Patent ID: 9063144
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting a target substance in a sample, comprising steps of: mixing a particle carrying a first bound substance in which a first substance containing a stimuli-responsive polymer binds to a first affinity substance having affinity to the target substance, a second bound substance in which a hydrophilic second substance binds to a second affinity substance having affinity to the target substance, and the sample, to obtain a mixture; placing the mixture under conditions to aggregate the stimuli responsive polymer and developing the mixture thus obtained on a developing carrier; or developing the mixture on a developing carrier and placing the mixture under conditions to aggregate the stimuli-responsive polymer; detecting a signal resulting from the presence of the first bound substance or the second bound substance on the developing carrier; and in a case where the signal is different from that detected in the absence of the target substance, determining that the target substance is present in the sample, wherein the first affinity substance and the second affinity substance can bind to different sites of the target substance, the hydrophilic second substance is capable of inhibiting aggregation of the stimuli-responsive polymer, wherein the developing carrier is a chromatography carrier that is a perforated membrane, such that a non-aggregated body having a diameter smaller than a pore diameter of the developing carrier moves on the developing carrier and an aggregate having a diameter larger than the pore diameter of the developing carrier does not move on the developing carrier, and wherein the conditions to aggregate the stimuli-responsive polymer comprise a stimulus, such that the stimuli-responsive polymer aggregates in response to the stimulus.