DETECTION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE MOLECULES BY USE OF PRE-ACTIVATED CELL-BASED BIOSENSORS IN LIQUID-BASED SEPARATION SYSTEMS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for detection of receptor antagonists comprising the following steps: (I) a sample containing the receptor antagonist is fractionated by use of a liquid-based separation means, preferably capillary electrophoresis, (II) a fraction containing the receptor antagonist or modulator is fed directly to a biosensor (9) which is activated by an appropriate receptor agonist and, as a result of this activation, is generating a measurable response, said agonist being fed to the biosensor through the liquid-based separation means together with the antagonist or modulator, said activation of the biosensor (9) being pulsed by delivery of the receptor agonist to the biosensor for short period of times, said periods being separated by other periods when no agonist is delivered to the biosensor, and (III) the change of the response resulting from deactivation of the receptor agonist-activated biosensor by the receptor antagonist or modulator is measured, preferably by means of a patch clamp electrode (8). It is further possible to resensitize the biosensor desensitized as above by use of pulsed superfusion of the biosensor. The present invention also relates to an apparatus usable for practicing the above mentioned method.