Analytical element having improved spreading zone and method of use

Claim 2

A dry element for the analysis or transport of an aqueous liquid, said element comprising an isotropically porous zone which comprises a blush polymer having dispersed therein a particulate material, and a nonpolymeric heterocyclic, aliphatic or carbocyclic quaternary ammonium compound having at least 12 carbon atoms therein, which compound is present in said zone in an amount of at least about 2 weight percent, based on the dry weight of said blush polymer.

Claim 3

The element of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of said particulate material to said blush polymer is from about 2:1 to about 20:1.

Claim 4

The element of claim 1 wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is represented by the structures (Ia and b): ##STR10## wherein represents a single or double bond; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently alkyl of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, --alkylene-oxy--.sub.n --H wherein said alkylene comprises 2 to 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 1 to 50; aryl of 6 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 20 carbon atoms, alkaryl of 7 to 30 carbon atoms, or a fluorocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms; provided that R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 together comprise at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 and R 2 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 3 and R 4 are as defined above and comprise together at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 4 is as defined above and comprises at least 12 carbon atoms; and X - is a monovalent anion.

Claim 5

The element of claim 3 wherein R 1 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R 2 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or --alkylene-oxy--.sub.n --H wherein said alkylene comprises 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and X - is halide or nitrate.

Claim 6

A dry analytical element for determination of an analyte in an aqueous liquid, said element comprising: a support having thereon an isotropically porous zone which comprises a blush polymer having dispersed therein a particulate material, and a nonpolymeric heterocyclic, aliphatic or carbocyclic quaternary ammonium compound having at least 12 carbon atoms therein, which compound is present in said zone in an amount of at least about 2 weight percent, based on the dry weight of said blush polymer; and said element containing an interactive composition for an analyte to be determined.

Claim 7

A dry analytical element for determination of an analyte in an aqueous liquid, said element comprising: a support having thereon an isotropically porous zone which comprises a blush polymer having dispersed therein a particulate material, and a nonpolymeric heterocyclic, aliphatic or carbocyclic quaternary ammonium compound having at least 12 carbon atoms therein, which compound is present in said zone in an amount of at least about 2 weight percent, based on the dry weight of said blush polymer; and said element containing an interactive composition for an analyte to be determined.

Claim 8

The element of claim 5 wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is represented by the structures (Ia and b): ##STR11## wherein represents a single or double bond; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently alkyl of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, --alkylene-oxy--.sub.n --H wherein said alkylene comprises 2 to 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 1 to 50; aryl of 6 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 20 carbon atoms, alkaryl of 7 to 30 carbon atoms, or a fluorocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms; provided that R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 together comprise at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 and R 2 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 3 and R 4 are as defined above and comprise together at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 4 is as defined above and comprises at least 12 carbon atoms; and X - is a monovalent anion.

Claim 9

The element of claim 6 wherein R 1 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R 2 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or --alkylene-oxy--.sub.n --H wherein said alkylene comprises 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and X - is halide or nitrate.

Claim 10

The element of claim 6 wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is a heterocyclic amine represented by the structure (Ib) wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, complete a 5 to 20-membered quaternary heterocyclic ring.

Claim 11

The element of claim 6 wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR12## wherein n is 8, 25 or 41; ##STR13## wherein R' is alkyl of 12, 14 or 16 carbon atoms; and ##STR14## wherein R" is alkyl of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, x and y are independently integers of 2 to 50.

Claim 12

The element of claim 9 wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is ##STR15## wherein n is 8 or 25.

Claim 13

The element of claim 5 wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is present in said porous zone in an amount of from about 8 to about 30 weight percent, based on the dry weight of said blush polymer.

Claim 14

A dry multizone analytical element for determination of an analyte in an aqueous liquid, said element comprising a support having thereon, in order and in fluid contact, a reagent zone containing at least one component of said composition, and an isotropically porous spreading zone which comprises a blush polymer having dispersed therein a particulate material, and a nonpolymeric heterocyclic, aliphatic or carbocyclic quaternary ammonium compound which is present in said zone in an amount of at least about 2 weight percent, based on the dry weight of said blush polymer; wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is represented by the structures (Ia and b): ##STR16## wherein represents a single or double bond; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 independently alkyl of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, --alkylene-oxy--.sub.n --H wherein said alkylene comprises 2 to 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 1 to 50; aryl of 6 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 20 carbon atoms, alkaryl of 7 to 30 carbon atoms, or a fluorocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms; provided that R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 together comprise at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 and R 2 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 3 and R 4 are as defined above and comprise together at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 4 is as defined above and comprises at least 12 carbon atoms; and X - is a monovalent anion; and said element containing an interactive composition for an analyte to be determined.

Claim 15

A dry multizone analytical element for determination of an analyte in an aqueous liquid, said element comprising a support having thereon, in order and in fluid contact, a reagent zone containing at least one component of said composition, and an isotropically porous spreading zone which comprises a blush polymer having dispersed therein a particulate material, and a nonpolymeric heterocyclic, aliphatic or carbocyclic quaternary ammonium compound which is present in said zone in an amount of at least about 2 weight percent, based on the dry weight of said blush polymer; wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is represented by the structures (Ia and b): ##STR16## wherein represents a single or double bond; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 independently alkyl of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, --alkylene-oxy--.sub.n --H wherein said alkylene comprises 2 to 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 1 to 50; aryl of 6 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 20 carbon atoms, alkaryl of 7 to 30 carbon atoms, or a fluorocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms; provided that R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 together comprise at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 and R 2 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 3 and R 4 are as defined above and comprise together at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 4 is as defined above and comprises at least 12 carbon atoms; and X - is a monovalent anion; and said element containing an interactive composition for an analyte to be determined.

Claim 16

The element of claim 12 wherein said particulate material is titanium dioxide or barium sulfate.

Claim 17

The element of claim 13 wherein said spreading layer comprises cellulose acetate.

Claim 18

The element of claim 12 wherein said analyte is aspartate aminotransferase and said interactive composition comprises NADH, L-aspartate, α-ketoglutarate, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and pyridoxal phosphate, or said analyte is alanine aminotransferase and said interactive composition comprises NADH, L-alanine, α-ketoglutarate, lactate dehydrogenase and pyridoxal phosphate.

Claim 21

The method of claim 16 wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is represented by the structures (Ia and b): ##STR17## wherein represents a single or double bond; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently alkyl of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, --alkylene-oxy--.sub.n --H wherein said alkylene comprises 2 to 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 1 to 50; aryl of 6 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 20 carbon atoms, alkaryl of 7 to 30 carbon atoms, or a fluorocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms; provided that R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 together comprise at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 and R 2 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 3 and R 4 are as defined above and comprise together at least 12 carbon atoms; or R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , taken together with the nitrogen atom, form a quaternary heterocyclic ring and R 4 is as defined above and comprises at least 12 carbon atoms; and X - is a monovalent anion.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 wherein said detectable change is in the rate of formation of a detectable species.

Claim 23

The method of claim 17 wherein said detectable change is in the rate of disappearance of a detectable species.

Claim 24

The method of claim 17 wherein said interactive composition is in said element.