Molecular sensor preparations and uses thereof

A method of preparing a molecular sensor that is specific for a target molecule having a saccharide or peptide region, the method comprising, in a stepwise manner:

• forming a template-receptor complex using the target molecule as a template, comprising:
• forming a mixture comprising a solution of the target molecule, comprising one or more of the target molecules, and a solution of a receptor, comprising one or more receptor molecules, capable of selectively and reversibly binding the target molecule;
• wherein the one or more receptor molecules in the mixture are in an amount such that substantially all the receptor molecules bind to the target molecules, thus
• avoiding an excess of the receptor molecules;
• and
• forming a molecular scaffold on a surface around the template-receptor complex, in the absence of uncomplexed receptors, such that the receptor and at least a portion of the template are embedded in the scaffold;
• and
• removing the template from the template-receptor complex of the molecular scaffold to produce a cavity defined by the molecular scaffold, wherein:
• the cavity is complementary to at least a portion of the saccharide or peptide region of the target molecule and comprises the one or more receptor molecules at a surface thereof, the spatial arrangement of the one or more receptor molecules being specific for binding of the target molecule, and
• wherein:
• the receptor molecules comprise:
• a recognition motif comprising an acid group, a phosphate group, an aromatic group, a conjugated group, or a hydrogen bonding group;
• and
• a first binding moiety for binding the template-receptor complex to the molecular scaffold, and wherein the first binding moiety is a polymerizable group or is capable of reacting with one or more of the molecules which form the molecular scaffold so as to form a covalent bond between the receptor and the scaffold molecules.