Arizona State University

The Methodist Hospital

Liu, Fei

The Methodist Hospital Dba Houston Methodist

Hu, Ye

Fan, Jia

Sun, Dali

Liang, Kai

Ye Hu

Dali Sun

Xiangxing Kong

Fei Liu

Kai Liang

Jia Fan

Yang Bu

Christopher Lyon

Qingbo Shu

Tanxi Cai

Provided herein are methods for detecting and identifying disease-specific biomarkers, such as target antigens associated with infection.

Detection of antigens

A rapid, ultrasensitive and inexpensive nanoplasmon-enhanced scattering (nPES) assay that directly quantifies tumor-derived EVs from as little as 1 μ{umlaut over ({acute over (ι)})}, of plasma is described herein. This assay uses binding of gold nanospheres and nanorods with EV- and tumor-derived EV-specificities to produce a local plasmon effect that enhances tumor-derived EV detection sensitivity and specificity. This nPES approach is also a non-invasive method for assessing pancreatic cancer stage and treatment response that can be easily refined for clinical use, and is readily adapted for diagnosis and monitoring of other conditions with disease-specific EV proteins.

Nanoplasmonic quantification of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles in plasma microsamples for detection and treatment monitoring

A mobile phone-based dark field microscope (MDFM) apparatus suitable for quantifying nanoparticle signals is provided. The MDFM apparatus includes an electrically operated light source, a dark-field condenser, a slide housing configured to receive an analytical slide, and an adapter housing configured to receive an objective lens and receive a portable electronic communication device. The slide housing positions the analytical slide between the objective lens and the dark-field condenser. The adapter housing registers the objective lens with a camera lens of the portable electronic communication device. A method for performing a biological quantitative study using the dark-field microscope apparatus is further provided.

Dark-field microscope apparatus utilizing portable electronic communication device

The present disclosure relates a low magnification dark-field microscope system and method for producing a dark-field image. The method includes transferring a biological specimen to a surface of a sample plate, and pre-treating the biological specimen using one or more pre-treatment steps selected from (1) heating the biological specimen using a heating device; (2) applying ultrasound energy using an ultrasound transducer and ultrasound generator; and (3) doping the biological specimen with a metallic nanoparticle. Following pre-treatment, the method includes imaging a region of interest the biological specimen on the sample plate using a dark-field microscope to generate a dark-field image of the biological specimen.

Amplifiable nanoparticle enhanced quantitative scattering assay under low magnification dark field microscope

Certain embodiments of the invention provide TiOnanoshell particles, methods of fabricating TiOnanoshell particles, and methods of enriching peptides in a sample using TiOnanoshell particles.

Nanoshell-structured material as co-matrix for peptide characterization in mass spectrometry

Growing community of inventors

Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America

Ye Hu