title: Lab-on-a-bubble surface enhanced Raman indirect immunoassay for cholera.
abstract: We describe a novel sandwich assay based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) comprised of buoyant silica microspheres coated with antibodies against the β subunit of the cholera toxin (CT), and gold nanoparticles tagged with a Raman reporter, shelled with silica and coated with antibodies against the β subunit of the CT. Together these components couple to form a sandwich which, after incubation, floats on the surface of the sample. The buoyant silica microparticle/nanoparticle reporter combination has been coined a lab on a bubble (LoB). LoB materials may provide a platform for rapid detection of antigen in solution and offers advantages over lateral flow or magnetic pull-down assays. The Raman reporter provides a unique and intense signal to indicate a positive analysis. Our limit of detection for the β subunit of the CT in a buffer based system is 1100 ng.
authors.affiliation: University of Wyoming, Chemistry Department, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Schmit
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martoglio
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Carron
mesh_terms: D055910:Antibodies, Immobilized / Q000276:immunology; D002771:Cholera / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D055910:Antibodies, Immobilized; D006046:Gold; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002772:Cholera Toxin