title: A Strategy for Minimizing Background Signal in Autoinductive Signal Amplification Reactions for Point-of-Need Assays.
abstract: Rapid point-of-need assays are used to detect abundant biomarkers. The development ofin situsignal amplification reactions could extend these assays to screening and triaging of patients for trace levels of biomarkers, even in resource-limited settings. We, and others, have developed small molecule-basedin situsignal amplification reactions that eventually may be useful in this context. Herein we describe a design strategy for minimizing background signal that may occur in the absence of the target analyte, thus moving thisin situsignal amplification approach one step closer to practical applications. Specifically, we describe allylic ethers as privileged connectors for linking detection and propagating functionality in a small molecule signal amplification reagent. Allylic ethers minimize background reactions while still enabling controlled release of a propagating signal in order to continue the signal amplification reaction. This paper characterizes the ability of allylic ethers to provide an amplified response, and offers insight into additional design considerations that are needed beforein situsmall molecule-based signal amplification becomes a viable strategy for point-of-need diagnostics.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry, 104 Chemistry Building, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: Adam D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry, 104 Chemistry Building, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: Kimy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry, 104 Chemistry Building, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: Gregory G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry, 104 Chemistry Building, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: Scott T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Phillips