Synthesis and use of polymers containing integral binding-pair members

A method for the de novo synthesis of a polymer integrally containing a binding-pair-member comprising:

• forming a monomer/binding-pair-member conjugate containing one or more binding-pair members joined to one or more monomers;
• and
• initiating polymerization of the monomer/binding-pair--member conjugate in the presence of a nonderivatized polymerizable monomer or a nonderivatized polymerizable multifunctional cross-linking compound or a mixture thereof so as to form a copolymer.

A monomer/binding-pair-member conjugate containing one or more polymerizable monomers linked to one or more binding-pair members wherein said conjugate is used in the de novo synthesis of a polymer integrally containing said bindinbg-pair members.

A monomer/binding-pair-member conjugate used in the de novo synthesis of a polymer or a copolymer formed with a nonderivatized monomers, a multifunctional cross-linking compound, or a mixture thereof, comprising:

• a monomer containing at least one reactive site capable of direct linking with a binding-pair member or indirect linking via a spacer arm with a binding-pair member covalently linked to a binding-pair member containing a reactive site capable of direct direct linking with said monomer or indirect linking via said spacer arm with said monomer, respectively.

A polymer integrally containing binding-pair members synthesized from polymerizable monomer/binding-pair-member conjugates.

A polymer or copolymer integrally containing binding-pair members, wherein said polymer or copolymer is synthesized from (a) polymerizable monomer/binding-pair-member conjugates or (b) said conjugate and polymerizable nonderivatized monomers or multifunctional cross-linking compounds, respectively.

A kit for detecting the presence of an analyte binding-pair member in a medium suspected of containing said analyte binding-pair member, said kit comprising:

• (1) a monomer/binding-pair-member conjugate comprising (i) a polymerizable monomer and (ii) either said analyte binding-pair member or a binding-pair-member-cognate specific for a first region on said analyte binding pair member;
• and (2) a reporter/binding-pair-member conjugate capable of providing directly or indirectly a detectable signal comprising of;
• (i) a reporter and (ii) either said analyte binding-pair member or a binding-pair-member cognate specific for either said first region of said analyte binding-pair member or a second region of said analyte binding-pair member.

A method of immunizing a host to protect said host from organisms or particles presenting binding-pair members, which comprises:

• administering to said host an amount effective to induce immunization of a polymer or copolymer integrally containing binding-pair members to elicit an immunogenic response in a physiologically acceptable carrier.