Antigens embedded in thermoplastic

Abstract

The invention relates to an immunoassays, binding assays, solid phase substrates ( 12 ) and other devices with an antigen or antibody or ligand or receptor ( 11 ) embedded into a solid phase substrate ( 12 ). The antigen or antibody is mixed with a molten thermoplastic and formed into the solid phase substrate ( 12 ).

1 . A binding assay for detecting the presence of a binding partner, the binding assay comprising the steps of 
 providing a binding agent-containing monolithic solid material wherein the binding agent is evenly dispersed throughout the monolithic solid material, wherein the binding agent is not chemically coupled to the monolithic solid material and wherein the binding agent is held in the monolithic solid material so that the binding agent does not leach or elute from the monolithic solid material, wherein at least a portion of the binding agent is exposed to a surface of the monolithic solid material in an orientation wherein the binding agent is bindable to the binding partner by specific binding and wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of lipoproteins, glycoproteins, metalloproteins, lyophilized proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, phospholipids, polynucleotides, glucosaminoglycans, platelets, erythrocytes, cells, lyophilized platelets, lyophilized platelet fragments and combinations thereof, and    contacting a sample suspected of containing the binding partner with the binding agent-containing monolithic solid material for a sufficient time and under sufficient conditions to permit the binding partner to bind to the binding agent, and    detecting the presence or absence of binding of the binding partner to the binding agent.    
     
     
         2 . The binding assay according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the presence or absence of binding of the binding partner to the binding agent is accomplished by means of a labeled reagent.  
     
     
         3 . The binding assay according to  claim 1 , wherein said plastic is a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         4 . The binding assay according to  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent-containing solid phase substrate comprises at least part of a container designed to hold the sample.  
     
     
         5 . The binding assay of  claim 1  further including the step of regenerating the binding agent-containing monolithic solid material after the step of detecting the presence or absence of binding of the binding partner to the binding agent, the step of regenerating the binding agent-containing monolithic solid material being carried out by adding a reagent or changing the physical conditions so as to break the bonding between the binding partner and the binding agent and to strip the binding partner free from the binding agent-containing monolithic solid material.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the binding partner is stripped by acid, salt or chaotropic agent.  
     
     
         7 . A medical device for implantation in a organism or that contacts tissues or fluids of an organism, the medical device comprising binding agent-containing monolithic solid material wherein the binding agent is evenly and unreleasably dispersed throughout the monolithic solid material, and wherein the binding agent is held in the monolithic solid material so that the binding agent does not leach or elute from the monolithic solid material, wherein the binding agent is not chemically coupled to the monolithic solid material, wherein at least a portion of the binding agent is exposed to a surface of the monolithic solid material in an orientation wherein the binding agent is bindable to a binding partner by specific binding and wherein the binding agent is selected to enhance the compatibility of the medical device to the tissues and fluids of the organism.  
     
     
         8 . The medical device according to  claim 7 , wherein the solid phase substrate is a plastic.  
     
     
         9 . The medical device according to  claim 7 , wherein the binding agent is a selected from the group consisting of cholesterol, heparin/heparan, phospholipids, glucosaminoglycans and complement inactivating proteins.  
     
     
         10 . A binding agent-containing monolithic solid material wherein the binding agent is evenly dispersed throughout the monolithic solid material, wherein the binding agent is not chemically coupled to the monolithic solid material and wherein the binding agent is held in the monolithic solid material so that the binding agent does not leach or elute from the monolithic solid material, wherein at least a portion of the binding agent is exposed to a surface of the monolithic solid material in an orientation wherein the binding agent is bindable to a binding partner by specific binding and wherein the binding agent is a platelet, a lyophilized platelet, or a lyophilized platelet fragment.  
     
     
         11 . The binding agent-containing monolithic solid material according to  claim 10  wherein the solid material is a plastic material.