Hydrogel particles with tunable optical properties

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising a hydrogel particle with optical properties substantially similar to the optical properties of a target cell, and methods for their use.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A population of hydrogel particles, each hydrogel particle comprising:
 (i) a polymer comprising a polymerized monomer and a bifunctional monomer;   (ii) DNA encapsulated within the hydrogel particle; and   (iii) a nanoparticle encapsulated within the hydrogel,   wherein the population hydrogel particles has an optical property that is substantially similar to a corresponding property of a target cell, the optical property provided by the polymerized monomer, bifunctional monomer, or the encapsulated nanoparticle.   
     
     
         3 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2  wherein the polymerized monomer is lactic acid, glycolic acid, acrylic acid, 1-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propylene glycol methacrylate, acrylamide, N-vinylpyrrolidone, methyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, glycol methacrylate, ethylene glycol, fumaric acid, methacrylamide, N-alkylacrylamide, N-alkylmethacrylamide, N,N-dialkylacrylamide, N-[(dialkylamino)alkyl]acrylamide, N-[(dialkylamino)alkyl]methacrylamide, (dialkylamino)alkyl acrylate, or (dialkylamino)alkyl methacrylate. 
     
     
         4 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , wherein the polymerized monomer is polymerized acrylamide. 
     
     
         5 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , where the bifunctional monomer comprises one or more chemical side groups that are capable of reacting with a dye molecule. 
     
     
         6 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more chemical side groups is amine, carboxyl, maleimide, epoxide or alkyne. 
     
     
         7 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , wherein the bifunctional monomer is allyl amine, allyl acrylate, allyl methacrylate, allyl alcohol, allyl isothiocyanate, allyl chloride, allyl maleimide, or bis-acrylamide. 
     
     
         8 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 7 , wherein the bifunctional monomer is bis-acrylamide. 
     
     
         9 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 8 , wherein the bisacrylamide is N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide, N,N′-methylenebismethacrylamide, N,N′-ethylenebisacrylamide, N,N′-ethylenebis-methacrylamide, N,N′propylenebisacryl amide, or N,N′-(1,2-dihydroxyethylene)bisacrylamide. 
     
     
         10 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , wherein the polymerized monomer is acrylamide and the bifunctional monomer is bis-acrylamide. 
     
     
         11 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , wherein the encapsulated nanoparticle is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), or silica. 
     
     
         12 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 11 , wherein the encapsulated material is PMMA. 
     
     
         13 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 11 , wherein the encapsulated material is PS. 
     
     
         14 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 11 , wherein the encapsulated material is silica. 
     
     
         15 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 10 , wherein the encapsulated nanoparticle is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), or silica. 
     
     
         16 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 15 , wherein the encapsulated material is PMMA. 
     
     
         17 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 15 , wherein the encapsulated material is PS. 
     
     
         18 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 15 , wherein the encapsulated material is silica. 
     
     
         19 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , comprising up to 1500 μg/mL of DNA. 
     
     
         20 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , comprising 40 ug/mL to 1000 ug/mL of DNA. 
     
     
         21 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , further comprising a dye. 
     
     
         22 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 21 , wherein the dye is conjugated to the bifunctional monomer. 
     
     
         23 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , having a refractive index between 1.1 and 2.9. 
     
     
         24 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 23 , wherein the hydrogel particles have an average refractive index of greater than about 1.7. 
     
     
         25 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrogel particles have an average diameter in the range of from 5 μm to 100 μm. 
     
     
         26 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 25 , wherein no more than 10% of the hydrogel particles have a diameter exceeding the average diameter of the hydrogel particles by more than 10%. 
     
     
         27 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , wherein the optical property comprises side scattering. 
     
     
         28 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 27 , wherein the side scattering is within 10% of a target cell. 
     
     
         29 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , wherein the optical property comprises forward scattering. 
     
     
         30 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 29 , wherein the forward scattering is within 10% of a target cell. 
     
     
         31 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 2 , wherein the optical properties are measured using flow cytometry. 
     
     
         32 . A population of hydrogel particles, each hydrogel particle comprising:
 (i) a polymer comprising polymerized acrylamide and bis-acrylamide; and   (ii) DNA encapsulated within the hydrogel particle;   wherein the population hydrogel particles has an average diameter in the range of from 5 μm to 100 μm, and no more than 10% of the hydrogel particles have a diameter exceeding the average diameter of the hydrogel particles by more than 10%.   
     
     
         33 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 32 , having a refractive index between 1.1 and 2.9. 
     
     
         34 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 33 , wherein the hydrogel particles have an average refractive index of greater than about 1.7.+ 
     
     
         35 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 32 , wherein having a side scattering within 10% of a target cell. 
     
     
         36 . The population of hydrogel particles of  claim 32 , having a forward scattering within 10% of a target cell.