Patent ID: 9012240
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of analyte enrichment in an immunoassay, the method comprising: providing an immunoassay device comprising a wicking matrix upstream of a porous matrix and an analyte binding region downstream of said porous matrix; adding a sample fluid containing the analyte to porous hydrogel nanoparticles and allowing the analyte to sequester within the porous hydrogel nanoparticles, wherein said porous hydrogel nanoparticles i) range in size from 1 nm to 100 μm; ii) contain an analyte specific affinity bait internally within the particles for immobilization of the analyte; and iii) comprise an open polymeric meshwork that encloses the affinity bait; allowing the sample fluid of to pass through the wicking matrix into the porous matrix; and trapping the porous hydrogel nanoparticles into the porous matrix; wherein the pore size of the porous matrix is such that the porous hydrogel nanoparticles do not migrate within the porous matrix and thereby the porous hydrogel nanoparticles are trapped at the entry point of the fluid to the porous matrix once the complete volume of sample fluid has passed from the wicking matrix to the porous matrix, enclosing therein the sequestered analyte for subsequent elution into the analyte binding region for immunoassay analysis of the analyte.