Biomerieux, Inc.

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Etat-francais-laboratoire Central Ponts Et Chaussees

Christian Pichot

Bernard F Mandrand

Abdelhamid Elaissari

Philippe Cros

Jérôme Bibette

Marie-Helene Charles

Olivier Mondain-Monval

Marie-Noelle Erout

Eric Bosc

Thierry Delair

Claude Mabilat

Jean-Charles Bolomey

Marc Rodrigue

Dominique Picard

Lise Santoro

Florence Sauzedde

Luc Chommeloux

Franck Montagne

The invention relates to composite particles comprising a hydrophobic polymer core and inorganic nanoparticles. Said hydrophobic polymer forms a polymer matrix inside which the inorganic nanoparticles are stabilized and distributed in a relatively homogenous manner. Said particles are at least partially surrounded by an amphophilic copolymer comprising a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, said hydrophobic part being at least partially immobilized in the polymer matrix. The inventor also relates to the preparation method thereof, the conjugates comprising such particles and a ligand and the use of same in reactants and therapeutic compositions.

Composite particles, derived conjugates, preparation method and applications

The invention concerns composite nanospheres having a diameter ranging between about 50 and 1000 nm plus or minus 5%, preferably between about 100 and 500 nm plus or minus 5% and advantageously between 100 and 200 nm plus or minus 5%, and comprising an essentially liquid core consisting of an organic phase and inorganic nanoparticles, distributed inside the organic phase, and a skin consisting of at least a hydrophilic polymer derived from the polymerisation of at least one water soluble monomer, in particular N-alkylacrylamide or a N-N-dialkylacrylamide; conjugates derived from said nanospheres; their preparation methods and their uses.

Composite nanospheres and their conjugates with biomolecules

The invention concerns composite nanospheres having a diameter ranging between about 50 and 1000 nm plus or minus 5%, preferably between about 100 and 500 nm plus or minus 5% and advantageously between 100 and 200 nm plus or minus 5%, and comprising an essentially liquid core consisting of an organic phase and inorganic nanoparticles, distributed inside the organic phase, and a skin consisting of at least a hydrophilic polymer derived from the polymerisation of at least one water soluble monomer, in particular N-alkylacrylamide or a N&#x2014;N-dialkylacrylamide; conjugates derived from said nanospheres; their preparation methods and their uses.

A method for aqueous phase nucleic acid isolation from a sample, comprising a step of nucleic acid adsorption on a particulate substrate, is disclosed. The method comprises an adsorption reagent preparation step (a) that includes a sol consisting of a aqueous continuous phase and a dispersed particulate substrate phase including a functionalized particulate polymer prepared by polymerizing (1) a first water-soluble acrylamide or acrylamide derivative monomer, (2) at least one cross-linking agent and (3) at least one second water-soluble, cationic and functional monomer, said polymer having a predetermined lower critical solubility temperature (LCST) of 25-45&deg; C.; a contact step (b) wherein the adsorption reagent is contacted with the sample containing the nucleic acid; an adsorption step (c) wherein, to carry out the contact step (b), at least one parameter is selected for the reaction medium, said parameters being a pH no higher than 7, an ionic strength no higher than 10 M, and a temperature lower than the polymer LCST; a separation step (d) wherein the dispersed phase is separated from the continuous phase, optionally after it has been observed that adsorption has occurred; and a desorption step (e) wherein the nucleic acid is desorbed from the particulate substrate by increasing the ionic strength until an ionic strength higher than 10 M is achieved.

Nucleic acid isolation

The invention concerns magnetic and heat-sensitive particles having a predetermined size between 0.05 and 10 &mgr;m, each particle comprising: an inner composite core consisting of a solid organic or inorganic particle, containing within it a magnetic filler; an outer coati based on a polymer capable of interacting with at least a biological molecule, the outer polymer is heat-sensitive and has a predetermined low critical solubility temperature (LCST) ranging between 10 and 100&deg; C. and preferably between 20 and 60&deg; C. The invention also concerns methods for obtaining said particles and their uses. The particles are characterized in that there is an intermediate layer between the inner core and the outer layer isolating said inner core magnetic filler with respect to said functionalized outer layer. Said invention is particularly useful for separating proteins and/or nucleic acids.

Magnetic particles, method for obtaining same and uses for separating molecules

Superparamagnetic monodisperse particles

Methods for the detection of a nucleotide sequence of interest comprising at least one nucleotide probe marked with a tracer. The methods include a reagent essentially comprising a linear backbone copolymer having lateral substituents, whose chain consists of a first type of repetitive unit and at least one other type of repetitive unit, in which at least one part of the units of the first type have a lateral substituent comprising a nucleotide unit, such a lateral substituent not being present on the other types of units. Each of said nucleotide units, all of which are identical, comprise at least one nucleotide sequence capable of hybridizing with said sequence of interest and nucleotide sequence capable of hybridizing with a probe, the reagent containing on average more than two of said nucleotide units, in molar equivalents, per mole of polymer. Such a reagent enables signal amplification to be obtained, and therefor lowers the sensitivity threshold. Application, in particular, in the production of tests for the detection of pathogenic organisms, or in the diagnosis of genetic diseases.

Reagent and method for the detection of a nucleotide sequence with

Device for capturing a target molecule for the purpose of detecting it and/or assaying it, including a solid support on which is immobilized a ligand, the ligand being provided in the form of a conjugate resulting from the covalent coupling of a polymer with a plurality of molecules of the ligand. The polymer is an N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer, and the conjugate is immobilized on the solid support by adsorption. When the ligand is capable of forming a complex with the target, the device is specific for a given target. When the device comprises, in addition, a bifunctional reagent capable of forming a complex, on the one hand, with the ligand and, on the other hand, with the target, the support on which the ligand is immobilized constitutes a universal capturing system.

Device for the capture of target molecules, and capturing process using

A transmitting antenna radiates a micro-wave field through an opening in the form of a rectangular wave-guide applied against the separation surface between a first medium, in which it is located, and a second medium, in which an object is buried. The micro-wave radiation reflected by the object is collected through the opening of a receiving antenna, also in the form of a rectangular wave-guide, applied against the radiating opening of the transmitting antenna. The collected radiation is measured at a series of points by means of pinpoint antennae located in the collecting opening. Thanks to the antennae arrangement, the collected radiation can be used as such, without having to subtract therefrom the result of a reference measurement. The invention can be used particularly to obtain, non destructively, images of metal bars buried in reinforced concrete.

Growing community of inventors

Corbas, France

Christian Pichot