	US 12,188,855 B2
	Expansion microscopy methods and kits
Yongxin Zhao, Sewickley, PA (US); Feifei Fu, Sewickley, PA (US); Aleksandra Klimas, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Aaron Mitchell, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Appl. No. 17/251,855
Filed by Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
PCT Filed Jun. 14, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/037239 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 14, 2020, PCT Pub. No. WO2019/241662, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/763,487, filed on Jun. 15, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0255072 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 1/36 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01); G01N 1/30 (2006.01); G01N 1/31 (2006.01)

CPC G01N 1/36 (2013.01) [G01N 1/286 (2013.01); G01N 1/30 (2013.01); G01N 1/312 (2013.01); G01N 2001/302 (2013.01); G01N 2001/364 (2013.01)]

21 Claims

1. A method of preparing a cell or tissue sample for microscopy, comprising:

permeating the cell or tissue sample with a gelling solution comprising an acrylate monomer, a methacrylate monomer, an acrylamide monomer, and/or a methacrylamide monomer for producing a water-swellable (co)polymer and an enal, wherein the enal is able to polymerize with the acrylate monomer, the methacrylate monomer, the acrylamide monomer, and/or the methacrylamide monomer; and

polymerizing the acrylate monomer, the methacrylate monomer, the acrylamide monomer, and/or the methacrylamide monomer of gelling solution with the enal of the gelling solution to form a swellable material containing the cell or tissue sample, wherein the enal of the swellable material covalently links the swellable material to a biomaterial in the sample,

wherein the covalent link between the enal of the swellable material and the biomolecule in the cell or tissue sample is reversible.