Small Molecule Drug Assay Derived from Intermolecular Interaction-Enabled Recognition (iMR) for Personal Therapy

Description:
Rapid and effective differentiation and quantification of a small molecule drug, containing a few functional groups, in bodily fluids are one of the major challenges for personal theranostics and medication. However, the current toxicology methods used to measure drug concentration and metabolites require laboratory-based testing, which is not an efficient or cost-effective way to treat patients in a timely manner. Recently, we have invented a methodology to design the anchor structure for specific small molecule recognition. The analyte molecule could be selectively adsorbed on the paired anchor molecule through a contrivable inter-molecular interaction pattern. Incorporating the meticulous electrochemical amplifier/readout method, the sensors showed excellent selectivity against common interferences in variable body fluids through either testing strips or skin patches. Directly using the patient blood, the sensor provided 1%–5% of the average deviation compared to the “gold” standard method LC-MS results in the medically relevant range. Due to these superior sensing properties, flexibility, and compatibility, this method would enable point-of-care detection and potentially make personal therapy possible to reduce or prevent drug overdose.

Speaker: Zhe Wang - Oakland University
Dr. Zhe Wang earned a B.S. in chemistry in 2001 and received his Ph.D. in analytical/physical chemistry in 2007 at Lanzhou University. From 2007-2014, Dr. Wang served as a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA and O.U., where he worked on multifunctional nanomaterial for advanced engineering and electrochemistry sensor projects. Before he joined Oakland University in 2020, Dr. Wang held an Assistant Professor position at Xavier University of Louisiana to study ionic liquid interface and bioelectrochemistry for sensor and biosensor array systems supported by NSF, DOD, and NIH. Dr. Wang has published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals and four U.S. patents. His current research is focused on the biosensor and ionic liquid electrochemistry.