Introducing MINA – The Molecularly Imprinted Nanoparticle Assay

A totally abiotic ELISA-like assay, where no elements of biological origin are used, either for molecular recognition or for reporting purposes, is presented here. Using a novel synthetic approach, with immobilized template, surface-imprinted nanoparticles were prepared with a catalytic core capable of promoting a colorimetric reaction; these were used for combined target recognition and reporting. In microplate-competitive format the assay was capable of selectively determining vancomycin concentration from 10 nM to 1 mM, and with minimal modifications to standard assay protocols. In diluted serum, the assay could quantify vancomycin from 0.05 to 3 μM. Results point towards the future development of a new generation of assays based entirely on stable and potentially more affordable synthetic reagents.