Patent ID: 6620627
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A kit for isolating tumor cells from a biological sample with controlled aggregation of colloidal magnetic particles, comprising:a) a reagent effective to inactivate endogenous aggregating factors; b) coated magnetic nanoparticles comprising a magnetic core material, a protein base coating material, and an antibody that binds specifically to a first characteristic determinant of said tumor cell, said antibody being coupled, directly or indirectly, to said base coating material; said magnetic particles being further coupled to a first exogenous aggregation enhancing factor, said factor comprising one member of a specific binding pair; c) at least one antibody having binding specificity for a second characteristic determinant of said tumor cell; d) a second exogenous aggregation enhancing factor, said second aggregation factor comprising the other member of said specific binding pair; and e) a non-cell excluding agent for excluding non-nucleated cells from analysis.