This invention provides:an aptamer-based electrochemical sensor, wherein said aptamer is covalently bonded to or chemisorbed on an electrode, said aptamer forming a complex with a target molecule and is encapsulated by a gelatin B matrix;a method of manufacturing said aptamer-based electrochemical sensor;the use of the aptamer-based electrochemical sensor for the electrochemical determination of a concentration of a target molecule; anda composite electrode combining a polymeric material and electrically conducting particles for selective analyte detection, wherein said electrode is coated with gelatin type B.

Provided herein are methods for rational design of nicotine haptens. More particularly, provided herein are methods for designing, selecting, and synthesizing nicotine haptens and nicotine hapten conjugates. Also provided herein are novel nicotine haptens and methods for using nicotine haptens to treat nicotine addiction.

A bio-nano-chip (BNC) technology that works in connection with non-invasive samples, such as saliva, cheek swab or urine samples that can be easily performed by non-specialists, such as security personnel and police officers is disclosed. The microfluidic system for drug testing includes an analyzer or reader having a housing containing a slot for receiving a cartridge, a drug testing cartridge, a processor having a user interface, an optical or energy sensing means, and a means for moving fluid.

The present invention provides devices, kits and methods for the rapid multiplex quantitative analysis of analytes in a sample while eliminating the need for the end user to prepare standardized solutions of the analytes or internal standards. The devices of the present invention comprise multiwell plates manufactured to contain dried calibration standards, dried quality control standards, and dried internal standards and optionally contain tracers and deconjugation enzymes. The methods of the present invention do not require preparation and addition of these standards or optional components to a device, thus eliminating steps costly with regard to time and sample analyte measurement precision.

The current invention provides an improved immunoassay for the detection and determination of pyrrolidinophenone based designer drugs in hair and biological fluids (urine, blood, and oral fluid). The generic immunoassay is underpinned by novel, sub-family-specific antibodies, which display surprising sensitivity. The invention further describes substrates comprising an antibody that is specific to compounds of the pyrrolidinophenone family. Also described are the novel immunogens from which the antibodies are derived and kits incorporating the antibodies of the current invention.

The present invention relates to a method and system for obtaining an interaction property between a molecule or biomolecule or particle or bioparticle or nano- or microparticle on the one hand and a target particle on the other hand. The method comprises obtaining potentiometric titration results for a potentiometric measurement during titration of a solution with a titrant, said solution being a solution of one of a ligand of the target particle or said molecule or biomolecule or particle or bioparticle or nano- or microparticle. Said titrant comprises the other of said target particle ligand or said molecule or biomolecule or particle or bioparticle or nano- or microparticle. The method also comprises deriving based on said potentiometric titration results an interaction property between said molecule or biomolecule or particle or bioparticle or nano- or microparticle and said target particle.

Methods, assays, and products for the detection of small molecules are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method of detecting a small molecule in a sample can include reacting together a first half of a DNA split aptamer having a first reactive group coupled thereto, a second half of a DNA split aptamer having a second reactive group coupled thereto, where the DNA split aptamer is selective for the small molecule, and a sample containing the small molecule. The first half and the second half bind to the small molecule and the first reactive group and the second reactive group react to form an aptamer ligation product of the first half and the second half. The method can also include assaying for the aptamer ligation product in order to detect the small molecule presence in the sample.

A nucleic acid probe includes first and second nucleic acids. The first nucleic acid includes a binding site. The first nucleic acid includes first to seventh base sequences. The fourth base sequence is complimentary with the third base sequence. The fifth base sequence is complimentary with the second base sequence. The seventh base sequence is complimentary with the sixth base sequence. The binding site is positioned at least between the fourth base sequence and the seventh base sequence. The second nucleic acid includes an eighth base sequence. The eighth base sequence is complimentary with at least a portion of the first base sequence and at least a portion of the second base sequence. A number of bases of the eighth base sequence is more than a number of bases of the second base sequence.

The invention provides a device for detecting drugs of abuse or other compounds in saliva. The invention thus provides a device for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in a saliva sample, comprising: (a) One or more pre-treatment regions for specifically or non-specifically removing at least a part of the fraction of the saliva sample interfering with detection of the one or more analytes; and (b) A detection region comprising a biosensor surface, the surface comprising: molecules capable of specifically binding the one or more analytes; or the one or more analytes and/or analyte analogues.

A method for detecting a suspected target molecule includes obtaining a reaction mixture that is not reactive at ambient temperature, the reaction mixture comprising at least two reactants, adding the suspected target molecule to the reaction mixture for causing a reaction involving the reactants in the reaction mixture, and detecting presence of a product formed from the reactants in response to the addition of the suspected target molecule. The suspected target molecule acts as a catalyst for the reaction, where the suspected target molecule includes a tertiary amine.