Atlas Genetics Limited

Binx Health Limited

Stephen Flower

Christopher G Frost

Barrie J Marsh

Jonathan Sharp

Helen Braven

Russell Keay

Jonathan C Sharp

Barrie Marsh

Christopher Frost

Compounds of general formula I are used as labels in an electrochemical assay: (I) in which: Fc and Fc' are substituted or unsubstituted ferrocenyl moieties, X is a C1 to C6 alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by &#x2014;O&#x2014; or &#x2014;NH&#x2014;; Y is a C1 to C6 alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by &#x2014;O&#x2014; or &#x2014;NH&#x2014;; Z is a C1 to C12 alkylene chain which may optionally be substituted and/or may optionally be interrupted by &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;S&#x2014;, cycloalkyl, &#x2014;CO&#x2014;, &#x2014;CONR1-, &#x2014;NR1CO&#x2014; or &#x2014;NR1- in which R1 represents hydrogen or C1 to C4 alkyl; and R is a linker group. Compounds I are used to make labelled substrates, as well as functionalised compounds for making the labelled substrates.

Ferrocene labels for electrochemical assay and their use in analytical methods

Compounds of general formula I are used as labels in an electrochemical assay: (I) in which: Fc and Fc' are substituted or unsubstituted ferrocenyl moieties, X is a C1 to C6 alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by &#x2014;O&#x2014; or &#x2014;NH&#x2014;; Y is a C1 to C6 alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by &#x2014;O&#x2014; or &#x2014;NH&#x2014;; Z is a C1 to C12 alkylene chain which may optionally be substituted and/or may optionally be interrupted by &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;S&#x2014;, cycloalkyl, &#x2014;CO&#x2014;, &#x2014;CON R1&#x2014;, &#x2014;NR1CO&#x2014; or &#x2014;NR1&#x2014; in which R1 represents hydrogen or C1 to C4 alkyl; and R is a linker group. Compounds I are used to make labelled substrates, as well as functionalised compounds for making the labelled substrates.

The invention provides methods and compounds for detecting protease activity in a sample solution comprising contacting the sample solution with a protease substrate labelled with an electrochemically active marker, providing conditions under which any protease which may be present in the sample may degrade the protease substrate and electrochemically determining information relating to the electrochemically active marker.

Protease detection assay

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Melksham, United Kingdom

Stephen Flower