Recent developments in protease activity assays and sensors

摘要: Proteases play a pivotal role in regulating important physiological processes from food digestion to blood clotting. They are also biomarkers for many diseases such as cancers. The importance of proteases has led extensive efforts the screening and their inhibitors potential drug molecules. For example, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients have been treated with HIV-1 protease prolong life expectancy patients. Such close relationship between provides strong motivation developing sensitive, selective, robust assays sensors, which can be exploited discover new inhibitors. In this aspect, based on levels proteolytic activities more relevant than affinity immunoassays. review, recent developments activity different detection principles discussed compared. homogenous assays, fluorescence-based techniques most popular due high sensitivity quantitative results. However, homogeneous limited multiplex sensing capabilities. contrast, heterogeneous employed detect multiple simultaneously, given microarray technology that is already available. Among them, electrochemical methods, surface spectroscopy techniques, enzyme-linked peptide commonly used. Finally, liquid crystal (LC)-based applications detecting discussed.