Detection of low concentration biological agents

Abstract

Provided are methods of preparing a sample for detection by placing the sample on a shrinkable scaffold and then shrinking the scaffold. An exemplary shrinkable scaffold is a thermoplastic substrate.

1 . A method for preparing a sample for detection, comprising shrinking a thermoplastic material comprising a sample disposed on the thermoplastic material, thereby concentrating the sample on the thermoplastic material 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises a detectable label. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorescent agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material is pre-stressed prior to the shrinking and the shrinking comprises removing the stress. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shrinking comprising heating the material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shrinking is uniaxial or biaxial. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material is shrunk by at least 60%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a high molecular weight polymer, polyolefin, a shape memory polymer, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, celluloid, cellulose acetate, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVAL), fluoroplastics (PTFEs, including FEP, PFA, CTFE, ECTFE, ETFE), ionomers kydex, a trademarked acrylic/PVC alloy, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyacetal (POM or Acetal), polyacrylates (Acrylic), polyacrylonitrile (PAN or Acrylonitrile), polyamide (PA or Nylon), polyamide-imide (PAI), polyaryletherketone (PAEK or Ketone), polybutadiene (PBD), polybutylene (PB), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polycyclohexylene Dimethylene Terephthalate (PCT), polycarbonate (PC), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polyketone (PK), polyester polyethylene (PE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulfone (PES), polysulfone polyethylenechlorinates (PEC), polyimide (PI), polylactic acid (PLA), polymethylpentene (PMP), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyphthalamide (PPA), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polysulfone (PSU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or spectralon. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises polyolefin. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises polyethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is attached to the material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sample if covalently attached to the material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises a biological sample. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises a protein. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises a polynucleotide. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material is treated with a plasma before the shrinking. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plasma is oxygen plasma. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material is etched before the sample is deposited on the material. 
     
     
         19 . A sample prepared by a method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A method for detecting a sample comprising (A) disposing the sample on a thermoplastic material, (B) shrinking the thermoplastic material, and (C) detecting the sample.