We describe a new biosensor immunoassay involving optical diffraction to detect clinically important analytes in human body fluids. A silicon wafer is used as a support for immobilization of antigen or antibody. The protein-coated surface is illuminated through a photo mask to create distinct periodic areas of active and inactive protein. When the surface is incubated with a positive sample, antigen-antibody binding occurs only on the active areas. Upon illumination with a light source such as a laser, the resulting biological diffraction grating diffracts the light. A negative sample does not result in diffraction because no antigen-antibody binding occurs to create the diffraction grating. The presence or absence of a diffraction signal differentiates between positive and negative samples, and the intensity of the signal provides a quantitative measure of the analyte concentration. The technique is demonstrated with a quantitative assay of choriogonadotropin in serum.

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Selective N-acylation of aminoglycoside antibiotics with the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of methyldithioacetic acid, followed by reaction with methanethiol or dithioerythritol, gives sulfhydryl labeled antibiotics. Alternatively, the nucleophilic sulfhydryl group is incorporated into an antibiotic by treatment with N-acetyl-d,l-homocysteine thiolactone. These derivatives couple readily with proteins that have previously been modified with bromoacetylglycyl groups to provide conjugates for use in the development of homogeneous enzyme immunoassays.

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We describe the use of a solid-phase immunofluorescence method (FIAX system) for measuring drug concentrations, specifically gentamicin, in serum or plasma. Antibody to gentamicin is immobilized on a polymeric surface. This Sampler is immersed in a mixture of serum standard or unknown and a buffered solution of fluorescent-labeled gentamicin. After 30 min, the fluorescence of the specifically bound labeled gentamicin is measured with a fluorometer. The assay detects gentamicin in concentrations as low as 50 mug/L. It is specific for gentamicin, cross reactivity to some other therapeutic drugs, except netilmicin and sisomicin, being low. Results by this assay compare well with those by a radioimmunoassay (r = 0.94) and a radioenzymic assay (r = 0.95). The assay is specific, economical, simply performed, requires little pipetting, and does not involve the use of radioisotopes.