Overview

• The assay leverages synthetic sugar chains that mimic cellular glycans to bind Western Diamondback Rattlesnake toxins and trigger a visible color change.
• Attachment of glycopolymers to gold nanoparticles amplifies binding events and enables ultraviolet-visible detection without antibodies.
• The platform is cheaper, faster and easier to store than conventional antibody-based diagnostics, addressing cost and logistical barriers.
• Tests on Indian Cobra venom confirmed the assay’s specificity by showing no binding to synthetic glycans designed for C. atrox toxins.
• Published in ACS Biomacromolecules, the proof-of-concept study is part of Warwick’s STEM Connect initiative to advance humanitarian diagnostics.