Surface plasmon resonance-based trace detection of small molecules by competitive and signal enhancement immunoreaction

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-immunosensor for detection of the low molecular weight compound 2,4-dinitorophenol (DNP) at ultra-low concentration has been developed. The sensor strategy is based on a competitive immunoreaction between DNP and a DNP-protein conjugate, namely DNP-bovine serum albumin conjugate (DNP-BSA). Anti-DNP monoclonal antibody was immobilized on a gold thin-film coated SPR-sensor chip by means of a chemical coupling process. DNP-BSA, on contact with the anti-DNP antibody immobilized SPR-immunosensor chip causes an increase in the resonance angle of the sensor chip. The optimum concentration of immobilized antibody on the SPR-sensor chip is 100 μg mL⁻¹. The SPR-immunosensor response for free DNP determination using the competitive immunoreaction had a response time of ca. 15 min. Using this method, DNP could be determined in the concentration range 1 ppt to 1 ppb. The SPR signal for ppt levels of DNP was enhanced by a factor of three by subsequently treating immuno-bound DNP-BSA with a secondary anti-DNP antibody.     

Surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for histamine based on an indirect competitive immunoreaction

The use of a surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for the analysis of histamine (β-imidazole ethylamine) is described. The method is based on an indirect competitive reaction of an anti-histamine antibody in a sample solution with histamine immobilized on a sensor chip and with histamine in the sample solution. A sensor chip immobilized with histamine was prepared using a self-assembly monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA) as an anchor membrane, followed by an amino-coupling reaction with histamine after activation of the 11-MUA layer on the sensor chip by treatment with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide. The sensor chip can be reused, after regeneration with a 10 mM HCl solution, which dissociates the anti-histamine antibody complex from histamine on the sensor chip. The affinity constants for the immunocomplex of the anti-histamine antibody with histamine in the solution and for that of the anti-histamine antibody with histamine immobilized on the sensor chip were calculated to be 1.5 × 10⁷ and 7.2 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, respectively, by assuming a Langmuir-type adsorption of the anti-histamine antibody to histamine immobilized on the sensor chip. The detection limit of the method was determined to be 3 ppb.     

A surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for detecting a dioxin precursor using a gold binding polypeptide

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based biosensor was developed for monitoring 2,4-dichlorophenol, a known dioxin precursor, using an indirect competitive immunoassay. The SPR sensor was fabricated by immobilizing a gold-thin layer on the surface of an SPR sensor chip with an anti-(2,4-dichlorophenol) antibody using a gold binding polypeptide (GBP) and protein G. The SPR response based on the antigen-antibody reaction in a flow system was measured by injecting a 2,4-dichlorophenol sample solution into the flow system in which the SPR sensor was located. In a direct immunoassay system using the modified sensor chip, no significant SPR angle shift less than 0.001° was observed when a 25 ppm of 2,4-dichlorophenol solution was injected. In order to improve the sensitivity of the SPR sensor, an indirect competitive immunoassay method was used in conjunction with the SPR sensor system using 2,4-dichlorophenol conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA). In the competitive assay, a 350 ppm 2,4-dichlorophenol-BSA conjugate solution containing 2,4-dichlorophenol at various concentrations (10-250 ppb) were injected into the SPR sensor system. The sensitivity of this indirect immunoassay was found to be extremely sensitive, compared to the direct one, and a detection limit of 20 ppb was estimated. Verification that the use of GBP for immobilizing the antibody on the sensor chip enhanced the sensitivity to 2,4-dichlorophenol was obtained by comparing the procedure with another modification, in which BSA was used instead of GBP for immobilizing the antibody on the sensor chip. The affinity constant of 2,4-dichlorophenol and its conjugate to the antibody were estimated form the SPR response.     

Preparation and characterization of a polyclonal antibody from rabbit for detection of trinitrotoluene by a surface plasmon resonance biosensor

A polyclonal antibody against trinitrophenyl (TNP) derivatives was raised in rabbit, and the antibody was applied to detection of trinitrotoluene (TNT) using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. TNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanine (TNP-KLH) conjugate was injected into a rabbit, and a polyclonal anti-TNP antibody was realized after purification of the sera using protein G. Aspects of the anti-TNP antibody against various nitroaromatic compounds, such as cross-reactivities and affinities, were characterized. The temperature dependence of the affinity between the anti-TNP antibody and TNT was also evaluated. The quantification of TNT was based on the principle of indirect competitive immunoassay, in which the immunoreaction between the TNP-β-alanine-ovalbumin (TNP-β-ala-OVA) and anti-TNP antibody was inhibited in the presence of free TNT in solution. TNP-β-ala-OVA was immobilized to the dextran matrix on the Au surface by amine coupling. The addition of a mixture of free TNT to the anti-TNP antibody was found to decrease the incidence angle shift due to the inhibitory effect of TNT. The immunoassay exhibited excellent sensitivity for the detection of TNT in the concentration range of 3 × 10⁻¹¹ to 3 × 10⁻⁷ g/ml. To increase the sensitivity of the sensor, anti-rabbit IgG antibody was used. After flowing the mixture of free TNT and anti-TNP antibody, anti-rabbit IgG antibody was injected, and the incidence angle shift was measured. Amplification of the signal was observed and the detection limit was improved to 1 × 10⁻¹¹ g/ml.     

Comparative surface plasmon resonance and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay characterisation of a monoclonal antibody with N-acyl homoserine lactones

This study shows the detection of (N-acyl) homoserine lactones (AHLs or HSL) with monoclonal antibodies via a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based immunosensor in comparison to conventional microtiter plate-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An HSL derivative, named HSL2 (Table 1), was attached to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the conjugate (HSL2-BSA-r2) was either covalently immobilised on the SPR sensor chip surface via free amino groups or via adsorption on the ELISA polystyrene plate surface. With a newly developed rat monoclonal antibody (mAb HSL1/2 2C10), AHLs were detected sensitively in a competitive format with SPR and ELISA. Well comparable experiments between SPR and ELISA could be obtained in buffers. Moreover, the SPR sensor surface with the immobilised conjugate HSL2-BSA-r2 could be regenerated at least 340 times (regeneration cycles) without loss of activity. The measurement time per cycle was approximately 15 min. The competitive detection format for SPR and ELISA allowed the detection in the μg L⁻¹ range.     

Detection of microcystins in environmental samples using surface plasmon resonance biosensor

An indirect inhibitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunoassay was developed for the microcystins (MCs) detection. The bioconjugate of MC-LR and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was immobilized on a CM5 sensor chip. A serial premixture of MC-LR standards (or samples) and monoclonal antibody (mAb) were injected over the functional sensor surface, and the subsequent specific immunoreaction was monitored on the BIAcore 3000 biosensor and generated a signal with an increasing intensity in response to the decreasing MCs concentration. The developed SPR immunoassay has a wide quantitative range in 1-100 μg L⁻¹. Although not as sensitive as conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the SPR biosensor offered unique advantages: (1) the sensor chip could be reusable without any significant loss in its binding activity after 50 assay-regeneration cycles, (2) one single assay could be accomplished in 50 min (including 30-min preincubation and 20-min BIAcore analysis), and (3) this method did not require multiple steps. The SPR biosensor was also used to detect MCs in environmental samples, and the results compared well with those obtained by ELISA. We conclude that the SPR biosensor offers outstanding advantages for the MCs detection and may be further developed as a field-portable sensor for real-time monitoring of MCs on site in the near future.     

Surface Plasmon Resonance Immunosensor for Anionic Surfactants Based on an Indirect Competitive Immunoreaction

Abstract

A highly sensitive surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for the determination of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) was fabricated. The method is based on an indirect competitive reaction of an anti‐LAS antibody in a sample solution with LAS immobilized on a sensor chip and with LAS in the sample solution. A sensor chip immobilized with LAS was prepared by utilizing an electrostatic interaction between an LAS conjugate, LAS–horseradish peroxidase (LAS‐HRP), and a self‐assembled monolayer of 11‐amino‐1‐undecanethiol hydrochloride, which was preliminary prepared on a gold thin film of the sensor chip. The quantitative determination of LAS in the concentration range 10–1000 ppb was achieved by using the proposed immunosensor.     

Fabrication of a novel immunosensor using functionalized self-assembled monolayer for trace level detection of TNT by surface plasmon resonance

We have developed a new immunosensor based on self-assembly chemistry for highly sensitive and label-free detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). A monolayer of amine terminated poly(ethylene glycol) hydrazinehydrochloride (PEG-NH₂) thiolate was constructed on an activated gold surface and immobilized with trinitrophenyl-β-alanine (TNPh-β-alanine) by amide coupling method. The binding interaction of a monoclonal anti-TNT Ab (M-TNT Ab) with TNPh-β-alanine immobilized thiolate monolayer surface was monitored and evaluated for detection of TNT based on the principle of indirect competitive immunoreaction. Here, the competition between the self-assembled TNT derivative and the TNT in solution for binding with antibody yields in the response signal that is inversely proportional to the concentration of TNT in the linear detection range. With the present immunoassay format, TNT could be detected in the concentration range from 0.008 ng/ml (8 ppt) to 30 ng/ml (30 ppb). The response time for an immunoreaction was 2 min and one immunocycle could be done with in 4 min including surface regeneration. Bound antibodies could be easily eluted from the self-assembled immunosurface at high recoveries (more than 100 cycles) using pepsin solution without any damage to the TNT derivatives immobilized on the surface. The compact self-assembled monolayer was highly stable and prevented the non-specific adsorption of proteins on the surface favoring error free measurement.     

A self-assembled fusion protein-based surface plasmon resonance biosensor for rapid diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor was developed for simple diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) using a protein created by genetically fusing gold binding polypeptides (GBPs) to a SARS coronaviral surface antigen (SCVme). The GBP domain of the fusion protein serves as an anchoring component onto the gold surface, exploiting the gold binding affinity of the domain, whereas the SCVme domain is a recognition element for anti-SCVme antibody, the target analyte in this study. SPR analysis indicated the fusion protein simply and strongly self-immobilized onto the gold surface, through GBP, without surface chemical modification, offering a stable and specific sensing platform for anti-SCVme detection. AFM and SPR imaging analyses demonstrated that anti-SCVme specifically bound to the fusion protein immobilized onto the gold-micropatterned chip, implying that appropriate orientation of bound fusion protein by GBP resulted in optimal exposure of the SCVme domain to the assay solution, resulting in efficient capture of anti-SCVme antibody. The best packing density of the fusion protein onto the SPR chip was achieved at the concentration of 10 μg mL⁻¹; this density showed the highest detection response (906 RU) for anti-SCVme. The fusion protein-coated SPR chip at the best packing density had a lower limit of detection of 200 ng mL⁻¹ anti-SCVme within 10 min and also allowed selective detection of anti-SCVme with significantly low responses for non-specific mouse IgG at all tested concentrations. The fusion protein provides a simple and effective method for construction of SPR sensing platforms permitting sensitive and selective detection of anti-SCVme antibody.     

Surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for IgE analysis using two types of anti-IgE antibodies with different active recognition sites.

A simple and novel method for the determination of an IgE antibody based on a surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for the diagnosis of an allergy is described. The method involves the use of an anti-IgE(D) antibody and an anti-IgE(H) antibody, which reacts with the Ce2 domain and the Ce3 domain of the IgE antibody. The anti-IgE(D) antibody was immobilized on the gold surface of a sensor chip by physical adsorption. An IgE antibody sample was incubated by adding it to an anti-IgE(H) antibody solution to form an anti-IgE(H) immunocomplex through a reaction of the Ce3 domain of the IgE antibody. The incubated solution was introduced onto the sensor chip and the immunocomplex of the IgE-anti-IgE(H) then reacted with the anti-IgE(D) antibody immobilized on the sensor chip through the Ce2 domain of the IgE antibody part of the IgE-anti-IgE(H) immunocomplex. The detection limit of the present method for the determination of the IgE antibody was about 10 ppb. The affinity constants for the anti-IgE(H) antibody immunocomplex with the IgE antibody in solution and that of the anti-IgE(H) antibody immunocomplex with the IgE antibody immobilized on the sensor chip by a biotin-streptavidin interaction were estimated to be 4.1 x 10(7) M(-1) and 5.8 x 10(6) M(-1), respectively. The affinity constant for the immunocomplex of the anti-IgE(H) antibody with the IgE antibody with the anti-IgE(D) immobilized on the sensor chip was estimated to be 4.9 x 10(7) M(-1), 20-times larger than the affinity constant for the IgE antibody immunocomplex with the anti-IgE(D) antibody immobilized on the sensor chip, based on a direct immunoassay method of the IgE antibody under the same experimental conditions.     

Polyglycerol based coatings to reduce non-specific protein adsorption in sample vials and on SPR sensors

Coatings based on dendritic polyglycerol (dPG) were investigated for their use to control nonspecific protein adsorption in an assay targeted to analyze concentrations of a specific protein. We demonstrate that coating of the sample vial with dPG can significantly increase the recovery of an antibody after incubation. First, we determine the concentration dependent loss of an antibody due to nonspecific adsorption to glass via quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Complementary to the QCM measurements, we applied the same antibody as analyte in an surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay to determine the loss of analyte due to nonspecific adsorption to the sample vial. For this purpose, we used two different coatings based on dPG. For the first coating, which served as a matrix for the SPR sensor, carboxyl groups were incorporated into dPG as well as a dithiolane moiety enabling covalent immobilization to the gold sensor surface. This SPR-matrix exhibited excellent protein resistant properties and allowed the immobilization of amyloid peptides via amide bond formation. The second coating which was intended to prevent nonspecific adsorption to glass vials comprised a silyl moiety that allowed covalent grafting to glass. For demonstrating the impact of the vial coating on the accuracy of an SPR assay, we immobilized amyloid beta (Aβ) 1-40 and used an anti-Aβ 1-40 antibody as analyte. Alternate injection of analyte into the flow cell of the SPR device from uncoated and coated vials, respectively gave us the relative signal loss (1 − RU_uncoated/RU_coated) caused by the nonspecific adsorption. We found that the relative signal loss increases with decreasing analyte concentration. The SPR data correlate well with concentration dependent non-specific adsorption experiments of the analyte to glass surfaces performed with QCM. Our measurements show that rendering both the sample vial and the sensor surface is crucial for accurate results in protein assays.     

Continuous Immunoassay for Sulfamethazine by Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensor

Regeneration of the sensor chip surface is difficult in many surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor assays. Improper regeneration will reduce life span of the sensor chip and decrease the quality of the data. Considering the advantages of reducing the regeneration frequency, a theoretically feasible continuous SPR biosensor immunoassay for sulfamethazine (SMT) was developed. In the continuous inhibitive immunoassay, the sensor chip surface is regenerated only once after a definite number of tests instead of every test. The SMT-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate was covalently immobilized to a carboxymethyldextran modified gold film. The immobilization conditions of the antigen were studied and the working dilution of the antibody was optimized. The antibody was mixed with SMT of different concentrations prepared with PBS buffer to construct the calibration curve. The limit of detection was 0.5 ng mL^?1. The continuous SPR biosensor assay was proved to be simpler and more practical than a normal one.     

Sensitive detection of glycyrrhizin and evaluation of the affinity constants by a surface plasmon resonance-based immunosensor.

A sensitive and selective determination of glycyrrhizin (GC) based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was performed by using an anti-GC monoclonal antibody (GC-MAb) and GC-bovine serum albumin (GC-BSA) conjugate (antigen). GC-BSA was immobilized on an Au thin film of the SPR sensor chip by physical adsorption, and GC determinations were performed by an indirect competitive method. The addition of GC into the GC-MAb solution (5 microg/ml) was found to decrease the incident-angle shift sharply because of an inhibition effect of GC. The RSDs (n = 3) of each point were less than 4%. The lowest detection limit for GC by SPR was almost the same as that by ELISA, 60-75 ng/ml. An evaluation of the affinity constant between GC-MAb and GC using the data from ELISA and those from SPR measurements was performed. The values of the association constant (KA) from three different analyses of ELISA data and from SPR measurements are discussed in detail. As a whole, the affinity constant (KA) between GC-MAb and GC was on the order of 10(7) M(-1).     

Development of a sensitive surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for detection of 2,4-dinitrotoluene with a novel oligo (ethylene glycol)-based sensor surface

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor for detection of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), which is a signature compound of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene-related explosives, was developed by using a novel oligo (ethylene glycol) (OEG)-based sensor surface. A rabbit polyclonal antibody against 2,4-DNT (anti-DNPh-KLH-400 antibody) was prepared, and the avidity for 2,4-DNT and recognition capability were investigated by indirect competitive ELISA. The sensor surface was fabricated by immobilizing a 2,4-DNT analog onto an OEG-based self-assembled monolayer formed on a gold surface via an OEG linker. The fabricated surface was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared-refractive absorption spectrometry (FTIR-RAS). The immunosensing of 2,4-DNT is based on the indirect competitive principle, in which the immunoreaction between the anti-DNPh-KLH-400 antibody and 2,4-DNT on the sensor surface was inhibited in the presence of free 2,4-DNT in solution. The limit of detection for the immunosensor, calculated as three times the standard deviation of a blank value, was 20 pg mL⁻¹, and the linear dynamic range was found to be between 1 and 100 ng mL⁻¹. Additionally, the fabricated OEG-based surface effectively prevented non-specific adsorption of proteins, and the specific response to anti-DNPh-KLH-400 antibody was maintained for more than 30 measurement cycles.     

Sensitive and real-time fiber-optic-based surface plasmon resonance sensors for myoglobin and cardiac troponin I

A sensor to detect markers of cardiac muscle cell death at less than 3 ng ml⁻¹ and in less than 10 min has been achieved. This fiber-optic-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is being applied to detect myoglobin (MG) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in HEPES buffered saline solution. An in vivo sensor for the early detection of the onset of myocardial infarction (MI) will greatly enhance the patient care. MG and cTnI are two biological markers released from dying cardiac muscle cells during an MI, and their detection at biologically-relevant levels can be diagnostic of MI. Antibodies specific to an antigen of interest are attached to a carboxymethylated dextran layer on a gold SPR surface. With the method developed, the lower limit of detection (LOD) for MG is 2.9 ng ml⁻¹ at 25 °C. The biological level for MG reaches 15-30 ng ml⁻¹ in patient blood after myocardial damage. A Langmuir adsorption isotherm describes the binding well. For cTnI, a lower detection limit of 1.4 ng ml⁻¹ was achieved in preliminary tests. cTnI levels are in the range of 1-3 ng ml⁻¹ in patient blood after myocardial damage. The antibody reaction with the carboxymethylated dextran surface was optimized by modifying the reaction pH, the temperature, and the dextran chain length.     

Surface characterization and efficiency of a matrix-free and flat carboxylated gold sensor chip for surface plasmon resonance (SPR)

We report the preparation and characterization of a matrix-free carboxylated surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor chip with high sensing efficiency by functionalizing a bare gold thin film with a self-assembled monolayer of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (SAM–MHDA chip). The self assembled monolayer surface coverage of the gold layer was carefully evaluated and the SAM was characterized by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray reflectivity-diffraction, and SPR experiments with bovine serum albumin. We compared the SPR signal obtained on this chip made of a dense monolayer of carboxylic acid groups with commercially available carboxylated sensor chips built on the same gold substrate, a matrix-free C1 chip, and a CM5 chip with a ~100 nm dextran hydrogel matrix (GE Healthcare). Two well-studied interaction types were tested, the binding of a biotinylated antibody (immunoglobulin G) to streptavidin and an antigen–antibody interaction. For both interactions, the well characterized densely functionalized SAM–MHDA chip gave a high signal-to-noise ratio and showed a gain in the availability of immobilized ligands for their partners injected in buffer flow. It thus compared favourably with commercially available sensor chips.     

Highly sensitive detection of human cardiac myoglobin using a reverse sandwich immunoassay with a gold nanoparticle-enhanced surface plasmon resonance biosensor

A highly sensitive reverse sandwich immunoassay for the detection of human cardiac myoglobin (cMb) in serum was designed utilizing a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. First, a monoclonal anti-cMb antibody (Mab1) was covalently immobilized on the sensor surface. AuNPs were covalently conjugated to the second monoclonal anti-cMb antibody (Mab2) to form an immuno-gold reagent (Mab2-AuNP). The reverse sandwich immunoassay consists of two steps: (1) mixing the serum sample with Mab2-AuNP and incubation for the formation of cMb/Mab2-AuNP complexes and (2) sample injection over the sensor surface and evaluation of the Mab1/cMb/Mab2-AuNP complex formation, with the subsequent calculation of the cMb concentration in the serum. The biosensor signal was amplified approximately 30-fold compared with the direct reaction of cMb with Mab1 on the sensor surface. The limit of detection of cMb in a human blood serum sample was found to be as low as 10 pM (approx. 0.18 ng mL⁻¹), and the inter-assay coefficient of variation was less than 3%. Thus, the developed SPR-based reverse sandwich immunoassay has a sensitivity that is sufficient to measure cMb across a wide range of normal and pathological concentrations, allowing an adequate estimation of the disease severity and the monitoring of treatment.     

A surface plasmon resonance probe without optical fibers as a portable sensing device

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor integrating a small sensor probe, a laser emission diode, a photo detector, and a polarizer was developed as a portable sensing device. The sensor probe was made with a glass cylinder, 50 mm long and 1.5 mm in diameter, that was connected directly to a beam splitter without optical fibers. The SPR spectrum obtained with this probe system showed a 10% reflectivity minimum at 690 nm. Shifts of the SPR spectrum induced by refractive index (RI) changes in the sample were measured by detecting the reflection light intensity at 670 nm. When the sensitivity was compared using a BIAcore™ SPR instrument, the lowest sensor response of 1 mV observed with the SPR probe system coincided with 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ of the RI changes. The RI resolution of the SPR probe was estimated with experimentally evaluated noise on the signal, and, consequently, it was concluded that the RI resolution was 1.2 × 10⁻⁵. Moreover, immunoreaction was demonstrated with adsorbed bovine serum albumin (BSA) and anti-BSA antibody as an analyte. As a result, 50 ng mL⁻¹ of the lower detection limit was estimated.     

Enhanced sensitivity of self-assembled-monolayer-based SPR immunosensor for detection of benzaldehyde using a single-step multi-sandwich immunoassay

This paper describes the fabrication and sensing characteristics of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor for detection of benzaldehyde (BZ). The functional sensing surface was fabricated by the immobilization of a benzaldehyde–ovalbumin conjugate (BZ–OVA) on Au-thiolate SAMs containing carboxyl end groups. Covalent binding of BZ–OVA on SAM was found to be dependent on the composition of the base SAM, and it is improved very much with the use of a mixed monolayer strategy. Based on SPR angle measurements, the functional sensor surface is established as a compact monolayer of BZ–OVA bound on the mixed SAM. The BZ–OVA-bound sensor surface undergoes immunoaffinity binding with anti-benzaldehyde antibody (BZ-Ab) selectively. An indirect inhibition immunoassay principle has been applied, in which analyte benzaldehyde solution was incubated with an optimal concentration of BZ-Ab for 5 min and injected over the sensor chip. Analyte benzaldehyde undergoes immunoreaction with BZ-Ab and makes it inactive for binding to BZ–OVA on the sensor chip. As a result, the SPR angle response decreases with an increase in the concentration of benzaldehyde. The fabricated immunosensor demonstrates a low detection limit (LDL) of 50 ppt (pg mL⁻¹) with a response time of 5 min. Antibodies bound to the sensor chip during an immunoassay could be detached by a brief exposure to acidic pepsin. With this surface regeneration, reusability of the same sensor chip for as many as 30 determination cycles has been established. Sensitivity has been enhanced further with the application of an additional single-step multi-sandwich immunoassay step, in which the BZ-Ab bound to the sensor chip was treated with a mixture of biotin-labeled secondary antibody, streptavidin and biotin–bovine serum albumin (Bio–BSA) conjugate. With this approach, the SPR sensor signal increased by ca. 12 times and the low detection limit improved to 5 ppt with a total response time of no more than ca. 10 min. Figure A single-step multi-sandwich immunoassay step increases SPR sensor signal by ca. 12 times affording a low detection limit for benzaldehyde of 5 ppt     

Quantitation of intracellular recombinant human superoxide dismutase using surface plasmon resonance

An immunosensor assay for the quantitation of intracellular recombinant human superoxide dismutase (rhSOD) in Escherichia coli cultivations based on detection with surface plasmon resoance (SPR) is described. A monoclonal antibody for rhSOD was immobilized on a SPR dextran gold chip. Bacterial samples were sonicated and centrifugated prior to injection over the antibody chip for SPR detection. The assay time was 7 min and allowed quantitation in the range of 1-64 nM SOD in lysate samples with a precision of 1.1-3.4%. The assay was applied to monitor the concentration of rhSOD during E. coli bioreactor cultivations where the rhSOD production was induced by iso-propyl-b-d-thiogalactoside (IPTG). The assay allowed accurate monitoring of the production of rhSOD where the important phases in the product formation were possible to see. The report also discusses influence from sample preparation, SPR selectivity and sensitivity and quantitation limits. The assay proved to be fast, sensitive and accurate with low background effects from the dextran matrix of the SPR chip.