One-Step Assay Enables Rapid Biomarker Detection
A new diagnostic platform developed by researchers from the Boyman Lab at the Department of Quantitative Biomedicine (DQBM), University of Zurich, introduces a one-step immunoassay for quantifying biomarkers in complex biological mixtures. Published in Analytical Chemistry on February 27, 2025, the assay—termed oneSTEP—uses phase-separated zwitterionic polymer coacervates to achieve high specificity and minimal nonspecific binding.
By functionalizing the polymers with antibodies, the team created coacervates that dynamically compartmentalize and enrich target analytes. The system supports fluorescence-based detection without the need for washing or separation steps, significantly simplifying workflow and reducing time to result.
Validated in both artificial saliva and human serum, the assay accurately detected SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and complement component C5 with low detection limits. These capabilities position the oneSTEP platform as a robust alternative to traditional bead-based methods in both clinical diagnostics and high-throughput screening.
