ASSAY FOR DEGRADABLE SUBSTRATES BY ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION OF REDOX SPECIES

摘要

Use of an electrochemical detection of redox species (MR) in a medium to determine the occurence of a condition under which such species are produced or released, wherein such production or release is enabled by the digestion or disruption of a macromolecular species (An). The invention provides a method of assay for a polymer, for a depolymerase enzyme, and for a labelled specific binding agent, in which a polymer (An) is labelled with a component of a mediator/enzyme/substrate system which remains inactive until released into solution. Electrodes in the medium determine the occurence of a condition under which redox species are produced by the mediator/enzyme/substrate system or released into solution. Where the mediator activity of, for example ferrocene to glucose oxidase is used an amplification step is provided.