Inventors:
Deborah C. Schindele - Seattle WA
Barry V. Pepich - Seattle WA
George E. Renzoni - Seattle WA
Karen L. Fearon - Woodinville WA
Niels H. Andersen - Seattle WA
Thomas H. Stanton - Seattle WA
Assignee:
British Technology Group USA Inc. - Gulph Mills PA
International Classification:
C12Q 168, G01N 3353, C12N 900, C07H 2104
Abstract:
Fluorescent and/or chromogenic reagents in which a phthalocyanine derivative is monomerically conjugated with an antigen, antibody, oligonucleotide, or nucleic acid. Methods are presented in in which greater than 90% of the phthalocyanine dyes are monomeric when conjugated. This greatly enhances their performance as detectable markers in immunoassays, nucleic acid probe assays, immunoblotting, hybridization assays, microscopy, imaging, flow cytometry, DNA sequencing, and photodynamic therapy. For use as fluorophores, the free base phthalocyanine may or may not be metallated. Metals for fluorescent phthalocyanine include aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, gallium, germanium, cadmium, scandium, magnesium, tin, and zinc. For use as chromogens, the phthalocyanine may or may not be metallated. For use in aqueous solution, the phthalocyanine macrocycle should be derivatized with water-solubilizing substituents such as sulfonic acid, phosphate, phosphonate, hydroxy, phenoxy, amino, ammonium, or pyridinium groups.