Magneto-optical detection of a disease component using magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

A system is described herein that can be used to perform magneto-optical detection of a disease component in a test sample using magnetic nanoparticles. A concentration of magnetic nanoparticles and a concentration of bindable agents can be administered to the test sample. The magnetic nanoparticles can be configured to attach to the bindable agents. A light beam can be transmitted through the test sample to a light detector. A magnetic field gradient can be established through the test sample. If the transmitted light beam under the magnetic field gradient exhibits a variable intensity change during a time period, the disease component can be determined to exist in the test sample.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a light source to transmit a light beam through a test sample to a light detector;   a magnet to establish a magnetic field gradient through the test sample,   wherein the test sample comprises magnetic nanoparticles and a bindable agent specific to a disease component; and   a measurement device that samples the light detector over a time period to determine whether the disease component exists in the test sample if a change in intensity of the transmitted light beam under the magnetic field gradient exhibits a variable intensity change pattern during the time period.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein magnet is configured to move between a first magnetic state position and a second magnetic state position during the time period,
 wherein the measurement device takes multiple samples at the first magnetic state position and the second magnetic state position during the time.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first magnetic state position causes the magnetic field gradient to be off and the second magnetic state position causes the magnetic field gradient to be on. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bindable agent is configured to bind to the disease component in the test sample to tag the disease component in the test sample with the magnetic nanoparticle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the bindable agent is configured to attach to at least one of the magnetic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a radius of the disease component is >> than a radius of one of the magnetic nanoparticles attached to the bindable agent. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a drift speed of the disease component bound to at least one magnetic nanoparticle through the bindable agent in the presence of the magnetic field gradient is >> a drift speed of the one of the magnetic nanoparticles attached to the bindable agent. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field gradient is perpendicular to the light beam or along the light beam. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the disease component is a bacteria, a virus, a fungus, or a cancer cell. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bindable agent is an antibody specific for the disease component, a ligand specific for the disease component, or an aptimer specific to the disease component. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 administering a concentration of magnetic nanoparticles and a concentration of bindable agents to a test sample;   transmitting a light beam through the test sample to a light detector;   establishing a magnetic field gradient through the test sample; and   determining whether a disease component exists in the test sample if a change in intensity of the transmitted light beam under the magnetic field gradient exhibits a variable intensity change during a time period.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the determining further comprises matching the change in intensity to a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined pattern is established based on the disease. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bindable agents are configured to attach to the disease component in the test sample to tag the disease component in the sample with the magnetic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a radius of the disease component is >> than a radius of one of the magnetic nanoparticles attached to the bindable agent; and
 wherein a drift speed of the disease component bound to the bindable agent attached toat least one of the magnetic nanoparticles in a presence of the magnetic field gradient is >> a drift speed of the one of the magnetic nanoparticles attached to the bindable agent in the presence of the magnetic field gradient. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the disease component is a bacteria, a virus, a fungus, or a cancer cell. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bindable agent is an antibody specific for the disease component, a ligand specific for the disease component, or an aptimer specific to the disease component. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising diagnosing a disease or condition in a patient based on the disease component existing in the test sample. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the diagnosing further comprises performing a differential analysis on the test sample when the disease component exists in the test sample to diagnose the disease or condition. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field is established between two magnets so that the resultant magnetic field lines are perpendicular to the light beam.