We
report here a low-cost electrochemical immunoarray with unprecedented
sensitivity in the sub-zeptomole range with up to 5 log-decades dynamic
range for accurate, multiplexed protein determinations. The microfluidic
array features eight carbon sensors coated with a dense layer of 5
nm gold-nanoparticles derivatized with primary antibodies. Analyte
proteins are captured by secondary antibody-poly-HPR (horseradish
peroxidase) bioconjugates containing 400 HRP enzyme labels, with amplified
amperometric peaks developed using H2O2 activator
and hydroquinone mediator. Prostate cancer biomarkers prostate specific
antigen (PSA), vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D), ETS-related
gene protein (ERG), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were
measured simultaneously with sub-fg/mL LODs (0.08–0.22 zmol).
These proteins were determined in serum of postprostatectomy cancer
patients which had much lower levels than prostate cancer patients
without surgery. This immunoassay protocol makes thousands of low-abundance
proteins accessible to quantitative measurements down to zeptomole
levels.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.