Non-competitive immunoassays to detect small molecules using nanopeptamers

摘要

A method for noncompetitive detection of a small analyte using nanopeptamers, and devices useful for performing the methods. Nanopeptamers include a self-associating oligomeric protein that is attached to peptides that bind to an immune complex between the target analyte and a capture antibody. The noncompetitive methods allow for the direct detection of small analytes with increased sensitivity over competitive methods directed to the same target analyte, and provide a positive readout which is useful for rapid tests and on-site detection of small analytes such as such as pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, explosives, toxins, medicinal and abused drugs, and hormones.