Method for Detecting Proteases and Active Infection in Biological Fluids and Tissues
AssigneePeloGenix, LLC
InventorsMark R. Wardell, Kenneth A. Sabacinski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrochemical biosensing devices and methods detect the activity of proteases and active infection in biological samples. The devices and methods utilize distance constraints between a redox reporter and an electrode to create a change in current that is detected. The distance constraints are released when an analyte containing a specified protease or proteases reacts with a protein substrate sequence in the analyte. The particular protease or proteases to be detected can be selected by using biosensors with particular substrate sequences. The devices and methods are not only qualitative, they can be used to quantitatively evaluated protease content in samples.
Claims18
A method for detecting proteases, which comprises:
- providing an electrochemical biosensor, said electrochemical biosensor including:
- a biosensor electrode;
- a first reagent including:
- a lifting structure having a first terminus and a second terminus, said first terminus opposing said second terminus, said first terminus being covalently bonded to said biosensor electrode;
- a protease substrate peptide sequence having a first terminus and a second terminus, said first terminus opposing said second terminus, said first terminus being connected to said second terminus of said lifting structure;
- and
- a first binding component being connected to said second terminus of said protease substrate sequence;
- a second reagent being covalently bonded to said biosensor electrode, said second reagent including:
- a second binding component including a signaling oligonucleotide and having a first terminus and a second terminus, said second binding component being specifically bound to said first binding component;
- and
- a redox reporter being connected to said second terminus of said second binding component;
- said lifting structure being connected to said first binding component before said protease substrate sequence is cleaved;
- said lifting structure imposing a distance constraint between said redox reporter and said biosensor electrode before said protease substrate sequence is cleaved;
- said protease substrate sequence being cleavable by a protease;
- and
- said redox reporter contacting said biosensor electrode when said protease substrate sequence is cleaved;
- applying a sample to said electrochemical biosensor;
- and
- detecting an electrical change across said biosensor electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.