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Patent

Detection of distinct molecules using fiber optic sensor

The invention relates to a method (10) for detecting distinct target molecules (21) in a sample (26). The method comprises providing (11) a fiber optic sensor (23) functionalized with distinct affinity probes (24) immobilized on a detection surface (25), each probe specifically binding to a corresponding molecule (21) to be detected. The method further comprises providing (12) reagent fluids (26), each comprising an affinity reagent(s) (27) for binding simultaneously with a corresponding probe (24) to the corresponding molecule (21). Each reagent is bound to a metal nanoparticle (28). Each fluid (26) has a different composition to enable binding of the affinity reagent(s) (27) in each fluid (26) to a different combination of target molecules (21). The method also comprises exposing (13) the sensor(s) (23) to the sample (22), exposing (14) a sensor (23) to a first reagent fluid (30) and detecting a first signal to determine whether any of a first combination of molecules was present in the sample (22), and exposing (15) a sensor to a second reagent fluid (31) and detecting a second signal to determine whether any of a second combination of target molecules was present. If the first signal indicates a presence of any of the first combination of target molecules, the specific target molecule(s) of the first combination that are present in the sample fluid (22) is further determined by the second signal, in which the affinity reagents in the second reagent fluid (31) form a first proper subset of the affinity reagents in the first reagent fluid (30).
Patent Publication Number: EP3287768
Year filing: 2017
Year approval: 2019
Year publication: 2018
Status: Requested
Technology domains: Measurement, Analysis of biological materials, Biotechnology, Micro-structure and nano-technology
Validated for IOF-key: Yes
Attributed to: Associatie KULeuven