University of Pittsburgh

Stephen G Weber

Hiroyuki Nakamura

Dennis Patrick Curran

Bruno Linclau

Robert C Elser

Lifang Sun

Jane N Valenta

A method of reacting a first compound to produce a second compound includes the step of contacting a first non-fluorous phase including the first compound with a first fluorous phase at a first phase interface. The first compound distributes between the first fluorous phase and the first non-fluorous phase. The method further includes the steps of contacting the first fluorous phase with a second non-fluorous phase at a second phase interface and including at least a third compound in the second non-fluorous phase that reacts with the first compound to produce the second compound. The second compound has a distribution coefficient less than the first compound. This method can, for example be used to separate the second compound from unreacted first compound wherein, for example, the first compound is of a fluorous nature and distributes more readily into (or transports more quickly through) the fluorous phase than does the second compound. In general, the fluorous phase serves as a barrier to prevent the two non-fluorous phases from mixing, but molecules that can migrate through the fluorous phase can pass from one side to the other.

Fluorous triphase and other multiphase systems

A method and apparatus for performing an enzyme spot test without traditional instrumentation is disclosed. The method utilizes various reagents to allow the visual determination of the presence of an enzyme in a sample above a predetermined critical level. The enzyme reacts with the reagents producing a product according to a reaction which is timed by a chemical fuse. At the end of the reaction, a colored by-product is visible, the color intensity indicating that the enzyme occurs in the sample in quantities above the critical level.

Method of conducting a non-instrumental test to determine catalyst

A method and apparatus for the determination of trace amounts of chemicals in a system, as for example the immunoassay determination of hormones, peptides and drugs in biological fluids, applies photoelectrochemistry to the field of immunoassay. The apparatus and method comprise a photoelectrochemically active molecule as a label in an immunoassay system of labeled analyte, antibody sensitive to analyte, quencher and an electrochemical flow cell with light means. The photoelectrochemically active molecule upon photoexcitation transfers an electron to a quencher molecule; the oxidized molecule is subsequently reduced with an electron from an electrode of the flow cell which is held at suitable potential. This electron is measured as photocurrent. The electrochemical flow cell is channeled for the flow of solution containing photoelectrochemically active species and quencher; and has at least one wall transparent to light such as a laser which is trained on the appropriate region of the cell; and further comprises means to isolate the spectral region of interest and means to distinguish photocurrent from nonphotocurrent. The amount of free labeled analyte in the system is determined by the photocurrent signal.

Growing community of inventors

Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Stephen G Weber