Magneto immuno-PCR: a novel immunoassay based on biogenic magnetosome nanoparticles

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Jun 1;357(2):391-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.03.156. Epub 2007 Apr 3.

Abstract

We describe an innovative modification of the Immuno-PCR technology for automatable high sensitive antigen detection. The Magneto Immuno-PCR (M-IPCR) is based on antibody-functionalized biogenic magnetosome nanoparticles revealing major advantages over synthetic magnetic particles. The general principle of the M-IPCR is similar to that of a two-sided (sandwich) immunoassay. However, antibody-functionalized magnetosome conjugates were employed for the immobilization and magnetic enrichment of the signal generating detection complex enabling the establishment of a surface independent immunoassay. To this end, the M-IPCR was carried out by simultaneously tagging the antigen with the reagent for read-out, i.e., a conjugate comprising the specific antibody and DNA fragments, in the presence of the antibody-functionalized magnetosomes. To demonstrate the general functionality of the M-IPCR, the detection of recombinant Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) in human serum was established. We observed a detection limit of 320pg/ml of HBsAg using the M-IPCR, which was about 100-fold more sensitive than the analogous Magneto-ELISA, established in parallel for comparison purposes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Systems
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Immunomagnetic Separation / methods*
  • Magnetics*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*