Optimization of Antibody-Conjugated Magnetic Nanoparticles for Target Preconcentration and Immunoassays

Biosensors based on antibody recognition have a wide range of monitoring applications that apply to clinical environmental, homeland security, and food problems. In an effort to improve the limit of detection of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Array Biosensor, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were designed and tested using a fluorescence-based array biosensor. A full optimization study of the antibody-modified MNPs and their use in the biosensor was performed. The results demonstrate the impact of magnetic extraction using the MNPs labeled with fluorescent proteins both for target preconcentration and for subsequent integration into immunoassays performed under flow conditions for enhanced signal generation.
Published in Analytical Biochemistry, 2010. Prepared in collaboration with University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, GA; and George Mason University, Manassas, VA.