Colloidal Fluorophore Aggregates for the Selective Detection of Albumins in Solution and on Electrophoresis Gels.

We report a fluorescent probe that is highly sensitive and selective for serum albumins. Signal transduction results from the disassembly of fluorescence-quenched aggregates upon binding to human serum albumin (HSA). The probe offers a rapid (≤2 s) fluorometric assay of HSA in phosphate-buffered saline, urine, or blood serum with a high signal-to-noise ratio. It is also useful as a wash-free prestaining reagent for detecting HSA on electrophoresis gels.