Aptamer based methods for protein detection

摘要

The present invention relates to methods or assays for detecting proteins or molecules of interest in a sample. Aptamers specific to the protein of interest are obtained and are then incubated with the sample. If the protein of interest is present in the sample, protein-aptamer conjugates are formed. The incubated sample is then passed through a sorbent material designed to retain proteins and other cellular material whilst allowing free nucleic acid to flow through substantially unimpeded. If aptamer is detected in the output material at levels equivalent to the aptamer concentrations initially, this is indicative that no protein of interest was present in the sample, whereas if no (or potentially reduced) amounts of aptamer is detected in the flow through this is indicative of protein of interest in the sample as this will have bound to the aptamers and been retained by the sorbent material.