title: Detection of antigen-antibody binding events with the atomic force microscope.
abstract: An atomic force microscope (AFM) has been used to directly monitor specific interactions between antibodies and antigens employed in an immunoassay system. Results were achieved using AFM probes functionalized with ferritin, and monitoring the adhesive forces between the probe and anti-ferritin antibody-coated substrates. Analysis of the force distribution data suggests a quantization of the forces, with a period of 49 +/- 10 pN. This periodic force may be attributed to single unbinding events between individual antigen and antibody molecules. These results demonstrate that the AFM could be employed as an analytical tool to study the interactions between the molecules involved in biosensor systems. The potential of the technique to provide information relating to the manner in which the antibody molecule binds to its specific antigen is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Nottingham, U.K.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dawkes
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sefton
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tendler
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D007118:Immunoassay; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D005293:Ferritins