method relates to a hydrophobic copolymer prepared by blending, grafting or co-polymerization of a hydrophobic material and a compound bearing a functional group protected by a protecting group, wherein the functional group is imide or cyclic amide, and the protecting group is a photo acid group such as a tosyloxy group. The hydrophobic copolymer coated on a substrate is then subjected to selective photolithographical activation so that the slide will have functional active copolymer spots separated by inactive copolymers. The resulting slide is suitable for the preparation of high-density and high-efficiency bio-chip/microarray.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of retentate chromatography for resolving analytes in a sample. The methods involve adsorbing the analytes to a substrate under a plurality of different selectivity conditions, and detecting the analytes retained on the substrate by desorption spectrometry. The methods are useful in biology and medicine, including clinical diagnostics and drug discovery.

Abstract: An on-spot selectively activated hydrophobic slide/microarray. The preparation method relates to a hydrophobic copolymer prepared by blending, grafting or co-polymerization of a hydrophobic material and a compound bearing a functional group protected by a protecting group, wherein the functional group is imide or cyclic amide, and the protecting group is a photo acid group such as a tosyloxy group. The hydrophobic copolymer coated on a substrate is then subjected to selective photolithographical activation so that the slide will have functional active copolymer spots separated by inactive copolymers. The resulting slide is suitable for the preparation of high-density and high-efficiency bio-chip/microarray.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of assaying pyrrole-containing biological compounds and chemical compositions that can be used in the method. The method involves contacting a biological compound with one of: a) a bound or bindable derivatizing agent which forms a reaction product with the biological compound, followed by exposure to a detectable molecule which forms a complex with the reaction product; or b) a derivatizing agent which forms a reaction product with the biological compound, followed by exposure to a bound binding agent specific to the biological compound in the reaction product; or c) a binding agent specific to the biological compound, followed by exposure to a derivatizing agent which forms a reaction product with the biological compound, and determining the amount of bound biological compound. There is also provided a method of preparing an antigen.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for azide tagging of biomolecules. In one embodiment of the invention, proteins are tagged by metabolic incorporation of prenylated azido-analog substrates. Examples of such analogs are azido farnesyl diphosphate and azido farnesyl alcohol. The azido moiety in the resulting modified proteins provides an affinity tag, which can be chemoselectively captured by an azide-specific conjugation reaction, such as the Staudinger reaction, using a phosphine capture reagent. When the capture agent is biotinylated, the resulting conjugates can be detected and affinity-purified by streptavidin-linked- HRP and streptavidin-conjugated agarose beads, respectively. The invention allows detection and isolation of proteins with high yield, high specificity, and low contamination without harsh treatment of proteins.

Abstract: A screening device for performing an immunoassay test to detect the presence of a compound in a body fluid. The device includes a holder for removably receiving a membrane to which the fluid has been applied. A light is directed to the membrane. A photodetector measures the concentration of the light reflected back from the membrane. Specifically, the concentrations of reflected light from a control zone and a test zone are measured. Signals representative of the measured light concentrations are applied to a processor. If a specified concentration of predetermined light from a control zone on the membrane is detected, the processor considers the test to be successful. In the test is successful, the processor, based upon the measured concentration of reflected light from the test zone, generates data representative of the presence of the compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of assaying pyrrole-containing biological compounds and chemical compositions that can be used in the method. The method involves contacting a biological compound with one of: a) a bound or bindable derivatizing agent which forms a reaction product with the biological compound, followed by exposure to a detectable molecule which forms a complex with the reaction product; or b) a derivatizing agent which forms a reaction product with the biological compound, followed by exposure to a bound binding agent specific to the biological compound in the reaction product; or c) a binding agent specific to the biological compound, followed by exposure to a derivatizing agent which forms a reaction product with the biological compound, and determining the amount of bound biological compound. There is also provided a method of preparing an antigen.

Abstract: It is an object to utilize a novel HSCA-3 antigen occurring in immature hemopoietic stem cells and a monoclonal antibody recognizing said antigen in 1) the immunoassay or flow cytometry involving antibody labeling and 2) the isolation and purification of immature hemopoietic stem cells from human bone marrow cells, umbilical code blood or blood enriched in human hemopoietic stem cells by mobilization with G-CSF. It is directed to a novel HSCA-3 antigen occurring in immature hemopoietic stem cells and to a monoclonal antibody or an immunoreactive fragment thereof which recognizes said antigen.

Abstract: The invention relates to self-contained assay cassette for detecting a ligand in a sample. The assay cassette provides for turbulent flow and mixing of the sample with assay components, including receptors that bind to a ligand, optional microspheres capable of binding the receptors or to which other secondary receptors are attached, and liquid crystalline materials. The assay cassette also provides for laminar flow of the mixed sample into a detection chamber where complexes between a receptor, ligand, and optional microspheres, is detected as transmission of polarized light through the detection chambers. The invention also relates to methods for detecting a ligand in a sample using turbulent flow to mix the sample with assay components, including liquid crystalline materials, and laminar flow of the mixed sample such that the liquid crystalline material assumes an ordered conformation in absence of a ligand.