Patent ID: 6117631
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: C07K,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A method of detecting an antigen comprising:immobilizing an antigen to a solid support;contacting the solid support with a first solution comprising a first antibody which binds to said immobilized antigen;contacting said solid support with a second solution comprising an immunodendrimer, said immunodendrimer comprising an anti-first antibody having an oligonucleotide complexed thereto and a labeled dendritic polynucleotide hybridized thereto, wherein the anti-first antibody binds to the first antibody;wherein said labeled dendritic polynucleotide comprises a plurality of matrix polynucleotide monomers bonded together by hybridization; each matrix polynucleotide monomer, prior to being hybridization bonded to other matrix polynucleotide monomers, having at least three single stranded hybridization regions, and in said dendritic polynucleotide each matrix polynucleotide monomer is hybridization bonded to at least one other matrix polynucleotide monomer at at least one such hybridization region and when hybridization bonded to more than one such hybridization region of the same matrix polynucleotide monomer, there is an intermediate region where the two monomers are not hybridization bonded; wherein each matrix polynucleotide monomer, prior to hybridization bonding has a linear, double stranded waist region having a first end and a second end, said first end terminating with two single stranded hybridization regions, each from a strand of the waist region, and said second end terminating with one or two single stranded hybridization regions, each from a strand of the waist region; and, the plurality of matrix polynucleotide monomers present does not exceed saturation of the labeled dendritic polynucleotide; anddetecting the presence of said antigen directly by detecting said labeled immunodendrimer.