Patent ID: 6924116
Filing Date: 2005-08-02
Classification: A61K,B01J,B82Y,C09B,G01N,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying cells expressing a preselected molecule comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of cells at least some of which express the preselected molecule; providing a plurality of silica-coated nanoparticles coated with a functional group that binds to the preselected molecule, each of said nanoparticles having a mean size of less than 1 micron and comprising a core comprising a pigment and a silica shell enveloping the core, wherein the pigment is an inorganic salt selected from the group consisting of potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate, nickel sulfate, cobalt-chloride, iron (III) chloride, and copper nitrate; mixing the plurality of silica-coated nanoparticles with the plurality of cells to form a mixture; placing the mixture under conditions that allow the nanoparticles to bind to cells expressing the preselected molecule; and analyzing the cells for bound nanoparticles to identify the cells expressing the preselected molecule.