Alkyl Diethanolamine ECL Coreactants for Stable Assays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrochemiluminescence (ECL) coreactants, such as tripropylamine (TPA), have limitations including low water solubility, volatility, and unpleasant odor, leading to manufacturing difficulties and assay variability due to sensitivity to pH, temperature, and surfactant presence.
Innovation Solution
The use of alkyl diethanolamines like N-butyldiethanolamine (BDEA) or 2-dibutylaminoethanol (DBAE) as ECL coreactants, which are highly water soluble, non-volatile, and insensitive to pH, temperature, and surfactant concentrations, providing stable ECL signal generation with reduced assay background.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If tripropylamine (TPA) is used as ECL coreactant, then ECL signal generation is achieved, but water solubility is poor and volatility occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure of the coreactant from tripropylamine to alkyl diethanolamines (BDEA or DBAE), modifying physical parameters such as water solubility and volatility. This structural parameter change results in improved water solubility and reduced volatility while maintaining ECL signal generation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs alternative coreactants (BDEA/DBAE) that can be easily replaced and disposed of, eliminating the need for complex recovery systems. These coreactants are designed to be water-soluble and non-volatile, simplifying waste management and improving assay reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If tripropylamine (TPA) is used as ECL coreactant, then ECL signal generation is achieved, but unpleasant odor is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical identity of the coreactant from TPA to alkyl diethanolamines, which fundamentally alters the odor profile. The new coreactants are designed to be non-volatile and odorless, eliminating the harmful odor factor while maintaining functional concentration levels.
3Power
If TPA-containing compositions are used, then ECL signal generation is achieved, but sensitivity to pH, temperature, and surfactant presence causes assay variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the coreactant chemistry from TPA-based to alkyl diethanolamine-based, which fundamentally alters the sensitivity profile. The new coreactants are designed to be insensitive to pH, temperature, and surfactant variations, thereby eliminating assay variability while maintaining signal intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful sensitivity to environmental variations into a beneficial insensitivity. By selecting alkyl diethanolamines with appropriate molecular structures, the assay becomes robust against pH, temperature, and surfactant variations, turning potential sources of error into non-issues.
4Productivity
If TPA is used as ECL coreactant, then ECL measurements are performed, but manufacturing difficulties arise due to low water solubility and volatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the coreactant by switching to alkyl diethanolamines, which are highly water-soluble and non-volatile. This enables easier formulation, storage, and handling during manufacturing, significantly improving ease of manufacture and productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
BDEA or DBAE coreactants offer improved ECL signal stability and reduced variability, minimizing lot-to-lot and measurement-to-measurement variations, and allowing for tailored surfactant composition to control solution properties without disrupting analytes, enhancing the robustness of ECL assays.
Implementation Method 1
The light generated by ECL labels can be used as a reporter signal in diagnostic procedures... an ECL label can be covalently coupled to a binding agent such as an antibody, antigen, nucleic acid, receptor, ligand, or small molecule; the participation of the binding reagent in a binding interaction can be monitored by measuring ECL emitted from the ECL label
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides compositions, reagents, kits, systems, system components, and methods for performing assays. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an assay composition for detecting luminescence, which comprises an alkyl diethanolamine, for example, N-butyldiethanolamine (BDEA). In emodiments, the assay composition comprises 2-dibutylaminoethanol (BDAE).