Diagnostic devices and methods of use
The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing samples as well as various microfluidic, microcentrifuge and microfilter devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases using mitochondrial and/or platelet samples. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a microfluidic device that selectively captures and analyzes a desired amount of target biological particle.
1. A kit for the diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease, comprising:
(a) a device, comprising:
an insert configured to be inserted into a cuvette comprising a mounting slot configured to hold a support fin of the insert,
wherein the insert comprises a top portion transitioning to a bottom portion,
wherein the top portion comprises a sample chamber for receiving a sample,
wherein the bottom portion comprises an optical measurement chamber and the support fin extending along two opposite sides outside of the optical measurement chamber,
wherein the top portion is wider than the bottom portion, and wherein the top portion accommodates the supernatant of the sample and the bottom portion accommodates the pellet of the sample after the sample is centrifuged; and
(b) instructions for using the device to diagnose a neurodegenerative disease.
2. A device, comprising:
an insert configured to be inserted into a cuvette comprising a mounting slot configured to hold a support fin of the insert,
wherein the insert comprises a top portion transitioning to a bottom portion,
wherein the top portion comprises a sample chamber for receiving a sample,
wherein the bottom portion comprises an optical measurement chamber and the support fin extending along two opposite sides outside of the optical measurement chamber,
wherein the top portion is wider than the bottom portion, and wherein the top portion accommodates the supernatant of the sample and the bottom portion accommodates the pellet of the sample after the sample is centrifuged.
3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising the cuvette, wherein the cuvette comprises an optical window configured to align with the optical measurement chamber of the insert.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the sample chamber is cylinder shaped.
5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the optical measurement chamber is box shaped.
6. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a spectrophotometer configured to measure the optical density of the optical measurement chamber.
7. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a temperature controller configured to control the temperature within the device.
8. A method of diagnosing a neurodegenerative disease in a subject, comprising:
providing a device, comprising:
an insert configured to be inserted into a cuvette comprising a mounting slot configured to hold a support fin of the insert,
wherein the insert comprises a top portion transitioning to a bottom portion,
wherein the top portion comprises a sample chamber for receiving a sample,
wherein the bottom portion comprises an optical measurement chamber and the support fin extending along two opposite sides outside of the optical measurement chamber,
wherein the top portion is wider than the bottom portion, and wherein the top portion accommodates the supernatant of the sample and the bottom portion accommodates the pellet of the sample after the sample is centrifuged;
obtaining a sample from the subject;
quantifying the amount or activity of a target moiety in the sample using the device by centrifuging the sample to sediment the target moiety into the optical measurement chamber of the insert; and
comparing the amount or activity of the target moiety in the sample with the amount or activity of the target moiety in a standard, wherein a change in the amount or activity of the target moiety in the sample relative to the standard indicates that the subject has or will develop the neurodegenerative disease.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease (AD) and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the subject is a human.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the subject is mammalian.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample comprises a peripheral tissue sample.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample comprises plasma.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample comprises platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample comprises platelets.
16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample comprises an unprocessed sample.
17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample does not contain mitochondrial isolate and/or selection.
18. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample has not been exposed to a high-energy disruption technique.
19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample has not been exposed to sonication, nitrogen cavitation and/or lysis procedure.
20. The method of claim 8 , wherein the target moiety comprises a mitochondrial protein.
21. The method of claim 8 , wherein the target moiety comprises a mitochondrial translocase or a subunit thereof.
22. The method of claim 8 , wherein the target moiety comprises amyloid precursor protein (APP), or fragments thereof, complexed with a mitochondrial protein.
23. The method of claim 8 , wherein the target moiety comprises a mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) enzyme.
24. The method of claim 8 , wherein the target moiety comprises a cytochrome oxidase.
25. The method of claim 8 , wherein quantifying the amount or activity of the target moiety further comprises determining a mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) enzyme activity in the sample.
26. The method of claim 8 , wherein quantifying the amount or activity of the target moiety further comprises determining a cytochrome oxidase activity in the sample.
27. The method of claim 8 , wherein quantifying the amount or activity of the target moiety further comprises determining the amount of amyloid precursor protein present in the sample.
28. The method of claim 8 , wherein quantifying the amount or activity of the target moiety further comprises determining the amount of amyloid beta (Aβ) present in the sample.
29. The method of claim 8 , wherein quantifying the amount or activity of the target moiety further comprises staining and/or labeling the sample.
30. The kit of claim 1 , wherein the insert is also capable of being inserted into a microcentrifuge tube.
31. The device of claim 2 , wherein the insert is also capable of being inserted into a microcentrifuge tube.
32. The device of claim 31 , wherein the microcentrifuge tube is a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube.
33. The device of claim 31 , further comprising the microcentrifuge tube.
34. The device of claim 31 , further comprising a microcentrifuge configured to centrifuge the microcentrifuge tube.