Compositions and assays for opioid detection
AssigneeTrustees of Tufts College
InventorsCharles R. Mace, Andrea C. Mora
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Compositions, kits, and methods for the detection of target analytes are generally provided. In some embodiments, the compositions, kits, and methods described herein comprise a fluid in which a detection agent, an indicator, and a trapping agent are dissolved, suspended, and/or dispersed and allow for safe and/or facile detection of target analytes, including controlled substances such as opioids.
Claims41
A composition for detecting the presence of a target analyte, comprising:
- a fluid in which a detection agent, an indicator, and a trapping agent are dissolved, suspended, and/or dispersed, wherein:
- at least a portion of the detection agent is associated with the trapping agent,
- interaction of the detection agent with the indicator in the presence of the fluid yields a detectable signal,
- the detectable signal is absent, has an intensity that is not detectable by eye, and/or has an intensity that is within the range of the noise associated with a signal having zero intensity, and
- the target analyte has a higher affinity for the trapping agent than the detection agent in the presence of the fluid.
A kit for detecting the presence of a target analyte, comprising:
- a first fluid in which a detection agent and a trapping agent are dissolved, suspended, and/or dispersed;
- and
- a second fluid in which an indicator is dissolved, suspended, and/or dispersed;
- wherein:
- at least a portion of the detection agent is associated with the trapping agent,
- interaction of the detection agent with the indicator in the presence of the first fluid and the second fluid yields a detectable signal, and
- the target analyte has a higher affinity for the trapping agent than the detection agent in the presence of the first fluid and the second fluid.
A method of detecting a target analyte, the method comprising:
- exposing a substance to a fluid and/or a plurality of fluids;
- detecting the presence or absence of a detectable signal;
- and
- determining whether a target analyte is present in the substance based on the presence or absence of the detectable signal, wherein:
- prior to the exposure of the substance to the fluid and/or the plurality of fluids, a detection agent and a trapping agent are dissolved, suspended, and/or dispersed in the fluid and/or in a first fluid in the plurality of fluids,
- prior to the exposure of the substance to the fluid and/or the plurality of fluids, at least a portion of the detection agent in the fluid and/or the first fluid is associated with the trapping agent,
- prior to the exposure of the substance to the fluid and/or the plurality of fluids, an indicator is dissolved, suspended, and/or dispersed in the fluid and/or in a second fluid in the plurality of fluids,
- in the absence of the target analyte, the detectable signal is absent, has an intensity that is not detectable by eye, and/or has an intensity that is within the range of the noise associated with a signal having zero intensity,
- the target analyte has a higher affinity for the trapping agent than the detection agent in the presence of the fluid and/or the plurality of fluids, and
- the detectable signal arises due to interaction of the detection agent with the indicator in the presence of the fluid and/or the plurality of fluids.
The method of any preceding claim, wherein the substance is exposed to a single fluid.
The method of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of fluids comprises a first fluid in which the detection agent and the trapping agent are dissolved, suspended, and/or dispersed and a second fluid in which the indicator is dissolved, suspended, and/or dispersed
The method of any preceding claim, wherein exposing the substance to the fluids and/or the plurality of fluids comprises spraying the fluid and/or the plurality of fluids onto the substance
The method of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid, first fluid, second fluid, and/or plurality of fluids are aqueous.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the analyte is a controlled substance
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the analyte is an street drug
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the analyte is an opioid.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the analyte is fentanyl.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the association between the trapping agent and the detection agent blocks and/or reduces the accessibility of the detection agent to the indicator.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the association between the trapping agent and the detection agent is a guest/host interaction.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein exposure of the target analyte to the fluid, the first fluid and and/or the plurality of fluids causes the target analyte to associate with the trapping agent, thereby displacing the detection agent from its association with the target analyte.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the trapping agent is a macrocycle.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the trapping agent is a cucurbituril.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the trapping agent is cucurbit[7]uril or a derivative thereof.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the indicator is a colorometric indicator.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the indicator is an electron acceptor.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the indicator is a benzidine or a benzidine derivative.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the indicator is 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB).
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the interaction between the detection agent and the indicator is a redox reaction.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the detection agent is an electron donor.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the interaction between the detection agent and the indicator is a reaction catalyzed by the detection agent.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the interaction between the detection agent and the indicator comprises chelation.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the interaction between the detection agent and the indicator is a hydrolysis reaction.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the interaction between the detection agent and the indicator causes a pH of the fluid and/or the plurality of fluids to change.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the detection agent is a ferrocene carboxylic acid.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the detection agent is a ferrocene monocarboxylic acid.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the detectable signal is an optical signal.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the detectable signal is an absorbance.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the detectable signal is a transmittance.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the detectable signal is fluorescence.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the detectable signal is chemiluminescence.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the Ka between the trapping agent and the target analyte is greater than or equal to 5×106 the Ka between the trapping agent and the detection agent is less than or equal to 1.3×106 and.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the ratio of the Ka between the trapping agent and the target analyte and the Ka between the trapping agent and the detection agent is greater than or equal to 10.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein fluid or the plurality of fluids further comprises an auxiliary agent.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the auxiliary agent is a peroxide.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the auxiliary agent is hydrogen peroxide.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid or of at least one of the plurality of fluids is buffered.
The composition, kit, or method of any preceding claim, wherein the pH of the fluid or of at least one of the plurality of fluids is between 3 and 9.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.