Sampling-Resolution Strategy for One-Way Multiplexed Immunoassay with Sequential Chemiluminescent Detection

Chemiluminescent immunoassay technology: what does it change in autoantibody detection?

Diagnostic technology is rapidly evolving, and over the last decade, substantial progress has been made even for the identification of antibodies, increasingly approaching this type of diagnostic to that of automated clinical chemistry laboratory. In this review, we describe the analytical and diagnostic characteristics of chemiluminescence technology in its strength and in its applicability for a more rapid and accurate diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. The wide dynamic range, greater than that of immunoenzymatic methods, the high sensitivity and specificity of the results expressed in quantitative form, the high degree of automation and the clinical implications related to the reduction in the turnaround time, and the ability to run a large number of antibody tests (even of different isotypes), directed towards large antigenic panels in random access mode, make this technology the most advanced in the clinical laboratory, with enormous repercussions on the workflow and on the autoimmunology laboratory organisation. Further improvements are expected in the coming years with the development of new analytical platforms such as the flow-injection chemiluminescent immunoassay, the two-dimensional resolution for chemiluminescence multiplex immunoassay and the magnetic nanoparticles chemiluminescence immunoassay, which will likely result in additional increases in the clinical efficacy of antibody tests.

Smart CuS Nanoparticles as Peroxidase Mimetics for the Design of Novel Label-Free Chemiluminescent Immunoassay

In the present work, a novel label-free chemiluminescent (CL) immunoassay method was designed by employing smart CuS nanoparticles (CuSNPs) as peroxidase mimetics. The CuSNPs were synthesized through a simple coprecipitation method, and showed high catalytic activity and stability. This efficient label-free CL immunoassay could be easily achieved through a simple strategy. First, CuSNPs dispersed in chitosan were modified on the epoxy-functionalized glass slide to form a solid CL signal interface. Streptavidin was then used to functionalize CuSNPs to capture the biotinylated antibody, further producing a sensing interface. After online incubation with antigen molecules, the formed antibody-antigen complex on the biosensing substrate could prevent the diffusion channel of CL substrate toward the signal interface, and restrained the mimic enzyme-catalyzed CL reaction, finally resulting in the decrease of CL signals of the assay system. Compared to the label-based CL immunoassay, the proposed label-free assay mode is more simple, cheap and fast. Using a model analyte alpha-fetoprotein, the label-free CL immunoassay method had a linear range of 0.1-60 ng/mL and a low detection limit of 0.07 ng/mL. Moreover, the peroxidase mimetic-based label-free CL immunoassay system showed good specificity, acceptable repeatability, and good accuracy. The study provided a promising strategy for the development of highly efficient label-free CL immunoassay system.

A new label-free strategy for a highly efficient chemiluminescence immunoassay

A new label-free chemiluminescence (CL) immunoassay method which is based on the co-immobilization of a capture antibody and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on the Au nanoparticle–chitosan composite interface is proposed for the cheap, fast and convenient detection of proteins.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensors for multiplexed determination using mesoporous platinum nanoparticles as nonenzymatic labels

An ultrasensitive multiplexed immunoassay method was developed at a disposable immunosensor array using mesoporous platinum nanoparticles (M-Pt NPs) as nonenzymatic labels. M-Pt NPs were prepared by ultrasonic method and employed to label the secondary antibody (Ab2) for signal amplification. The immunosensor array was constructed by covalently immobilizing capture antibody (Ab1) on graphene modified screen printed carbon electrodes (SPECs). After the sandwich-type immunoreactions, the M-Pt-Ab2 was bound to immunosensor surface to catalyze the electro-reduction of H2O2 reaction, which produced detectable signals for readout of analytes. Using breast cancer related panel of tumor markers (CA125, CA153 and CEA) as model analytes, this method showed wide linear ranges of over 4 orders of magnitude with the detection limits of 0.002 U mL(-1), 0.001 U mL(-1) and 7.0 pg mL(-1) for CA125, CA153 and CEA, respectively. The disposable immunosensor array possessed excellent clinical value in cancer screening as well as convenient point of care diagnostics.

Manganese porphyrin-dsDNA complex: a mimicking enzyme for highly efficient bioanalysis

Manganese porphyrin (MnTMPyP)-dsDNA complex was reported as an excellent mimicking enzyme of peroxidase. It possessed high catalytic activity and much quicker catalytic kinetics and better stability with exposure to light irradiation and high temperature than both horseradish peroxidase and hemin/G-quadruplex DNAzyme. The groove binding of MnTMPyP to the dsDNA scaffold efficiently maintained the catalytic activity of the MnTMPyP center and improved its stability. By combining with an isothermal hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and in situ formation of MnTMPyP-dsDNA, a highly efficient chemiluminescent (CL) immunosensing method was proposed. After a sandwich immunoreaction, a biotinylated DNA strand, which was bound to biotinylated signal antibody by streptavidin, triggered the HCR and growth of MnTMPyP-dsDNA on the immunocomplex. The in situ, HCR-assisted enzyme formation brought numerous enzymatic catalytic centers, MnTMPyP, on the immunocomplex, resulting in significant CL signal amplification and highly sensitive CL detection. Using carcinoembryonic antigen as the model target, the proposed CL immunoassay method showed a wide linear range from 10 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL with a detection limit of 6.8 pg/mL. The new MnTMPyP-dsDNA complex could be conveniently synthesized, functionalized, and combined with DNA amplification strategies, showing a promising potential in bioanalysis and other relative fields.

Battery-triggered microfluidic paper-based multiplex electrochemiluminescence immunodevice based on potential-resolution strategy

A potential-resolution strategy for multiplex electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μ-PAD) was demonstrated for the first time, using tris-(bipyridine)-ruthenium(ii) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) and carbon nanodots (CNDs) as the ECL labels for high-throughput ECL immunoassay on μ-PAD. Based on this strategy, simultaneous detection of four tumor markers using only two screen-printed carbon working electrodes (one electrode for two analytes) on an immunodevice consisting of a piece of patterned paper (denoted as μ-PECLI in this work) was realized, which is a simplification of the configuration of traditional μ-PADs. As a further development of μ-PECLI in low-cost and disposable applications, battery-triggered (constant-potential) ECL detection on μ-PECLI was developed, allowing the traditional electrochemical workstation to be abandoned. In addition, to exactly control the output voltage of the battery, a low-cost and simple voltage-controller was designed and fabricated for the first time. The battery-triggered ECL immunoassay principle on μ-PECLI is explained. We found that the simultaneous determination of two analytes in one paper working zone could be achieved by controlling the operational constant-potential (+1.2 V for Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) labels and -1.2 V for CNDs labels (vs. Ag/AgCl auxiliary electrode)) by simply reversing the connection mode. Finally, four tumor markers in human serum samples from the Tumor Hospital were assayed and the results obtained were in acceptable agreement with the reference values from parallel single-analyte test. This battery-triggered μ-PECLI provides a new strategy for high-throughput, low-cost, sensitive, automated and simultaneous multiplex immunoassay and point-of-care diagnosis.

3D origami-based multifunction-integrated immunodevice: low-cost and multiplexed sandwich chemiluminescence immunoassay on microfluidic paper-based analytical device

A novel 3D microfluidic paper-based immunodevice, integrated with blood plasma separation from whole blood samples, automation of rinse steps, and multiplexed CL detections, was developed for the first time based on the principle of origami (denoted as origami-based device). This 3D origami-based device, comprised of one test pad surrounded by four folding tabs, could be patterned and fabricated by wax-printing on paper in bulk. In this work, a sandwich-type chemiluminescence (CL) immunoassay was introduced into this 3D origami-based immunodevice, which could separate the operational procedures into several steps including (i) folding pads above/below and (ii) addition of reagent/buffer under a specific sequence. The CL behavior, blood plasma separation, washing protocol, and incubation time were investigated in this work. The developed 3D origami-based CL immunodevice, combined with a typical luminuol-H(2)O(2) CL system and catalyzed by Ag nanoparticles, showed excellent analytical performance for the simultaneous detection of four tumor markers. The whole blood samples were assayed and the results obtained were in agreement with the reference values from the parallel single-analyte test. This paper-based microfluidic origami CL detection system provides a new strategy for a low-cost, sensitive, simultaneous multiplex immunoassay and point-of-care diagnostics.

Paper-based chemiluminescence ELISA: lab-on-paper based on chitosan modified paper device and wax-screen-printing

A novel lab-on-paper device combining the simplicity and low-cost of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) and the sensitivity and selectivity of chemiluminescence ELISA (CL-ELISA) for the high-throughput, rapid, stable and reusable point-of-care testing is presented here. Chitosan was used to modify μPADs to covalently immobilize antibodies on μPADs. Thus, sandwich CL-ELISA on μPADs can be easily realized for further development of this technique in sensitive, specific and low-cost application. The paper device was fabricated by a low-cost, simple, and rapid wax-screen-printing method. Using tumor markers and paper microzone plate as model, the application test of this paper-based CL-ELISA was successfully performed with a linear range of 0.1-35.0 ng mL(-1) for α-fetoprotein, 0.5-80.0 U mL(-1) for cancer antigen 125 and 0.1-70.0 ng mL(-1) for carcinoembryonic antigen. Since the cutoff values of the three tumor markers in clinical diagnosis are 25 ng mL(-1), 35 U mL(-1) and 5 ng mL(-1), the sensitivity and linear ranges of the proposed method were enough for clinical application. In addition, this lab-on-paper immunodevice can provide reproducible results upon storage at 4 °C (sealed) for at least 5 weeks. Ultimately, this novel chitosan modification and wax-screen-printing methodology for μPADs can be readily translated to other signal reporting mechanism including electrochemiluminescence and photoelectrochemistry, and other receptors such as enzyme receptors and DNA receptors for determination of DNA, proteins and small molecules in point-of-care testing.

DNA aptamer folding on magnetic beads for sequential detection of adenosine and cocaine by substrate-resolved chemiluminescence technology

We have developed a new aptamer-based chemiluminescence (CL) biosensing platform for the sequential detection of two small molecules as exemplified by adenosine and cocaine. Each biosensing platform comprises NH(2)-functionalized capture DNA immobilized on magnetic beads; this can hybridize with one end of the aptamer. A corresponding reporter DNA probe labeled with either digoxigenin or biotin on its 5'-terminus recognizes the other end of the aptamer. The target compounds adenosine or cocaine act as specific competitors to aptamer-reporter DNA binding, and the corresponding aptamers preferentially form target-aptamer complexes. This results in detachment of the reporter DNA probe from the magnetic beads, with more target molecules resulting in less reporter DNA probe remaining on the beads. Those left are sequentially detected by using substrate-resolved anti-digoxigenin-alkaline phosphatase and streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase. Experimental results confirm that this CL immunosensing platform has good sensitivity with detection limits of 5.2 x 10(-9) M and 3.2 x 10(-9) M for adenosine and cocaine, respectively. Because it is straightforward to adapt this strategy to detect a spectrum of small molecules by using different aptamers, this method may offer a new direction in designing high-performance CL aptasensors for sensitive and sequential determination of a limited number of small molecules.