Spectroscopic assays and tagging

Abstract

A spectroscopic assay is provided. The assay comprises: a motive particle configured to move within a solution, the motive particle comprising a first analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to a target analyte; and a spectroscopic reporter particle configured to provide a predetermined spectroscopic signal in response to being interrogated by a spectrometer, the spectroscopic reporter particle comprising a second analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to the target analyte, wherein the motive particle and the spectroscopic reporter particle are configured to provide a sandwich assay in the presence of the target analyte via the first and second analyte binding reagents.

1 . A spectroscopic assay comprising:
 a motive particle configured to move within a solution, the motive particle comprising a first analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to a target analyte; and   a spectroscopic reporter particle configured to provide a predetermined spectroscopic signal in response to being interrogated by a spectrometer, the spectroscopic reporter particle comprising a second analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to the target analyte,   wherein the motive particle and the spectroscopic reporter particle are configured to provide a sandwich assay in the presence of the target analyte via the first and second analyte binding reagents.   
     
     
         2 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 1  wherein the motive particle is configured to float within the solution. 
     
     
         3 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 1  wherein the motive particle is relatively less dense than the solution to provide buoyancy to the motive particle and a positive sandwich assay. 
     
     
         4 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 3  wherein the buoyancy of the motive particle provides a motive force to concentrate a plurality of positive sandwich assays within the solution. 
     
     
         5 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of positive sandwich assays are concentrated toward a top of the solution by floating motive particles. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of positive sandwich assays are concentrated toward a bottom of the solution by floating motive particles. 
     
     
         11 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 10  wherein the spectroscopic reporter particles are configured to float or remain neutrally buoyant. 
     
     
         12 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 1  wherein the motive particle is configured to remain neutrally buoyant within the solution. 
     
     
         13 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 1  wherein the motive particle is relatively equally dense with the solution to provide a neutrally buoyant motive force to keep the motive particle and a positive assay sandwich in solution 
     
     
         14 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 1  wherein the motive particle comprises a SERS active material bound to the motive particle to enhance a Raman spectroscopy interrogation. 
     
     
         15 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 1  wherein the motive particle comprises a plurality of SERS active nanoparticles bound to the motive particle. 
     
     
         16 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of SERS active nanoparticles are aggregated on a surface of the motive particle. 
     
     
         17 . A multiplex spectroscopic assay comprising:
 a motive particle configured to move within a solution, the motive particle comprising a first analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to a first target analyte and a second analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to a second target analyte; and   a first spectroscopic reporter particle configured to provide a first predetermined spectroscopic signal in response to being interrogated by a spectrometer, the first spectroscopic reporter particle comprising a third analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to the first target analyte,   a second spectroscopic reporter particle configured to provide a second predetermined spectroscopic signal in response to being interrogated by the spectrometer, the second spectroscopic reporter particle comprising a fourth analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to the second target analyte,   wherein the motive particle and the first spectroscopic reporter particle are configured to provide a first sandwich assay in the presence of the first target analyte via the first and third analyte binding reagents, and the motive particle and the second spectroscopic reporter particle are configured to provide a second sandwich assay in the presence of the second target analyte via the second and fourth analyte binding reagents.   
     
     
         18 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 17  wherein the motive particle is configured to float within the solution. 
     
     
         19 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 17  wherein the motive particle is relatively less dense than the solution to provide buoyancy to the motive particle and a positive sandwich assay. 
     
     
         20 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 19  wherein the buoyancy of the motive particle provides a motive force to concentrate a plurality of positive sandwich assays within the solution. 
     
     
         21 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 19  wherein the plurality of positive sandwich assays are concentrated toward a top of the solution by floating motive particles. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 25  wherein the plurality of positive sandwich assays are concentrated toward a bottom of the solution by floating motive particles. 
     
     
         27 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 26  wherein the spectroscopic reporter particles are configured to float or remain neutrally buoyant. 
     
     
         28 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 17  wherein the motive particle is configured to remain neutrally buoyant within the solution. 
     
     
         29 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 17  wherein the motive particle is relatively equally dense with the solution to provide a neutrally buoyant motive force to keep the motive particle and a positive assay sandwich in solution 
     
     
         30 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 17  wherein the motive particle comprises a SERS active material bound to the motive particle to enhance a Raman spectroscopy interrogation. 
     
     
         31 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 17  wherein the motive particle comprises a plurality of SERS active nanoparticles bound to the motive particle. 
     
     
         32 . The spectroscopic assay of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of SERS active nanoparticles are aggregated on a surface of the motive particle. 
     
     
         33 . A spectroscopic taggant comprising:
 a motive tag particle configured to move within a solution, the motive particle comprising a bound reporter particle configured to provide a predetermined spectroscopic signal in response to being interrogated by a spectrometer, the motive tag particle further comprising a protective coating to protect the motive particle and the bound reporter particle within the coating.   
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled)