Compositions comprising binding competitors that can be used in assays for macrophilin-binding pharmaceuticals in samples are disclosed, as well as kits containing same and methods of use thereof.

The present invention relates functional ligands to target molecules, particularly to functional nucleic acids and modifications thereof, and to methods for simultaneously generating, for example, numerous different functional biomolecules, particularly to methods for generating numerous different functional nucleic acids against multiple target molecules simultaneously. The present invention further relates to functional ligands which bind with affinity to target molecules, such as opioids and opioid derivatives.

The present invention relates to a novel use of regulatory T cell-specific surface protein Lrig-1, and more specifically to an immunosuppressive agent comprising siRNA which inhibits the expression of surface protein Lrig-1. In addition, the invention relates to a method for screening an immunosuppressive agent which inhibits proteins of Lrig-1 or genes encoding the proteins. As a result, an immunosuppressive agent with low side effects and high specificity can be developed.

Methods and apparatuses, including assays, for detection and/or quantification of tacrolimus that utilize nucleic acid-based nanostructures linked to tacrolimus. In particular, described herein are biosensors having a sensing mechanism configured to react to a tacrolimus-specific binding agent, such as an aptamer or antibody that binds tacrolimus. In some variations, these methods and apparatuses may be configured to provide an electrochemical read-out in which the nucleic acid-based nanostructure is operated in conjunction with a tacrolimus-specific binding agent for sample quantification. A biosensor or a set of biosensors as described herein can be used as a standalone measurement system for tacrolimus and/or as part of a multiplexed cartridge for multiple analytes.

A method is described for using live mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in a way which allows for identification of patients likely to respond to immunosuppressive treatment using MSCs. The method involves contacting a sample from said patient with live MSCs in vitro, and determining whether the sample is able to induce at least some apoptosis to occur in live MSCs in vitro, or detection of elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The ability of the sample to induce said apoptosis and/or elevated levels of PGE2 is indicative of responsiveness of said patient to said immunosuppressive treatment and/or indicative of fitness to recover. Also provided are apoptotic MSCs for use in the treatment of immune-mediated disease or conditions, such as allo-immune or autoimmune disease, or for the prevention or treatment of rejection of a transplanted organ; or in regenerative medicine to stimulate tissue repair. Methods for preparing pharmaceutical compositions comprising the apoptotic MSCs are also described and claimed.

Methods are described for determining the amount of metabolites of leflunomide in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying teriflunomide in a sample.

Methods are disclosed of designing antibodies for a sandwich assay for a small molecule having a molecular weight of about 500 to about 2,000. The method comprises preparing a first antibody that binds to the small molecule, and preparing a second antibody that binds to the small molecule at a portion of the small molecule other than a portion to which the first antibody binds. The second antibody is prepared from an immunogen that comprises a predetermined portion of the small molecule. The antibodies may be employed in sandwich assays for the small molecule.

The present application relates to antibodies that bind to small molecules such as cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and analogs thereof, and immunological assays for determining the presence and/or quantifying the amount of cyclophosphamide and/or ifosfamide in a sample. By way of example, such immunological assays can be used for environmental testing.

The present disclosure relates to an in vitro method for releasing analytes from a sample involving contacting the sample with (i) a chaotropic agent, (ii) an organic solvent, (iii) a detergent, and (iv) at least one agent providing bicarbonate ions. The present disclosure further relates to a release agent for releasing analytes from a sample having the aforesaid compounds. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to uses, kits, methods and devices related to the method and the release agent of the present disclosure.

A method for detecting organic matter in the blood by using LDI-MS, and a device therefor, according to the present invention, are not complicated when performing measurement and do not require the passage of many steps, and facilitate, in real time, measurement and result collection through rapid analysis. In addition, the present invention enables precise analysis even at a lower sample concentration so as to have excellent sensitivity and accuracy, enables the detection of various types of organic matter at the same time and has high throughput, and enables the structure analysis of organic matter, having undergone metabolic processes in the blood, and quantitative analysis thereof to be accurately performed without interference from a matrix.