A protein nanofiber hydrogel for sensitive immunoassays

Analyst. 2013 Sep 7;138(17):4786-94. doi: 10.1039/c3an00564j. Epub 2013 Jul 12.

Abstract

Amyloid-like protein nanofibers were assembled in vitro using a recombinant protein fusion, with yeast Sup35 and human SSB/La proteins as assembly units, where the length of the nanofibers was mostly between 100 and 400 nm. The protein nanofibers, hereafter referred to as Sup35-based protein nanofiber probes (SuPNPs), were used to sensitively detect anti-SSB/La antibodies [Sjögren's syndrome (SS)-specific marker]. After, the SuPNPs were vinylated and subsequently linked to acrylamide. The polymerization reaction with acrylamide formed a SuPNP-hydrogel with uniform porosity, where the SuPNPs were directly cross-linked to polyacrylamide. Alternatively, biotinylated SuPNPs (bt-SuPNP) were attached to a streptavidin-hydrogel, resulting in the formation of a bt-SuPNP-hydrogel. When both the SuPNP-hydrogel and bt-SuPNP-hydrogel were used as 3D assay platforms for the detection of anti-SSB/La antibodies in a buffer solution, the LODs (limit of detection) were found to be 10 pM for both, showing 100-fold enhancement in sensitivity compared to conventional 2D polystyrene (PS) plate-based assays. It seems that the exposed surface and uniform distribution of the SuPNPs within the 3D space of the porous hydrogel matrix interacted more effectively with the anti-SSB/La antibodies, leading to more sensitive detection. The equal sensitivity demonstrated by the SuPNP- and bt-SuPNP-hydrogels above indicates that the target binding activity of the SuPNPs remains unchanged when either directly cross-linked to the hydrogel or indirectly immobilized to the hydrogel via streptavidin. When used to detect anti-SSB/La antibodies in human serum, the SuPNP-hydrogel is 1000 times more sensitive than a 2D PS plate. It seems that non-specific adsorption of the serum proteins occurs heavily on the 2D PS plate. While diagnostic assays for Sjögren's syndrome were demonstrated as proof-of-concept in this study, the SuPNP-hydrogel can be generally applied for the sensitive and specific detection of many other disease markers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / analysis
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biotin / metabolism
  • Buffers
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Immobilized Proteins / chemistry
  • Immobilized Proteins / immunology
  • Immobilized Proteins / metabolism
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Peptide Termination Factors / chemistry*
  • Peptide Termination Factors / immunology
  • Peptide Termination Factors / metabolism
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry
  • Porosity
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / immunology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / immunology
  • Streptavidin / metabolism

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Biomarkers
  • Buffers
  • Hydrogels
  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Peptide Termination Factors
  • Polystyrenes
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • SUP35 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Biotin
  • Streptavidin