title: Optical tweezers-based immunosensor detects femtomolar concentrations of antigens.
abstract: We used optical tweezers (optical trapping technology) to measure the force required to separate antigen-antibody bonds. Under competitive-binding conditions, we used the force determination to detect and measure protein antigen concentrations as small as 1 fmol/L (10(-15) mol/L).
authors.affiliation: Atomic Physics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helmerson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kishore
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Weetall
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008832:Microchemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000941:Antigens; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine