title: Whole-blood immunoassay facilitated by gold nanoshell-conjugate antibodies.
abstract: In this chapter, we outline a simple procedure using gold nanoshells as a substrate for an immunoassay that is capable of detecting subnanogram levels of analyte within whole blood on the order of minutes. Unique to metallic nanoshells is their optical tunability over a large range of wavelengths. We describe the design of nanoshells that attenuate light strongly in a region of light where blood does not (i.e., the near infrared [IR]), permitting optical detection of nanoshells in whole blood. We also describe a procedure to monitor the analyte-induced aggregation of antibody-conjugated nanoshells in whole blood using near-IR light. The immunoassay is fast and specific, requires no separation/purification steps, is simple to perform (mix and sit), and uses common laboratory equipment for detection (spectrophotometer). Preparation of the antibody-nanoshell conjugates is described, along with the design and optimization of the whole-blood nanoshell-based immunoassay system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Lee R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Naomi J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Halas
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D017979:Gold Colloid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D017979:Gold Colloid