Synthesis and characterization of Au nanoshells with a magnetic core and betaine derivatives.

The article describes preparation, characterization and further modification of hybrid magnetic particles (Au nanoshells with a magnetic core (MPs@silica@Au)) by zwitterionic molecules bearing diazonium functional groups. Such hybrid magnetic particles modified by zwitterionic molecules exhibit the following features: •Responsiveness towards external magnetic field applicable for various enrichment strategies due to magnetic core;•Golden outer layer exhibiting free surface plasmons could be used for grafting of zwitterionic molecules via diazonium functionality;•Zwitterionic interface on such particles provides resistivity towards non-specific protein binding; and at the same time such interface was applied for immobilization of antibodies against prostate specific antigen (PSA) applied for selective enrichment of PSA from serum samples with subsequent electrochemical assays. The approach presented here using hybrid magnetic particles can be easily applied for immobilization of antibodies using a highly robust surface patterning protocols i.e. by formation of a self-assembled monolayer with delivery of functional groups on the outer surface of magnetic particles. Hybrid magnetic particles with immobilized antibodies are applied for highly efficient and quick separation of protein of interest i.e. PSA from complex sample. Finally, hybrid magnetic particles with "fished-out" protein molecules could be incubated with lectins to form a sandwich configuration for glycoprofiling of PSA.

Advanced impedimetric biosensor configuration and assay protocol for glycoprofiling of a prostate oncomarker using Au nanoshells with a magnetic core.

In this paper several advances were implemented for glycoprofiling of prostate specific antigen (PSA), what can be applied for better prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostics in the future: 1) application of Au nanoshells with a magnetic core (MP@silica@Au); 2) use of surface plasmons of Au nanoshells with a magnetic core for spontaneous immobilization of zwitterionic molecules via diazonium salt grafting; 3) a double anti-fouling strategy with integration of zwitterionic molecules on Au surface and on MP@silica@Au particles was implemented to resist non-specific protein binding; 4) application of anti-PSA antibody modified Au nanoshells with a magnetic core for enrichment of PSA from a complex matrix of a human serum; 5) direct incubation of anti-PSA modified MP@silica@Au with affinity bound PSA to the lectin modified electrode surface. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) signal was enhanced 43 times integrating Au nanoshells with a magnetic core compared to the biosensor without them. This proof-of-concept study shows that the biosensor could detect PSA down to 1.2 fM and at the same time to glycoprofile such low PSA concentration using a lectin patterned biosensor device. The biosensor offers a recovery index of 108%, when serum sample was spiked with a physiological concentration of PSA (3.5 ng mL-1).