Microarray of stimuli-responsive microbeads for duplexed immunoassay

A signal-on built in-marker electrochemical aptasensor for human prostate-specific antigen based on a hairbrush-like gold nanostructure

A green electrodeposition method was firstly employed for the synthesis of round hairbrush-like gold nanostructure in the presence of cadaverine as a size and shape directing additive. The nanostructure which comprised of arrays of nanospindles was then applied as a transducer to fabricate a signal-on built in-marker electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of human prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The aptasensor detected PSA with a linear concentration range of 0.125 to 128 ng mL-1 and a limit of detection of 50 pg mL-1. The aptasensor was then successfully applied to detect PSA in the blood serum samples of healthy and patient persons.

Label-free electrochemical aptasensing of the human prostate-specific antigen using gold nanospears

Gold nanospears were electrodeposited with the assistance of arginine as a soft template and precise selection of experimental parameters. The nanospears were then employed as a transducer to immobilize an aptamer of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and fabrication of a label-free electrochemical aptasensor. The aptasensor was employed for the detection of PSA with a linear concentration range of 0.125-200ngmL(-1) and a limit of detection of 50pgmL(-1). The aptasensor was successfully applied to detect PSA in blood serum samples of healthy and patient persons.

Recent progress in prostate-specific antigen and HIV proteases detection

Proteases mediate a wide variety of biological events and have a critical role in the development of many diseases. Protease detection methods can be hindered by the limitation of assay safety, sensitivity, specificity, time constraints and ease of on-site analysis. Notably, the implementation of various detection methods on biosensing platforms translates them into practical biosensing applications. Currently, the detection of prostate cancer and AIDS at the earliest occasion is one of the major research obstacles. Therefore, recent advances focus on the development of portable detection systems toward point-of-care testing. These detection systems should be highly sensitive and specific for the detection of their prognostic biomarkers, such as the prostate-specific antigen and HIV load assay for prostate cancer and AIDS, respectively. These methods will also facilitate decision-making on a treatment regimen.

Covalent protein immobilization with a parylene-H film for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

For the sensitive analysis of receptor-ligand interactions by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS), receptor proteins should be immobilized on a target plate with a high surface density. In this work, a parylene-H film with formyl groups was developed for the efficient covalent immobilization of receptor proteins for MALDI-TOF MS.

METHODS

The parylene-H film was thermally deposited on a target plate and receptor proteins were covalently immobilized. The surface properties of the parylene-H film were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The immobilization efficiency of the parylene-H film was analyzed by fluorescence imaging with streptavidin and fluorescence-labeled biotin. MALDI-TOF MS was performed using the parylene-H-coated target plate with streptavidin and different concentrations of biotinylated peptide as the receptor and ligand, respectively.

RESULTS

The parylene-H film on a target plate had a flat surface (Rq : ±2.755 nm) without any pinholes and could be regarded to be electrically conductive under an electric potential of 30 kV. The fluorescence image proved that the parylene-H film improved the protein immobilization efficiency as well as ligand detection sensitivity. The mass spectra quantitatively revealed peaks from the ligand molecules without any interference peaks from the immobilized receptor proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

A parylene-H film with formyl groups was thermally deposited on a target plate and the receptor protein was covalently immobilized on the target plate. The interactions of ligand molecules with the immobilized receptor proteins were quantitatively analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS.