Other

University System of Maryland

The Queen's University of Belfast

Henryk Szmacinski

Joseph R Lakowicz

Govind Rao

Richard B Thompson

Ewald Alois Terpetschnig

Klaus W Berndt

Michael Lynn Johnson

Imre Lengyel

Huihui Zeng

Kazimierz Nowaczyk

Hui Hui Zeng

The present invention provides for the use of hydroxyapatite-selective fluorescent dyes in combination with fluorescence lifetime imaging to detect any hydroxyapatite spherules or hydroxyapatite deposits in the retina tissue of a subject, including the peripheral or macula tissue, wherein the hydroxyapatite spherules or hydroxyapatite deposits initiate or support the growth of sub-RPE deposits and correlates with age-related macular degeneration and/or Alzheimer's disease.

Methods for detecting and/or predicting age-related macular degeneration and/or Alzheimer's disease

Techniques for metal enhanced fluorescence include determining a calibration curve that relates concentration of a particular analyte to at least one of intensity or lifetime of fluorescent emissions at a plasmonic substrate in response to incident light, for a plurality of known concentrations of the particular analyte mixed with a reagent. The reagent comprises a detection molecule. A concentration of the particular analyte in a vicinity of a cell in a sample is determined directly from the calibration curve and measurements, in response to the incident light, of at least one of intensity or lifetime of fluorescent emissions at the plasmonic substrate in contact with the cell and reagent.

Plasmonic substrates for metal-enhanced fluorescence based sensing, imaging and assays for cells

A method and kit for determining the quantity of an analyte include providing a functionalized substrate and a reagent. The functionalized substrate includes metallic nanoparticles and a plurality of substantively identical bioactive target molecules affixed to a substrate. The bioactive target molecule binds to a particular analyte. The reagent includes identical detection molecules. Each detection molecule includes a fluorophore, and binds to a particular analyte or competes with a particular analyte for binding to the target molecule. The functionalized substrate is contacted to a test sample and the reagent. The functionalized substrate and a covering solution are exposed to polarized electromagnetic waves that excite the fluorophore. A quantity of the particular analyte in the test sample is determined based on measuring polarization anisotropy of fluorescent emissions from the substrate and the covering solution.

Metal-enhanced fluorescence for polarization-based affinity assays

A system and method of optically measuring Na and K in a sample such as blood which contains high concentrations Na (up to 160 mM) and K (up to 6.5 mM) using a photoluminescent probe having intrinsic analyte-induced lifetime changes. Specifically, the use of lifetime-based sensing of Na and K at the extracellular concentrations present in whole blood or, blood serum. The preferred embodiment uses phase-modulation fluorometry.

Lifetime-based sensing of sodium and potassium

A method of conducting an immunoassay of a sample of interest is described, including the steps of (A) coupling a luminescent asymmetric metal-ligand complex to the sample of interest to form a coupled sample, (B) exciting the coupled sample with linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to cause the coupled sample to emit fluorescent light; and (C) measuring the polarization of the fluorescent emission as a measure of a biological characteristic of the sample of interest.

Long lifetime anisotropy (polarization) probes for clinical chemistry,

An apparatus and method to enable minimally invasive transdermal measurements of the fluorescence lifetime of an implanted element without reagent consumption and not requiring painful blood sampling. The monitoring apparatus displays the quantity of a selected substance present in the skin and stores the data in memory. The stored information can be transmitted via modem, or antenna, to a master station for diagnostic purposes or clinical evaluation. The use of this method and apparatus improves control of blood monitoring, and therefore, enhances long-term disease management with fewer complications.

Method and apparatus to perform trans-cutaneous analyte monitoring

A system and method in which a photoluminescent ligand is added to a sample to be analyzed in the form of a photoluminescent probe having intrinsic analyte-induced lifetime changes. The method preferably employs phase-modulation fluorometry to measure the lifetime changes. Specific probes are disclosed for measuring various analytes, particularly ionic solutes, including H.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+ and K.sup.+.

Growing community of inventors

Mariottsville, MD, United States of America

Henryk Szmacinski