Lipophilic particles non-covalently bonded to label and ligand for binding assay

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The subject invention concerns novel compositions for use in immunoassays, as well as immunoassays employing such novel compositions. The compositions comprise discrete charged colloidal particles comprises of small molecules which particles are capable of retaining their discrete character in an aqueous medium and composed of aggregates of lipophilic and/or amphiphilic organic molecules to which are bound non-covalently a label capable of producing a detectible signal and a ligand or an analog of the lignad capable of competing with a ligand for a ligand receptor. The discrete colloidal particle serves as a hub or nucleus for retaining the ligand or its analog and the label within a …