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This technology is easily implemented onto a dip-stick format for low-cost applications, where an electrode (screen-printed for example) is coated with an antibody specific to Hb
About
About Haemoglobin (Hb) is a significant biomarker and a proxy for the presence of blood in clinical samples. For example, in faeces, the presence of blood has been linked with increased risk of bowel cancer. In urine, haematuria can be a sign of an infection or, together with other markers, inform on the diagnosis of cancer (kidney for example). More particularly, HbA1c (glycosylated Hb) is a marker for monitoring long-term glycemic control clinically. Assays for haemoglobin are routinely carried out in clinical labs, usually using spectroscopy, which is well-suited for high concentration and relatively narrow dynamic ranges, such as for haemolysis. In more complex samples, these methods do not enable the required sensitivity or specificity and consequently, more complex biochemical assays have been developed. Antibody capture, enabling washing and purification, has opened the possibility of using more complex samples. This invention enables a new immunoassay format for the detection of Hb, based on its intrinsic peroxidase activity. This allows for selective sensing of Hb in complex biological mixtures, such as bowel fluids that contain many potentially interfering species. By using the analyte (Hb) to generate the analytical response, the needs for secondary antibodies and enzyme labels are negated, thus facilitating a ‘label-free’ immunoassay. This approach requires a simpler protocol, which has fewer processing steps than traditional immunoassays, making these assays good candidates for miniaturisation onto microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip devices. In particular, this could be easily integrated within a surface acoustic wave (SAW) platform for the disruption of solid samples, such as faeces, which would have a significant impact in bowel cancer screening. Key Benefits This technology is easily implemented onto a dip-stick format for low-cost applications, where an electrode (screen-printed for example) is coated with an antibody specific to Hb (or HbAc1 in diabetes contexts), which mediates the sensing directly, without the need for an additional label. Faster processing (less washing steps) - from the sample to the answer in the matter of only a few minutes Higher performance than label-intensive strategies (higher specificity because of lower non-specific binding) Applications Sensing of Hb (or HbAc1) : point-of-care diagnostics (cancer, diabetes) and research testing Other embodiments where analytes compete for Hb are also possible Other proteins with a catalytic activity would also be possible to detect (glutathione peroxidase for example can be linked to oxidative damage, or Myeloperoxidase) IP Status Patent application published : Methods for detecting proteins WO 2015028811 A2 Filing date 29/08/2014. Contact is welcomed from organisations interested in developing, licensing or exploiting this IP with a view to commercialisation.