Patent ID: 6033917
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: A61K,Y02A

Abstract:
A method for detecting the presence of a compound of biological interest comprising the steps of:incubating together a mixture of a sample suspected of containing a compound of biological interest and a selenium-carrier conjugate comprising:(i) an organic selenium compound selected from the group consisting of RSeH, RSeR, RSeR', RSeSeR and RSeSeR', wherein R and R' are the same or different and each is an aliphatic residue containing at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of aldehyde, amino, alcoholic, phosphate, sulfate, halogen, phenolic reactive groups and combinations thereof, covalently attached to,(ii) a carrier having a complementary constituent which forms a covalent bond with said reactive groups of said selenium compound to produce said selenium-carrier conjugate, said carrier specifically attaches to said compound of biological interest, to bind said selenium-carrier conjugate to a determinant on said compound of biological interest to form a complex;removing unbound selenium-carrier conjugate;adding a thiol compound to said mixture to react with said selenium to generate superoxide;adding a reporting agent to said mixture, said reporting agent reacts with superoxide; and,detecting the reaction between said reporting agent and superoxide as an indication of the concentration of the compound of biological interest.