A sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay for cyclomaltoheptaose and some derivatives.

Antibodies were raised against cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin), providing a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for beta-cyclodextrin and some derivatives with a detection limit of 120 pg/mL. Investigations of cross-reactivities with a wide variety of linear and cyclic maltooligosaccharides demonstrate that the antibodies are highly specific for cyclomaltoheptaose and a number of derivatives. The epitope is probably located on the secondary hydroxyl groups of the rim side. This enzyme immunoassay is shown to be suitable to detect cyclomaltoheptaose in urine and in plasma.