Molecularly imprinted particles comprising a label are described herein, in particular such particles prepared by RAFT polymerization, as are compositions and kits comprising such particles, and methods for preparing and using such particles.

Macromolecular imprinted silica particles (MIP) in the presence of polymer grafted carbon black are disclosed. The disclosed molecular imprinted beads can detect disease in body fluids. For the silica gel matrix, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as the backbone monomer and 3-aminopropy/triethoxysilane (APS) as a functional monomer. Carbon black was added to the sol-gel process, yielding black silica particles. Furthermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as a structure-directing agent to increase network diffusion of the template. A total of 16 MIPs were synthetized in parallel with variables that evaluate the role of key reactants in the synthesis procedure. Agglomeration tests were performed with all 16 MIPs in the presence of their template, alongside their respective controls using only phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Each of the MIPs was evaluated using a novel device capable of simultaneously measuring up to four samples for near infrared transmission.

A test strip comprising a porous matrix, the test strip includes a sample application zone for applying a liquid sample including an analyte; a reporter release zone, having a sensing material, the sensing material being adapted to selectively interact with the analyte by releasing an optical reporter, the reporter release zone being arranged downstream of the sample application zone; and a detection zone, having a capture material, the capture material being adapted to selectively bind the optical reporter and being arranged downstream of the reporter release zone.

The present invention relates to a sensor for the detection of Neurotrophic Factor (NF). The sensor, preferably a Screen Printed Electrochemical sensor (SPE), has a working electrode coated by a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) imprinted by a NF. The invention also relates to a method for preparing such a sensor and comprising the steps of 1) formation of a cleavable linking layer on the working electrode of the sensor; 2) immobilization of NF molecules on the cleavable linking layer; 3) polymerization of m-PD on the working electrode of the sensor; and 4) cleavage of the cleavable linking layer thereby removing the NF molecules from the MIP layer.

Embodiments of templated polymeric materials capable of binding lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are disclosed. Methods of making and using the templated polymeric materials also are disclosed. The disclosed templated polymeric materials are molecularly imprinted polymers that bind LPAs and facilitate the production of lysophosphatidic acid-enriched samples, for instance through extraction of lysophosphatidic acids from biological samples, such as plasma or serum samples.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a molecular sensor that is specific for a target molecule having a saccharide or peptide region. The method comprises using the target molecule as a template and incubating the template with a receptor to form a template-receptor complex. A molecular scaffold is formed on a surface around the template-receptor complex such that the receptor and at least a portion of the template are embedded in the scaffold, and the template is removed to produce a cavity defined by the scaffold, such that the cavity is complementary to at least a portion of the saccharide or peptide region of the target molecule.

The subject invention provides chemical compositions and synthesis strategies to create molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) via sol-gel processes. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention utilizes a(n) organic, inorganic, or metallic template analyte to create a hybrid organic-inorganic or inorganic three-dimensional network possessing cavities complementary to the shape, size, and functional orientation of the template molecule or ions. The subject invention further pertains to the use of the novel MIPs as selective solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for pre-concentration and clean-up of trace substances in biological and environmental samples. Synthesis of other molecularly imprinted polymers with environmental, pharmaceutical, chemical, clinical, toxicological, and national security implications can be conducted in accordance with the teachings of the subject invention.

A portable biosensor for detecting and quantifying a target molecule in a biological sample and method of use include a biosensor fabricated with a recognition layer with an imprinted polymer, an electrode electrically coupled to the recognition layer, and a logic circuit that may include a processor and non-transitory memory with computer executable instructions embedded thereon, wherein the imprinted polymer is shaped to have a profile that substantially matches a profile of the target molecule, such that the target molecule can form-fit and bind to the imprinted polymer, thus changing an electrical property of the polymer layer that may be detected to identify the presence of the target molecule.

The present disclosure relates to a method for characterizing and identifying a bioparticle. The method comprises introducing the sample to a substrate having a surface comprising a plurality of binding sites whereon bioparticles can be bound, determining, for at least one temperature, data representative for the interface thermal resistance of the surface of the substrate sufficiently long to include the detachment process of the bioparticles, and deriving, for the at least one temperature, a bioparticle retention time and/or detachment rate from the data representative for the interface thermal resistance data. The present disclosure also relates to a bio-sensing device suitable for the detection and/or characterization of target bioparticles.

Methods and devices for molecular imprinting include a molecular imprinting synthesis and matching a physiological pH of a template utilized in the molecular imprinting synthesis to achieve molecular imprinting. Molecular imprinting can be achieved by matching the physiological pH of the template used in a molecular imprinting synthesis. Furthermore, electrostatic charges can be complementary matched to the template, by obtaining crystallographic data of a protein template. Particularly, positively and negatively charged amino acids can be counted and matched by an oppositely charged monomer. For hydrophobic amino acids, isoleucin, leucin, and valine amino acids are counted. Since not all hydrophobic amino acids are exposed, the hydrophobic amino acid and hydrophobic monomer ratio can be determined experimentally by varying ratios from 1:1 to 1:10.