	US 12,031,907 B2
	Attenuated total reflectance-based biosensor for conformation and secondary structure analysis
Klaus Gerwert, Münster (DE); Jens Wiltfang, Essen (DE); Julian Ollesch, Witten (DE); Andreas Nabers, Bochum (DE); Jonas Schartner, Herne (DE); and Carsten Kötting, Bochum (DE)
Assigned to betaSENSE GmbH, Bochum (DE)
Filed by betaSENSE GmbH, Münster (DE)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/847,236.
Application 16/847,236 is a division of application No. 15/113,128, granted, now 11,073,470, previously published as PCT/EP2015/052945, filed on Feb. 12, 2015.
Claims priority of application No. 14155138 (EP), filed on Feb. 14, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2020/0240908 A1, Jul. 30, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 21/3577 (2014.01); G01N 21/552 (2014.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 33/68 (2006.01); G01N 21/05 (2006.01)

CPC G01N 21/3577 (2013.01) [G01N 21/552 (2013.01); G01N 21/6428 (2013.01); G01N 21/6458 (2013.01); G01N 33/6896 (2013.01); G01N 21/05 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6421 (2013.01); G01N 2800/2821 (2013.01); G01N 2800/2835 (2013.01)]

16 Claims

1. A method for determining in a body fluid an average secondary structure composition of a protein undergoing conformational transitions associated with disease progression, comprising the steps of:

(a) conducting, in an infrared (IR) cell comprising an IR sensor element having a functionalized surface with at least one receptor grafted onto said functionalized surface and capable of specific and conformationally independent binding to the protein, a flux of body fluid comprising the protein but not pretreated to isolate or concentrate the protein, wherein the IR sensor element is configured to detect different conformations of the secondary structure of the protein in the body fluid;

(b) submitting an IR beam through said cell and obtaining an IR spectrum therefrom; and

(c) detecting an amide I band maximum of the protein to determine the average secondary structure composition of the protein present in the body fluid.