Homogeneous assay of target molecules based on chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) using DNAzyme-linked aptamers.

We have designed a single-stranded DNAzyme-aptamer sensor for homogeneous target molecular detection based on chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET). The structure of the engineered single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) includes the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-like DNAzyme, optimum-length linker (10-mer-length DNA), and target-specific aptamer sequences. A quencher dye was modified at the 3' end of the aptamer sequence. The incorporation of hemin into the G-quadruplex structure of DNAzyme yields an active HRP-like activity that catalyzes luminol to generate a chemiluminescence (CL) signal. In the presence of target molecules, such as ochratoxin A (OTA), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), or thrombin, the aptamer sequence was folded due to the formation of the aptamer/analyte complex, which induced the quencher dye close to the DNAzyme structure. Consequently, the CRET occurred between a DNAzyme-catalyzed chemiluminescence reaction and the quencher dye. Our results showed that CRET-based DNAzyme-aptamer biosensing enabled specific OTA analysis with a limit of detection of 0.27ng/mL. The CRET platform needs no external light source and avoids autofluorescence and photobleaching, and target molecules can be detected specifically and sensitively in a homogeneous manner.

An automatic enzyme immunoassay based on a chemiluminescent lateral flow immunosensor.

Microfluidic integrated enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) sensors are efficient systems for point-of-care testing (POCT). However, such systems are not only relatively expensive but also require a complicated manufacturing process. Therefore, additional fluidic control systems are required for the implementation of EIAs in a lateral flow immunosensor (LFI) strip sensor. In this study, we describe a novel LFI for EIA, the use of which does not require additional steps such as mechanical fluidic control, washing, or injecting. The key concept relies on a delayed-release effect of chemiluminescence substrates (luminol enhancer and hydrogen peroxide generator) by an asymmetric polysulfone membrane (ASPM). When the ASPM was placed between the nitrocellulose (NC) membrane and the substrate pad, substrates encapsulated in the substrate pad were released after 5.3 ± 0.3 min. Using this delayed-release effect, we designed and implemented the chemiluminescent LFI-based automatic EIA system, which sequentially performed the immunoreaction, pH change, substrate release, hydrogen peroxide generation, and chemiluminescent reaction with only 1 sample injection. In a model study, implementation of the sensor was validated by measuring the high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level in human serum.

Detection of Bax protein conformational change using a surface plasmon resonance imaging-based antibody chip.

We describe an antibody chip technology that uses a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging system to examine the conformational change of a protein. In this study, we used Bax protein, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, as a model protein to investigate the conformational alteration triggered by a TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a potent inducer of apoptosis. To develop the antibody chip for detecting the Bax conformational change, we immobilized Bax monoclonal antibody 6A7, which recognizes only a conformationally changed Bax protein on a gold surface. The resultant immobilized Bax antibodies provided specific and accurate measurements of the active conformation-specific epitope in the apoptotic cancer cells treated with the TRAIL; these measurements corresponded to the data obtained by immunoprecipitation analysis using an active conformation-specific Bax antibody (6A7). The results of our study indicated that TRAIL-induced Bax structural change could be monitored quickly and simply using an SPR imaging system, thus demonstrating the potential for using such a system for the analysis of conformational properties of target proteins.