Abstract:
The invention provides methods for analyzing the protein content of a biological sample, for example to obtain a protein profile of a sample provided by a particular individual. The proteins and protein fragments in the sample are separated on the basis of chemical and/or physical properties and maintained in a separated state at discrete locations on a solid substrate or within a stream of flowing liquid. Raman spectra are then detected as produced by the separated proteins or fragments at the discrete locations such that a spectrum from a discrete location provides information about the structure or identity of one or more particular proteins or fragments at the discrete location. The proteins or fragments at discrete locations can be coated with a metal, such as gold or silver, and/or the separated proteins can be contacted with a chemical enhancer to provide SERS spectra. Method and kits for practicing the invention are also provided.
Abstract:
The present disclosure concerns methods for producing and/or using molecular barcodes. In certain embodiments of the invention, the barcodes comprise polymer backbones that may contain one or more branch structures. Tags may be attached to the backbone and/or branch structures. The barcode may also comprise a probe that can bind to a target, such as proteins, nucleic acids and other biomolecules or aggregates. Different barcodes may be distinguished by the type and location of the tags. In other embodiments, barcodes may be produced by hybridization of one or more tagged oligonucleotides to a template, comprising a container section and a probe section. The tagged oligonucleotides may be designed as modular code sections, to form different barcodes specific for different targets. In alternative embodiments, barcodes may be prepared by polymerization of monomeric units. Bound barcodes may be detected by various imaging modalities, such as, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescent or Raman spectroscopy.
Abstract:
In certain embodiments of the invention, a plurality of images of one or more subjects may be captured using different imaging techniques, such as different modalities of scanning probe microscopy. Parameters may be estimated from the plurality of images, using one or more models of known molecular structures to provide a model-based analysis. The estimated parameters may be fused, with further input from physical models of known molecular structures. The fused parameters may be used to characterize the subjects. Such characterization may include the detection and/or identification of specific molecular structures, such as proteins, peptides and/or nucleic acids of known sequence and/or structure. In some embodiments of the invention the structural characterizations may be used to identify previously unknown properties of a subject molecule.
Abstract:
The present methods and apparatus concern the detection and/or identification of target analytes using probe molecules. In various embodiments of the invention, the probes or analytes are attached to one or more cantilevers. Binding of a probe to an analyte results in deflection of the cantilever, detected by a detection unit. A counterbalancing force may be applied to restore the cantilever to its original position. The counterbalancing force may be magnetic, electrical or radiative. The detection unit and the mechanism generating the counterbalancing force may be operably coupled to an information processing and control unit, such as a computer. The computer may regulate a feedback loop that maintains the cantilever in a fixed position by balancing the deflecting force and the counterbalancing force. The concentration of analytes in a sample may be determined from the magnitude of the counterbalancing force required to maintain the cantilever in a fixed position.
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a condensed array addressed device; and a spectroscope optically coupled to the condensed array addressed device. A method includes determining bonding and/or lack-of-bonding of a target molecule to a condensed array addressed device by characterizing a subsequent rate of electrolysis on the condensed array addressed device. A method includes fabricating a condensed array addressed device using damascene patterning.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for detecting the presence of biomolecules in a sample using biosensors that incorporate resonators which have functionalized surfaces for reacting with target biomolecules. In one embodiment, a device includes a piezoelectric resonator having a functionalized surface configured to react with target molecules, thereby changing the mass and/or charge of the resonator which consequently changes the frequency response of the resonator. The resonator’s frequency response after exposure to a sample is compared to a reference, such as the frequency response before exposure to the sample, a stored baseline frequency response or a control resonator’s frequency response.
Abstract:
Various methods of using Raman-active or SERS-active probe constructs to detect analytes in biological samples, such as the protein-containing analytes in a body fluid are provided. The probe moieties in the Raman-active constructs are selected to bind to and identify specific known analytes in the biological sample or the probe moieties are designed to chemically interact with functional groups commonly found in certain amino acids so that the invention methods provide information about the amino acid composition of protein-containing analytes or fragments in the samples. In some cases, the Ramanactive or SERS-active probe constructs, when used in the invention methods, can identify particular protein-containing analytes or types of such analytes so that a protein profile of a patient sample can be made. When compared to a data base of Raman or SERS spectra of normal samples, a disease state of a patient can be identified using the methods disclosed.
Abstract:
The disclosed methods and apparatus concern Raman spectroscopy using metal coated nanocrystalline porous silicon substrates. Porous silicon substrates may be formed by anodic etching in dilute hydrofluoric acid. A thin coating of a Raman active metal, such as gold or silver, may be coated onto the porous silicon by cathodic electromigration or any known technique. In certain alternatives, the metal coated porous silicon substrate comprises a plasma-oxidized, dip and decomposed porous silicon substrate. The metalcoated substrate provides an extensive, metal rich environment for SERS, SERBS, hyperRaman and/or CARS Raman spectroscopy. In certain alternatives, metal nanoparticles may be added to the metal-coated substrate to further enhance the Raman signals. Raman spectroscopy may be used to detect, identify and/or quantify a wide variety of analytes, using the disclosed methods and apparatus. In some disclosed methods, Raman spectroscopy may be used to detect nucleotides, purines or pyrimidines at the single molecule level.
Abstract:
The methods and apparatus disclosed herein concern nucleic acid sequencing by enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In certain embodiments of the invention, nucleotides are covalently attached to Raman labels before incorporation into a nucleic acid (13). Exonuclease (15) treatment of the labeled nucleic acid (13) results in the release of labeled nucleotides (16, 130), which are detected by Raman spectroscopy. In alternative embodiments of the invention, nucleotides (16, 130) released from a nucleic acid (13) by exonuclease (15) treatment are covalently cross-linked to silver or gold nanoparticles (140) and detected by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) and/or coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS). Other embodiments of the invention concern apparatus (10, 100, 210) for nucleic acid sequencing.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide devices and methods for detecting, identifying, distinguishing, and quantifying modification states of proteins and peptides using Surface Enhanced Raman (SERS) and Raman spectroscopy. Applications of embodiments of the present invention include, for example, proteome wide modification profiling and analyses with applications in disease diognosis, prognosis and drug efficacy studies, emzymatic activity profiling and assays.