Rod-Tether Nanoprobes

Ilya Lyakhov, Thomas D. Schneider, and Danielle Needle

Filed with the US Patent Office on 2005 December 12
Allowed 2012 Sep 24.
US Patent No. 8,344,121 Issued January 1, 2013 (Nanoprobes for detection or modification of molecules - PDF)
US Patent No. US8703734 Issued April 22, 2014 (Nanoprobes for detection or modification of molecules - PDF)

Imagine shrinking the ELISA assay to a single molecule!

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Benefits of the Rod-Tether Nanoprobes

Rod-Tether Nanoprobes

are simple because there is only one reagent. Complicated and expensive microfluidic chips are eliminated.
reduce ELISA, Southern, Northern and Western assays to single molecules
are fast because only a single molecular reaction is required to detect a target molecule
have exceptionally low cost per device
have many options for technical improvements
could be used in the clinic to instantaneously analyze patient's blood and detect genetic diseases
could be used to detect biowarfare agents instantaneously

Informal description of the Invention:
Rod-tether Nanoprobes are devices consisting of a rigid molecular rod with a flexible molecular tether attached at each end that can be used to detect and/or modify molecules. Each tether tip has a functional group, such as an antibody or oligonucleotide, that recognizes a target molecule. In addition, one tip carries a donor fluorophore and the other carries an acceptor fluorophore. The fluorophores form a pair for Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). In the absence of the target molecule, the rod keeps the tether arms apart most of the time, while in the presence of the target molecule, both recognizers bind to the target. This holds the donor and acceptor fluorophores close together. Illumination with light excites the donor and the energy is transferred by FRET to the nearby acceptor, which emits a detectable signal. By reducing an ELISA-like assay entirely to the molecular level, complex macroscopic or microfluidic washing and pumping systems can be eliminated. Rod-tether Nanoprobes can detect a wide variety of clinical and biowarfare reagents. The nanoprobes can also be used to rapidly and simply detect, modify and/or destroy endogenous molecules such as proteins and mRNA involved in a broad range of diseases. The simplest ssDNA-detecting nanoprobe has been created. Resources are sought to develop a variety of prototypes.