This technology is a cross-reactive array of three-way junctions for rapid and highly specific detection of steroids and other biologically-relevant hydrophobic molecules.
A distinctive characteristic of steroid interaction is cross-reactivity, i.e. one receptor reacts with many steroids, and one steroid reacts with many receptors. The accurate detection and quantification of steroids in fluid samples remains a challenge due to the natural cross reactivity among commonly occurring steroids. In order to develop improved methods for functional steroid screening, cross-reactive arrays should be adopted, where analytical samples are matched through their characteristic fingerprints to available standards. However, the frameworks suitable for the differential cross-reactive arrays are currently limited.
This technology is a cross-reactive array consisting of custom nucleic acid-based fluorescent sensors that can be used for detection and characterization of various hydrophobic molecules. The sensors are based on nucleic acid three-way junctions which are formed at the intersection of three double helices, consisting of two binding domains and a fluorescently labeled reporting domain. A display of diverse binding domains assures high specificity, and the use of synthetic nucleic acid sequences significantly reduces the cost of this assay. With such an array, steroids, alkaloids, hydrophobic drugs and any biologically relevant hydrophobic molecules can be fingerprinted instantaneously, and subsequently identified for analysis of biological fluid and/or diagnosis of various diseases.
This technology can differentiate between various steroids in solution, detect alkaloids such as cocaine, and has demonstrated effectiveness in differentiating between normal urine samples and disease urine containing elevated levels of steroid metabolites.
IR 1339
Licensing Contact: Jerry Kokoshka