title: Microwave-triggered metal-enhanced chemiluminescence (MT-MEC): application to ultra-fast and ultra-sensitive clinical assays.
abstract: In this rapid communication we describe a new approach to protein detection with chemiluminescence. By combining common practices in protein detection with chemiluminescence, microwave technology, and metal-enhanced chemiluminescence, we show that we can use low power microwaves to substantially increase enzymatic chemiluminescent reaction rates on metal substrates. As a result, we have found that we can in essence trigger chemiluminescence with low power microwave (Mw) pulses and ultimately, perform on-demand protein detection assays. Using microwave triggered metal-enhanced chemiluminescence (MT-MEC), we not only improve the sensitivity of immunoassays with enhanced signal-to-noise ratios, but we also show that we can accurately quantify protein concentrations by integrating the photon flux for discrete time intervals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Advanced Medical Plasmonics, Medical Biotechnology Center, Institute of Fluorescence, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 725 West Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J R
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Previte
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malyn
authors.forename: Chris D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Geddes
mesh_terms: D001360:Avidin; D001710:Biotin; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008670:Metals; D008872:Microwaves; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008670:Metals; D011506:Proteins; D001360:Avidin; D012834:Silver; D001710:Biotin