Patent ID: 7939313

Claim:
A molecular biosensor, the biosensor having two constructs, the constructs comprising: R1-R2-R3-R4; and R5-R6-R7-R8; wherein: R1 is an antibody epitope binding agent that binds to a first epitope on a target molecule; R2 is a non-nucleic acid flexible linker attaching R1 to R3; R3 and R7 are a pair of complementary nucleotide sequences having a free energy for association, over the entire length of the nucleotide sequence, from about 5.5 kcal/mole to 8.0 kcal/mole at a temperature from about 21° C. to about 40° C. and at a salt concentration from about 1 mM to about 100 mM, such that R3 and R7 only associate when R1 and R5 are bound to the target molecule; R4 and R8 together comprise a detection means such that when R3 and R7 associate a detectable signal is produced; R5 is an antibody epitope binding agent that binds to a second epitope on the target molecule; and R6 is a non-nucleic acid flexible linker attaching R5 to R7.