METHOD FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF AN ANALYTE

摘要

Methods for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample are provided. The methods employ a detection system which is comprised of a polymerized polyunsaturated lipid film. The polymerized lipid film has binding molecules associated with it which are members of a specific binding pair of which the analyte is the other member. The polymerized lipid film absorbs light at one wavelength before the binding of the analyte to the binding molecule, but absorbs at a different wavelength following binding. The shift in absorption is detectable by a color shift in the polymerized lipid film. The binding event can also change the emission spectrum of the film from one intensity to another. These optical changes are used to detect the presence of an analyte in a given sample.