USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Geo-centers, Inc.

Other

California Institute of Technology

David A Kidwell

Thomas O'Shaughnessy

Richard J Colton

Susan M Conyers

Albert Epshteyn

Gil U Lee

Arne W Fliflet

Jeffrey H Bowles

Richard F Hubbard

Roger G Kern

Frederick W Mintz

Gil F Richards

David Lewis

Shawn P Mulvaney

Melissa K Hornstein

Geoffrey B Smith

The present invention provides a method for preparing catalytic particles and using them for increased sensitivity in lateral flow immunoassays. Palladium salt is reduced in the presence of a protein using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent to form brown or gray particles. These particles catalytically develop a dye to detect the presence of an analyte.

Catalytic particles for signal enhancement for lateral flow immunoassays

The present invention provides for a release system for delaying application of chemical reagents in a lateral-flow immunoassay. A chemistry release fiber comprising a permeable membrane and a chemical release agent is used to delay chemical reagent delivery to the indicator of a lateral-flow immunoassay. Also disclosed is the related method of delaying application of chemical reagents in a lateral-flow immunoassay.

Delay process to provide timed chemistry to lateral-flow immunoassays

A mixed acrylate-siloxane polymer can be used to create three-dimensional (3D) structures of arbitrary shape via nanolithography. Treatment of such structures with amine (such as diamine) makes them permissive for neuronal cell adhesion and growth without need of additional modification such as poly-lysine (D or L) nor laminin.

Methods of preparing structures employing chemistries for biocompatible additive nanolithography

Chemistries for biocompatible additive nanolithography

The present invention provides a method for preparing colloidal palladium nanoparticles and using them for increased sensitivity in lateral flow immunoassays. Glutaraldehyde is used in preparing the colloidal palladium that allows rapid attachment of biomolecules. Colloidal palladium nanoparticles are labeled with a protein, such as a biomolecule or an antibody. These labeled colloidal palladium particles catalytically develop a dye to detect the presence of an analyte.

Catalytic particles for increased sensitivity in lateral flow immunoassays

The present invention provides a method for increasing the sensitivity of LFIAs by using palladium nanoparticles, selecting appropriate dye chemistries, and improving the timing of the development chemistry. In the presence of a palladium nanoparticle, three reagents interact with a catalytic label to form a colored dye. The three reagents include a hydrogen peroxide source, a color developer (a substituted para-phenylenediamine), and a color coupler (e.g. a napthol or a phenol). The timing of the development chemistry is improved by any combination of using a reducing agent, delaying hydrogen peroxide application by diffusion, using dissolving materials as a time delay, using serpentine flow, and separating the color coupler and the color developer on the strip.

Catalytic signal enhancement for lateral flow immunoassays

A method of making a Transmission Electron Microscopy support comprising depositing a sacrificial layer to the top side of a lacey or holey carbon structure or support or wire mesh, depositing an Atomic Layer Deposition layer to the bottom side of the sacrificial layer, removing the sacrificial layer, forming a Transmission Electron Microscopy support. The Transmission Electron Microscopy support comprises an Atomic Layer Deposition layer which is carbon-less, thin, flexible, can be thermally cleaned, can be plasma cleaned, and contains chemical functionalities to immobilize particles.

Transmission electron microscopy supports and methods of making

Disclosed herein is a method for producing excess enthalpy by (a) either dispersing atomic metal ions or clusters on a support and reacting the metal ions with a chelating ligand or dispersing chelated atomic metal ions on a support and (b) pressurizing with hydrogen or deuterium to reduce the metal ion to a metal atom resulting in the growth of dispersed metal particles less than 2 nm in diameter on the support. During the particle growth, there is a growth period during which a critical particle size is reached and excess enthalpy is produced. The growth period is typically several days long.

Excess enthalpy upon pressurization of dispersed palladium with hydrogen or deuterium

A method for producing excess enthalpy by impregnating metallic precursors on an oxide support that reduces sintering and particle growth; drying the impregnated support at a temperature where the particle growth is minimal; reducing the metallic precursors at a second temperature where the particle growth results in supported metallic particles 2 nm or less in size; and pressurizing the supported metallic particles in the presence of deuterium. The metal particles may comprise palladium, platinum, mixtures thereof, or mixtures of palladium and/or platinum with other elements. Also disclosed is a method for measuring excess enthalpy by placing a test material in a pressure vessel; heating the pressure vessel; evacuating the pressure vessel; introducing deuterium, hydrogen, or both into the pressure vessel; measuring the enthalpy generated during pressurization; again evacuating the pressure vessel; and measuring the enthalpy used during depressurization.

Excess enthalpy upon pressurization of nanosized metals with deuterium

A metron refers to a molecule which contains a pre-defined number of high affinity binding sites for metal ions. Metrons may be used to prepare homogenous populations of nanoparticles each composed of a same, specific number of atoms, wherein each particle has the same size ranging from 2 atoms to about ten nanometers.

Metal nanoparticles with a pre-selected number of atoms

The present invention is generally directed to a fluidized bed detector for continuous detection of biological and chemical materials comprising a fluidized bed of detecting elements suspended in a continuous flow system wherein the detecting elements remain in the system when a first force trying to move the detecting elements to the bottom of the system is balanced with a second opposing force of a flowing gas or liquid trying to move detecting elements to the top of the system and wherein the presence of a target molecule in the flowing gas or liquid disrupts the balance of the first and second forces causing the detecting element to exit the system. The release of the detecting element indicates the presence of the target molecule and may be captured, concentrated, or both for further evaluation by other assays or other means. Also disclosed is the related method of detecting biological and chemical materials using a fluidized bed detector.

Fluidized bed detector for continuous, ultra-sensitive detection of biological and chemical materials

A miniature, lightweight, inexpensive, environmental monitoring system containing a number of sensors that can simultaneously and continuously monitor fluorescence, absorbance, conductivity, temperature, and several ions. Sensors that monitor similar parameters can cross-check data to increase the likelihood that a problem with the water will be discovered.

Multiparameter system for environmental monitoring

A long-range active thermal imaging system includes an electromagnetic radiation source in the range of from about 10 GHz to about 500 GHz; a beam controller for receiving and retransmitting the electromagnetic radiation in a desired direction toward and onto a surface of a target, thereby heating the target and producing an infrared radiation emission from the target surface; and an infrared imager, e.g. an infrared camera coupled to a processor and display, for receiving the target's infrared radiation emission and generating a thermal image of the target. The radiation source may be selected such that the radiation penetrates into the target to provide a thermal signature, e.g. from subsurface features or objects. The thermal signature exhibits rapid changes that can be monitored in real time. This may allow surface or subsurface details or objects to be detected that would not otherwise be apparent.

Long range active thermal imaging system and method

A hand-held portable drug monitoring system to detect and quantitate cocaine and other organic drugs in saliva, sweat, and surface wipes by using an ion selective electrode or an array of ion selective electrodes. The ion selective electrode has a cast membrane reference electrode and a sensing electrode with a hydrophobic polymer, a plasticizer, and an ionophore selective for the organic drug to be tested. The ion selective electrode can be connected to a converter that coverts a voltage reading from the ion selective electrode to a quantitative drug concentration level. Also disclosed is the related method of using an ion selective electrode to detect an organic drug in saliva, sweat, and surface wipes, the method of testing electrical contact in an ion selective electrode, and the method of making a cast membrane reference electrode.

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Alexandria, VA, United States of America

David A Kidwell