Anodic-stripping voltammetric immunoassay for ultrasensitive detection of low-abundance proteins using quantum dot aggregated hollow microspheres

A new anodic-stripping voltammetric immunoassay protocol for detection of IgG1, as a model protein, was designed by using CdS quantum dot (QD) layer-by-layer assembled hollow microspheres (QDHMS) as molecular tags. Initially, monoclonal anti-human IgG1 specific antibodies were anchored on amorphous magnetic beads preferably selective to capture F_ab of IgG1 analyte from the sample. For detection, monoclonal anti-human IgG1 (F _c-specific) antibodies were covalently coupled to the synthesized QDHMS. In a sandwich-type immunoassay format, subsequent anodic-stripping voltammetric detection of cadmium released under acidic conditions from the coupled QDs was conducted at an in situ prepared mercury film electrode. The immunoassay combines highly efficient magnetic separation with signal amplification by the multilayered QD labels. The dynamic concentration range spanned from 1.0 fg mL^-1 to 1.0 μg mL^-1 of IgG1 with a detection limit of 0.1 fg mL^-1. The electrochemical immunoassay showed good reproducibility, selectivity, and stability. The analysis of clinical serum specimens revealed good accordance with the results obtained by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The new immunoassay is promising for enzyme-free, and cost-effective analysis of low-abundance biomarkers. A sandwich-type immunoassay for ultrasensitive detection of low-abundance proteins was developed by using mAb₂-functionalized quantum dot aggregated hollow microspheres (QDHMS), as tags on an mAb₁-functionalized magnetic-bead (MB)-based platform. In the immunoassay, square-wave anodic-stripping voltammetric (SWASV) detection of Cd released under acidic conditions from the coupled QDs was conducted.