An amperometric immunosensor for osteoproteogerin based on gold nanoparticles deposited conducting polymer

Conjugation of visual enhancers in lateral flow immunoassay for rapid forensic analysis: A critical review

During crime scene investigations, numerous traces are secured and may be used as evidence for the evaluation of source and/or activity level propositions. The rapid chemical analysis of a biological trace enables the identification of body fluids and can provide significant donor profiling information, including age, sex, drug abuse, and lifestyle. Such information can be used to provide new leads, exclude from, or restrict the list of possible suspects during the investigative phase. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art labelling techniques to identify the most suitable visual enhancer to be implemented in a lateral flow immunoassay setup for the purpose of trace identification and/or donor profiling. Upon comparison, and with reference to the strengths and limitations of each label, the simplistic one-step analysis of noncompetitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) together with the implementation of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) as visual enhancers is proposed for a sensitive, accurate, and reproducible in situ trace analysis. This approach is versatile and stable over different environmental conditions and external stimuli. The findings of the present comparative analysis may have important implications for future forensic practice. The selection of an appropriate enhancer is crucial for a well-designed LFA that can be implemented at the crime scene for a time- and cost-efficient investigation.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor for quantitative detection of tumor specific growth factor by using Ag@CeO2 nanocomposite as labels

In this paper, an ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the detection of tumor specific growth factor (TSGF). Reduced graphene oxide-tetraethylene pentamine (rGO-TEPA) was used to modify the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Meanwhile, Ag@CeO2 nanocomposite was synthesized and applied as secondary-antibody (Ab2) labels for the fabrication of the immunosensor. The amperometric response of the immunosensor for the reduction of H2O2 was recorded. Simultaneously, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to characterize the fabrication process of the immunosensor. The anti-TSGF primary antibody (Ab1) was immobilized onto the rGO-TEPA modified GCE via cross-linking with glutaraldehyde (GA). And then the TSGF antigen and Ab2-Ag@CeO2 were modified onto the electrode surface in sequence. Under the optimal conditions, the immunosensor exhibited a wide linear range (0.500-100pg/mL), a low detection limit (0.2pg/mL), good reproducibility, acceptable selectivity and excellent stability. The proposed sensing strategy may provide a potential application in the detection of other cancer biomarkers.

A sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of squamous cell carcinoma antigen by using PtAu nanoparticles loaded on TiO2colloidal spheres as labels

A sensitive sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor for detection of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) was developed by using PtAu nanoparticles loaded on TiO₂colloidal spheres (PtAu/TiO₂) as secondary-antibody (Ab₂) labels.

Development of an immunosensor assay for detection of haptoglobin in mastitic milk

BACKGROUND

Detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows is important, as it represents a major economic challenge for the dairy industry worldwide owing to propagation of mastitis-causing pathogens and to long-term reduction in milk yield and quality. Haptoglobin (Hp) is one of the most sensitive acute phase proteins in milk during udder inflammation and as an indicator of mastitis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive immunosensor assay for measuring Hp concentration in mastitic milk.

METHODS

The immunosensor was constructed by immobilizing anti-bovine Hp antibody on a gold electrode through gold nanoparticles fabricated on self-assembled L-cysteine layers. The immunosensor assay was used to measure Hp concentration in 20 milk samples positive for bacteria with a somatic cell count > 5 × 10(5) cells/mL from cows without clinical signs of mastitis. Results were compared with those obtained using a commercial ELISA kit.

RESULTS

Reproducibility of Hp measurement and stability after storage for 20 days were good for the immunosensor assay. Measurement of Hp was linear over a range of 15-100 mg/L, with a limit of detection of 0.63 mg/L. Agreement between results obtained with the immunosensor and ELISA methods was satisfactory as analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (Z = -1.739, P = .073).

CONCLUSION

An immunosensor assay for measuring Hp in milk provided rapid results and was easy to perform, facilitating its potential use in the field for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis once a cutoff value for Hp concentration is established.

CNT loading into cationic cholesterol suspensions show improved DNA binding and serum stability and ability to internalize into cancer cells

Methods which disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in water as 'debundled', while maintaining their unique physical properties are highly useful. We present here a family of cationic cholesterol compounds (Chol+) {Cholest-5en-3β-oxyethyl pyridinium bromide (Chol-PB+), Cholest-5en-3β-oxyethyl N-methyl pyrrolidinium bromide (Chol-MPB+), Cholest-5en-3β-oxyethyl N-methyl morpholinium bromide (Chol-MMB+) and Cholest-5en-3β-oxyethyl diazabicyclo octanium bromide (Chol-DOB+)}. Each of these could be easily dispersed in water. The resulting cationic cholesterol (Chol+) suspensions solubilized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by the non-specific physical adsorption of Chol+ to form stable, transparent, dark aqueous suspensions at room temperature. Electron microscopy reveals the existence of highly segregated CNTs in these samples. Zeta potential measurements showed an increase in potential of cationic cholesterol aggregates on addition of CNTs. The CNT-Chol+ suspensions were capable of forming stable complexes with genes (DNA) efficiently. The release of double-helical DNA from such CNT-Chol+ complexes could be induced upon the addition of anionic micellar solution of SDS. Furthermore, the CNT-based DNA complexes containing cationic cholesterol aggregates showed higher stability in fetal bovine serum media at physiological conditions. Confocal studies confirm that CNT-Chol+ formulations adhere to HeLa cell surfaces and get internalized more efficiently than the cationic cholesterol suspensions alone (devoid of any CNTs). These cationic cholesterol-CNT suspensions therefore appear to be a promising system for further use in biological applications.

Gold nanoparticles doped conducting polymer nanorod electrodes: ferrocene catalyzed aptamer-based thrombin immunosensor

Au nanoparticles-doped conducting polymer nanorods electrodes (AuNPs/CPNEs) were prepared by coating Au nanorods (AuNRs) with a conducting polymer layer. The AuNRs were prepared through an electroless deposition method using the polycarbonate membrane (pore diameter, 50 nm, pore density, 6 x 10(8) pores/cm(2)) as a template. The AuNPs/CPNEs combining catalytic activity of ferrocene to ascorbic acid were used for the fabrication of an ultrasensitive aptamer sensor for thrombin detection. The AuNPs/3D-CPNEs were characterized employing cyclic voltammetry (CV), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Sandwiched immunoassay for alpha-human thrombin with NH(2)-functionalized-thrombin binding aptamer (Apt) immobilized on AuNPs/3D-CPNEs was studied through the electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid by the ferrocene moiety that was bound with an antithrombin antibody and attached with the Apt/3D-CPNEs probe through target binding. Various experimental parameters affecting thrombin detection were optimized, and the performance of the thrombin aptamer sensor was examined. The Apt/AuNPs/3D-CPNEs based thrombin sensor exhibited a wide dynamic range of 5-2000 ng L(-1) and a low detection limit of 5 ng L(-1) (0.14 pM). The selectivity and the stability of the proposed thrombin aptamer sensor were excellent, and it was tested in a real human serum sample for the detection of spiked concentrations of thrombin.

Ultrasensitive immunosensor for cancer biomarker proteins using gold nanoparticle film electrodes and multienzyme-particle amplification

A densely packed gold nanoparticle platform combined with a multiple-enzyme labeled detection antibody-magnetic bead bioconjugate was used as the basis for an ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor to detect cancer biomarkers in serum. Sensitivity was greatly amplified by synthesizing magnetic bioconjugates particles containing 7500 horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labels along with detection antibodies (Ab2) attached to activated carboxyl groups on 1 microm diameter magnetic beads. These sensors had sensitivity of 31.5 microA mL ng(-1) and detection limit (DL) of 0.5 pg mL(-1) for prostate specific antigen (PSA) in 10 microL of undiluted serum. This represents an ultralow mass DL of 5 fg PSA, 8-fold better than a previously reported carbon nanotube (CNT) forest immunosensor featuring multiple labels on carbon nanotubes, and near or below the normal serum levels of most cancer biomarkers. Measurements of PSA in cell lysates and human serum of cancer patients gave excellent correlations with standard ELISA assays. These easily fabricated AuNP immunosensors show excellent promise for future fabrication of bioelectronic arrays.