Ultra-sensitive immunosensor for beta-amyloid (1-42) using scanning tunneling microscopy-based electrical detection

Biosens Bioelectron. 2009 Jan 1;24(5):1431-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2008.08.018. Epub 2008 Aug 22.

Abstract

An ultra-sensitive immunosensor for beta-amyloid is crucial because beta-amyloid is an important challenging marker to detect for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, a vertically configured electrical detection system was developed based on scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to detect antigen-antibody binding events. This technique could be used to easily construct a multiple measurement system in a biochip. We utilized immunocomplexes comprised of the model protein, beta-amyloid (1-42), corresponding antibody fragments, and gold (Au) nanoparticles-antibody conjugates for an immunosensor for Alzheimer's disease. The electrical tunneling current between the STM tip and these complexes exhibited a peak-like pulse, the frequency of which depended on the density of the bound complexes on the surface. We could therefore quantitatively measure beta-amyloid (1-42) concentrations as low as 10fg/mL using periodogram analysis of the peak frequency. Since this method accurately quantified much smaller amounts of beta-amyloid (1-42) than traditional immunosensors, this system shows promise as an ultra-sensitive immunodetection method.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / analysis*
  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Electrochemistry / instrumentation*
  • Electrochemistry / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Immunoassay / instrumentation*
  • Immunoassay / methods
  • Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / methods
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)