Lab-in-a-syringe using gold nanoparticles for rapid immunosensing of protein biomarkers. Issue 2 (6th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nunes Pauli, Gisele Elias; de la Escosura-Muñiz, Alfredo; Parolo, Claudio; Helmuth Bechtold, Ivan; Merkoçi, Arben
• Is Part Of: Lab on a chip. Volume 15:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 399
• Page End: 405
• Publication Date: 2014-11-06
• Subjects: Miniature electronic equipment -- Periodicals; Combinatorial chemistry -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 543.0813
• DOI: 10.1039/c4lc01123f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-0197

Abstract

Abstract : A novel "lab-in-a-syringe" (LIS) using gold nanoparticles with a simple vertical flow immunosensing operation simultaneously occurring while sampling is developed. This approach avoids the delay between sampling and detection and offers a tunable preconcentration capability. Abstract : We have developed a paper and gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based lab-in-a-syringe (LIS) for immunosensing of biomarkers. This simple diagnostic device features simultaneous sampling and vertical-flow operation, which means that unlike typical immunosensors, it does not suffer from any delay between sampling and detection. It can handle large-volume, low-concentration samples for analysis in diverse applications ( e.g. biomedical, environmental, food, etc. ). Furthermore, its operating range for sample concentration can be tuned by simply changing the volume of the syringed sample, which enables on-demand limits of detection (LOD). The LIS contains two nitrocellulose pads: the conjugate pad (which captures the analyte) and the detection pad (which signals the presence of the captured analyte) both embedded into reusable plastic cartridges. We demonstrated its efficiency in detecting human IgG (HIgG) (LOD: 1.0 ng mL −1 ) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (spiked urine samples; LOD: 1.9 ng mL −1 ). In the field, the LIS can be used for complete on-site analysis or to obtain partially analyzed samples (AuNPs with captured analyte) for subsequent detailed testing in specialized laboratories.