Electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of atrazine

An amperometric immunosensor for the detection of the herbicide atrazine has been developed. A redox polymer PVPOs(bpy)2Cl was co-immobilized with the specific antibody on the surface of the electrode by crosslinking with PEGDGE to form an electron-conducting hydrogel. In a competitive assay the occurrence of the antibody-antigen reaction on the surface of the sensing film was detected through the 'electrical wiring' of the redox centres of antigen-labelled horseradish peroxidase and the electrode surface in the presence of H2O2 at 0.1 V (vsAg/AgCl).     

A SPR-based immunosensor for the detection of isoproturon

The proof of principle of a reusable surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based immunosensor for the monitoring of isoproturon (IPU), a selective and systemic herbicide, is presented. The detecting rat monoclonal anti-isoproturon antibody (mAb IOC 7E1) was reversibly immobilized through the use of a capture mouse anti-rat (kappa-chain) monoclonal antibody (mAb TIB 172), which was covalently immobilized on the sensor chip surface. Such strategy features a controlled binding of the captured detecting antibody as well as facilitates the surface regeneration. The capture of the anti-IPU mAb by the antibody (TIB 172) coated sensor surface could be carried out up to 120 times (immobilization/regeneration cycles) without any evidence of activity loss. With a high test midpoint and a low associated SPR signal, the direct detection format was shown to be unsuitable for the routine analysis of isoproturon. However, the limit of detection (LOD) could be easily enhanced by using a strategy based on a surface competition assay, which improved all immunosensor parameters. Moreover, the sensitivity and working range of the indirect format were found to be dependent on the surface density of the anti-IPU mAb IOC 7E1. As expected for competitive formats, the lowest surface coverage (0.5 ng/mm(2)) allowed a lower detection of the herbicide isoproturon with a calculated LOD of 0.1 microg/l, an IC(50) (50% inhibition) of 5.3+/-0.6 microg/l, and a working range (20-80% inhibition) of 1.3-16.3 microg/l.     

An ISFET-based immunosensor for the detection of beta-Bungarotoxin

An ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET)-based immunosensor was developed to detect/quantitate beta-Bungarotoxin (beta-BuTx), a potent presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus. A murine monoclonal antibody (mAb 15) specific to beta-BuTx was immobilized onto silicon nitride wafers after silanization and activation with glutaraldehyde. A chip based enzyme linked-immunosorbantassay (ELISA) was performed to ascertain antigen binding to the immobilized antibody. To develop an electrochemical immunosensing system for the detection/quantitation of beta-BuTx, an ISFET was used as a solid phase detector. MAb 15 was immobilized on the gate region of the ISFET. The antigen antibody reaction was monitored by the addition of urease conjugated rabbit anti-beta-BuTx antibodies. The sensor can detect toxin level as low as 15.6 ng/ml. The efficacy of the sensor for the determination of beta-BuTx from B. multicinctus venom was demonstrated in mouse model. Toxin concentration was highest at the site of injection (748.0+/-26 ng/ml) and moderate amount was found in the plasma (158.5+/-13 ng/ml).     

Capacitive immunosensor for the detection of host cell proteins

A new analysis for monitoring host cell proteins in preparations of transgenically produced protein pharmaceuticals is described. A capacitive biosensor with a very high sensitivity is used to monitor trace amounts of host cell proteins. The sensor consists of a gold electrode, the surface of which is well insulated and on which a preparation of a population of polyclonal antibodies raised against the complete protein set-up of the host cell are immobilized.Host cell proteins are present at very low concentrations during the production of a transgenic protein. The system studied here is a model system with an enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Due to the high sensitivity, it may even be possible to dilute the samples to be analyzed, thereby reducing a negative influence from non-specific binding to the sensor surface.     

Disposable and integrated amperometric immunosensor for direct determination of sulfonamide antibiotics in milk

The preparation and performance of a disposable amperometric immunosensor, based on the use of a selective capture antibody and screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs), for the specific detection and quantification of sulfonamide residues in milk is reported. The antibody was covalently immobilized onto a 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA) film grafted on the disposable electrode, and a direct competitive immunoassay using a tracer with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for the enzymatic labeling was performed. The amperometric response measured at -0.2 V vs the silver pseudo-reference electrode of the SPCE upon the addition of H(2)O(2) in the presence of hydroquinone (HQ) as mediator was used as transduction signal. The developed methodology showed very low limits of detection (in the low ppb level) for 6 sulfonamide antibiotics tested in untreated milk samples, and a good selectivity against other families of antibiotics residues frequently detected in milk and dairy products. These features, together with the short analysis time (30 min), the simplicity, and easy automation and miniaturization of the required instrumentation make the developed methodology a promising alternative in the development of devices for on-site analysis.     

Development of a new immunosensor for the detection of dopamine

Graphite immunoelectrodes as immunosensors using indirect immobilization of a hapten were investigated for their applicability to detect dopamine hydrochloride at low levels. Conditions were optimized to achieve the highest sensitivity using the indirect immobilization of dopamine hydrochloride through a polymerized glutaraldehyde network on microtiter plates using ELISA technique. The conditions were later transferred to the graphite rods (phi 0.8 m x 20 mm) and a comparison between the two different sensitivities (IC50 midpoint of test) was carried out. Graphite electrodes showed higher sensitivity towards dopamine than ELISA, since they were able to detect dopamine with a midpoint of test of 0.2 mmol/l while using ELISA they were able to detect dopamine hydrochloride at 2 mmol/l.     

Surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium

An immunosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using protein G was developed for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium. A protein G layer was fabricated by binding chemically to self-assembly monolayer (SAM) of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on gold (Au) surface. The formation of protein G layer on Au surface modified with 11-MUA and the binding of antibody and antigen in series were confirmed by SPR spectroscopy. The effect of detergent such as Tween-20 on binding efficiency of antibody and antigen was investigated by SPR. The binding efficiency of antigen to the antibody immobilized on Au surface was improved up to about 85% and 100% by using protein G and Tween-20, respectively. The surface morphology analyses of 11-MUA monolayer on Au substrate, protein G layer on 11-MUA monolayer and antibody layer immobilized on protein G layer were performed by atomic force microscope (AFM). Consequently, an immunosensor based on SPR for the detection of S. typhimurium using protein G was developed with a detection range of 10(2) to 10(9)CFU/ml. The current fabrication technique of a SPR immunosensor for the detection of S. typhimurium could be applied to construct other immnosensors or protein chips.     

Piezoelectric crystal immunosensor for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B

The work of fabricating a piezoelectric (PZ) immunosensor for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is presented in this paper. Three different immobilization methods using anti-SEB antibody onto a gold electrode of the PZ have been conducted. The electrode coated with polyethyleneimine (PEI) has shown the best result. The fabricated PZ sensor can be used for SEB determination in the range of 2.5–60 μg/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.997. Milk samples spiked with various concentrations of SEB gave an average of 111% recovery of the toxin. The SEB assay is specific. For example the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) at 40 μg/ml gave 6.44% of the signal while staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED) appeared to give no detectable signal. After regeneration with 1.2 M NaOH, the coated crystal could be reused three times with retention of 66% of the initial signal. The crystal has also been found to be stable for 3 days when stored at 4 °C in a dry atmosphere without appreciable loss of activity.     

A mediatorless and label-free amperometric immunosensor for detection of h-IgG

A novel experimental methodology for studying a mediatorless and label-free immunosensor is proposed by immobilizing antibody on gold nanoparticle/L-cysteine coated electrode (nano-Au/L-cysteine electrode). Differential pulse voltammograms (DPV) resulting from the assembled immunosensor indicate that the immunosensor shows excellent electrochemical response to dopamine so that the electrochemical response is utilized for the signal generation step of the immunosensor. Therefore, by means of unenzymatic-labeling procedure combined with the amperometric detection using dopamine as substrate, the immunological reaction can be detected. After the immunosensor is incubated with h-IgG solution, the access of electrocatalytic behavior center of the immunosensor to dopamine is partly inhibited, which leads to a linear decrease in amperometric response of the immunosensor with h-IgG concentration over a range 0.82-90 ng mL(-1) by DPV.     

An impedimetric immunosensor for the label-free detection of bisphenol A

Label-free detection of bisphenol A based on the impedance measurement was achieved with an impedimetric immunosensor. The immunosensor was fabricated by the covalent bond formation between a polyclonal antibody and a carboxylic acid group functionalized onto a nano-particle comprised conducting polymer. By using a commercial reagent 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) valeric acid (BHPVA), which has an analogous structure of BPA, we have prepared the antigen through the conjugation of BHPVA with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and then produced a specific polyclonal antibody. The immobilization of antibody and the interaction between antibody and antigen were studied using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) techniques. The impedance and mass changes due to the specific immuno-interaction at the sensor surface were utilized to detect antigen and bisphenol A (BPA). The immunosensor showed specific recognition of BPA with less interference than 4.5% from other common phenolic compounds. Under an optimized condition, the linear dynamic range of BPA detection was between 1 and 100 ng/ml. The detection limit of bisphenol A was determined to be 0.3+/-0.07 ng/ml. The proposed immunosensor was applied to a human serum sample and the BPA concentration was determined by the standard addition method.     

A quantum dot-based optical immunosensor for human serum albumin detection

In this study, a CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD)-based immunosensor using a simple optical system for human serum albumin (HSA) detection is developed. Monoclonal anti-HSA (AHSA) immobilized on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-modified glass was used to capture HSA specifically. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used to block non-specific sites. The solution, containing AHSA-QD complex prepared by mixing biotinylated polyclonal anti-HSA and streptavidin coated QD, was used to conjugate with the HSA molecules captured on AHSA/BSA/APTES-modified glass for the modification of HSA with QD. A simple optical system, comprising a diode laser (405 nm), an optical lens, a 515-nm-long pass filter, and an Si-photodiode, was used to detect fluorescence and convert it to photocurrent. The current intensity was determined by the amount of QD specifically conjugated with HSA, and was therefore HSA-concentration-dependent and could be used to quantify HSA concentration. The detection limit of the pure QD solution was ~3.5×10(-12) M, and the detection limit for the CdSe/ZnS QD-based immunosensor developed in this study was approximately 3.2×10(-5) mg/ml. This small optical biosensing system shows considerable potential for future applications of on-chip liver-function detection.     

Magnetic nanoparticle-based immunosensor for electrochemical detection of hepatitis B surface antigen

An electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The biotinylated hepatitis B surface antibody was immobilized on streptavidin magnetic nanoparticles and used for targeting the HBsAg. By the addition of horseradish peroxidase conjugated with secondary antibody (HRP–HBsAb), a sandwich-type immunoassay format was formed. Aminophenol as substrate for conjugated HRP was enzymatically changed into 3-aminophenoxazone (3-APZ). This electroactive enzymatic production (3-APZ) was transferred into an electrochemical cell and monitored by cyclic voltammetry. Under optimal conditions, the cathodic current response of 3-APZ, which was proportional to the HBsAg concentration, was measured by a glassy carbon electrode. The immunosensor response was linear toward HBsAg in the concentration range from 0.001 to 0.015 ng/ml with a detection limit of 0.9 pg/ml at a signal/noise ratio of 3.     

Surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for highly sensitive detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

We have examined the sensing characteristics of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunoassay for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) using an immunoreaction between 2,4,6-trinitrophenol-ovalbumin (TNP-OVA) conjugate and anti-2,4,6-trinitrophenol antibody (anti-TNP antibody). TNP-OVA conjugate was attached to a SPR-gold sensing surface by means of physical immobilization, which undergoes binding interaction with anti-TNP antibody. Both the immobilization and binding processes were studied from a change in the SPR-resonance angle. The quantification of TNT is based on the principle of indirect competitive immunoassay, in which the immunoreaction between the TNP-OVA conjugate and anti-TNP antibody was inhibited in the presence of free TNT in solution. The decrease in the resonance angle shift is proportional to an increase in concentration of TNT used for incubation. The immunoassay exhibited excellent sensitivity for the detection of TNT in the concentration range from 0.09 to 1000 ng/ml with good stability and reproducibility. The immunosensor developed could detect TNT as low as 0.09 ng/ml, within a response time of approximately 22 min. The sensor surface was regenerated by a brief flow of pepsin solution, which disrupts the antigen-antibody complex without destroying the conjugate biofilm. Cross-reactivity of the SPR sensor to some structurally related nitroaromatic derivative and the detection of TNT in the presence of these nitroaromatic compounds were investigated. The cross-reactivity of the SPR sensor to 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2A-4,6-DNT) and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4A-2,6-DNT) were very low (< or =1.1%). The analytical characteristics of the proposed immunosensor are highly promising for the development of new field-portable sensors for on-site detection of landmines.     

Impedimetric immunosensor for the specific label free detection of ciprofloxacin antibiotic

Impedance spectroscopy approaches combined with the immunosensor technology have been used for the determination of trace amounts of ciprofloxacin antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone family. The sensor electrode was based on the immobilization of anti-ciprofloxacin antibodies by chemical binding onto a poly(pyrrole-NHS) film electrogenerated on a solid gold substrate. The electrode surface was modified by electropolymerization of pyrrole-NHS, antibody grafting and ciprofloxacin immunoreaction. The sensitive steps of surface modification, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging have been used for electrode surface characterization. The immunoreaction of ciprofloxacin on the grafted anti-ciprofloxacin antibody directly triggers a signal via impedance spectroscopy measurements which allows the detection of extremely low concentration of 10 pg/ml ciprofloxacin.     

Self-assembled PEG monolayer based SPR immunosensor for label-free detection of insulin

A simple and rapid continuous-flow immunosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been developed for detection of insulin as low as 1 ng ml-1 (ppb) with a response time of less than 5 min. At first, a heterobifunctional oligo(ethyleneglycol)-dithiocarboxylic acid derivative (OEG-DCA) containing dithiol and carboxyl end groups was used to functionalize the thin Au-film of SPR chip. Insulin was covalently bound to the Au-thiolate monolayer of OEG-DCA for activating the sensor surface to immunoaffinity interactions. An on-line competitive immunosensing principle is examined for detection of insulin, in which the direct affinity binding of anti-insulin antibody to the insulin on sensor surface is examined in the presence and absence of various concentrations of insulin. Immunoreaction of anti-insulin antibody with the sensor surface was optimized with reference to antibody concentration, sample analysis time and flow-rate to provide the desired detection limit and determination range. With the immunosensor developed, the lowest detectable concentration of insulin is 1 ng ml-1 and the determination range covers a wide concentration of 1-300 ng ml-1. The developed OEG-monolayer based sensor chip exhibited high resistance to non-specific adsorption of proteins, and an uninterrupted highly sensitive detection of insulin from insulin-impregnated serum samples has been demonstrated. After an immunoreaction cycle, active sensor surface was regenerated simply by a brief flow of an acidic buffer (glycine.HCl; pH 2.0) for less than 1 min. A same sensor chip was found reusable for more than 25 cycles without an appreciable change in the original sensor activity.     

Optical flow-cell multichannel immunosensor for the detection of biological warfare agents

An automated optical flow cell multichannel immunosensor for the detection and identification of toxins, viruses and bacterial particles is presented. A solid phase ELISA, based on a peroxidase label for signal generation and on fused silica capillaries as a support for immobilized antibodies, has been employed for analyte detection and identification. The sensing and signal transducing component of the sensor consists of a light-emitting diode and a photodetector. The device is fitted with three channels allowing the simultaneous detection of three agents. An integrated flow injection analysis system ensures automation of the assay cycles. Data on the detection of the bacterial toxin staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), the bacteriophage M13 as a viral agent, and Escherichia coli as a bacterial agent are presented.     

Development of a piezoelectric immunosensor for the detection of enterobacteria.

A piezoelectric crystal immunosensor has been developed for the detection of enterobacteria in drinking water using antibodies against the enterobacterial common antigen. Applying an anti-enterobacterial antibody layer via protein A immobilization onto a 10-MHz crystal, a response is observed for 10(6) to 10(9) cells ml-1 of Escherichia coli K12, and for various other antigens of the Enterobacteriaceae family.     

Nanoporous gold film based immunosensor for label-free detection of cancer biomarker

Nanoporous gold (NPG) film modified electrode for the construction of novel label-free electrochemical immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of cancer biomarker prostate specific antigen (PSA) is described. Due to its high conductivity, large surface area, and good biocompatibility, NPG film modified electrode was used for the adsorption of anti-PSA antibody (Ab). The sensing signal is based on the monitoring of the electrode's current response towards K(3)Fe(CN)(6), which is extremely sensitive to the formation of immunocomplex within the nanoporous film. Under optimum conditions, the amperometric signal decreases linearly with PSA concentration (0.05-26 ng/mL), resulting in a low limit of detection (3 pg/mL). We demonstrated the application of the novel immunosensor for the detection of PSA in real sample with satisfactory results.     

Development of a piezoelectric immunosensor for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium.

A piezoelectric biosensor has been developed for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium. The antibody to Salmonella was immobilized on the crystal by various immobilization procedures. The best result was obtained when antibody was immobilized on the crystal precoated with a thin layer of polyethyleneimine. The response of the coated crystal for S. typhimurium in a microbial suspension was in the range of 10(5) to 10(9) cells ml-1. The time required for a complete interaction between the crystal and the cells appeared to depend upon the cell concentration of the analyzed sample. The antibody-bound crystal lost no activity over 4 days at 4 degrees C and it could be reused for 6-8 consecutive assays.