BIOMARKER STABILIZING AGENTS
Biomarker stabilizing agents. In at least one embodiment of a stabilizing bead of the present disclosure, the stabilizing bead comprises a latex particle having a carboxylate group, and a stabilizing agent functionally coupled to the latex particle, wherein the stabilizing agent is capable of completely or substantially preventing the degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic agent in close proximity to the stabilizing agent. Optionally, an embodiment of a stabilizing bead may further comprise at least one of human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Moreover, an embodiment of a stabilizing bead of the present disclosure may further comprise a linker group coupled to latex particle.
1 . A stabilizing bead comprising:
a latex particle having a carboxylate group; and
a stabilizing agent functionally coupled to the latex particle, wherein the stabilizing agent is capable of completely or substantially preventing the degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic agent in close proximity to the stabilizing agent.
2 . The stabilized bead of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA).
3 . The stabilizing bead of claim 1 , further comprising a linker group coupled to latex particle.
4 . The stabilizing bead of claim 3 , wherein the linker group comprises a maleimide compound.
5 . The stabilizing bead of claim 4 , wherein the maleimide compound is selected from the group consisting of Succinimidyl 4-[N-Maleimidomethyl]Cyclohexane-1-Carboxylate (SMCC) and N-Hydroxysuccinimide-activated hexa(ethylene glycol)undecane Thiol (NHS).
6 . The stabilizing bead of claim 4 , wherein the linker group is coupled to the HSA or BSA.
7 . The stabilizing bead of claim 1 , further comprising an antibody functionally linked to the latex particle.
8 . The stabilizing bead of claim 1 , wherein the latex particle has a diameter of about 0.02 μm to about 7.0 μm.
9 . The stabilizing bead of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of Fixanal® Buffer 6.0 (Sigma-Aldrich Co.), acetic acid, aluminum hydroxide bentonite, aluminum sulfate hydrate, aluminum potassium sulfate dodecahydrate, benzoic acid, caffeine, and 3-tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, or a combination thereof.
10 . The stabilizing bead of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises a plurality of stabilizing agents each present in approximately the same concentration.