Detection of abused substances and their metabolites using nucleic acid sensor molecules

Abstract

Nucleic acid sensor molecules (allozymes, allosteric ribozymes, allosteric DNAzymes), aptamers and methods are provided for the detection and quantitation of small molecules, including drugs, drug analogs, and drug metabolites, for example recreational drugs, mood-altering drugs, and performance enhancing drugs such as 4-MTA (4-methylthioamphetamine), Alpha-ethyltryptamine, Amphetamine, Amyl nitrite, Benzocaine, Cocaine, Dimethyltryptamine, Ecstasy (MDA, MDMA, MDEA), Ephedrine, Erythropoietine (Epogen), Fentanyl, Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), GBL (Gamma butyrolactone), GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate), Hashish, Heroin, Isobutyl nitrite, Ketamine, Lidocaine, LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide), Mannitol, Marijuana (THC), Mescaline, Methadone, Methamphetamine, Methaqualone, Methcathinone, Methylphenidate (ritalin), Morphine, Nexus (2CB), Nicotine, Opium, Oxycodone, OxyContin, PCP (phencyclidine), Peyote, Phenobarbital, Procaine, Psilocybin, Psilocybin/psilocin, Pseudoephedrine, Rohypnol, Scopolamine, Steroids, Strychnine, and Talwin. Also provided are kits for detection. The nucleic acid sensor molecules, methods and kits provided herein can be used in diagnositic applications for detecting drugs, analogs, and metabolites thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.