Patent ID: 9063189
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: B82Y,G01N,G01R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method, for detecting an analyte, comprising the steps of: a) mixing a sample containing the analyte with paramagnetic nanoparticles comprising an analyte binding agent, in a known liquid comprising non-zero-spin nuclei, thereby forming a mixture, wherein the analyte binding agent can bind to the analyte in the known liquid to form paramagnetic nanoparticle-analyte complexes; b) enhancing binding of the paramagnetic nanoparticles comprising an analyte binding agent to the analyte in the mixture by applying an external, non-uniform magnetic field that varies throughout the volume of the known liquid and has maximal field strength in a subvolume of the known liquid, wherein the paramagnetic nanoparticles and paramagnetic nanoparticle-analyte complexes are drawn into the subvolume by the non-uniform magnetic field, thereby concentrating the paramagnetic nanoparticles and paramagnetic nanoparticle analyte complexes and enhancing interactions therebetween, except that the non-uniform magnetic field is not applied when the T2 magnetic resonance spin relaxation property measurement is being made; and c) measuring a magnetic resonance spin relaxation property of the mixture by: wherein a change in T2 in the presence of the analyte compared to the T2 of a negative control mixture that does not include analyte indicates the presence of analyte in the sample, thereby detecting the analyte.