Antibody Nanosensors: a Detailed Review
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RSC Advances REVIEW View Article Online View Journal | View Issue Antibody nanosensors: a detailed review E. K. Wujcik,*a H. Wei,b X. Zhang,b J. Guo,b X. Yan,b N. Sutrave,a S. Wei*c and Z. Guo*b Cite this: RSC Adv.,2014,4,43725 In this review, the authors will discuss novel and prospective antibody nanosensors for the detection of specific analytes used in a number of fields of analytical chemistry. Biosensors—transducers that incorporate biological molecules for recognition—have been found to be fundamental in a number of chemical, clinical, and environmental analyses. Antibody nanosensors make up a large area of this research, as the antibodies' specific recognition elements make them highly selective and sensitive. These biological molecules can also be tailored to recognize any single analyte or group of analytes, and can be easily functionalized to a number of nanomaterial substrates. Herein, a number of antibody Received 15th July 2014 nanosensor transduction methods will be examined, including electrochemical, optical, magnetic, and Accepted 4th September 2014 piezoelectric, among others that fall into multiple categories. This review will show that it is clear that DOI: 10.1039/c4ra07119k antibody nanosensors—and nanosensors in general—are highly sensitive no matter the transduction www.rsc.org/advances method, and that various transduction methods can be suited for a number of different applications. 1. Introduction nanotechnology has brought on many new materials with oen enhanced chemical and physical properties—highly tunable Almost every eld of science and engineering has the need size and shape-dependent features, unique and tailorable for sensitive detection of specic analytes. The advent of surface chemistries, high specic surface area, large pore volume per unit mass—and, in turn, many opportunities for the advancement of various sensor platforms.1–8 The unique prop- aMaterials Engineering And Nanosensor (MEAN) Laboratory, Dan F. Smith Department erties of nanomaterials have been utilized for the fabrication of of Chemical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA. E-mail: Evan. nanosensors with enhanced specicity and sensitivity. Some [email protected] nanomaterials that have bettered the development of nano- bIntegrated Composites Laboratory (ICL), Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical – 9,10 Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA. E-mail: Zhanhu.Guo@ sensors include nanocarbon allotropes (i.e. fullerenes, 11,12 13,14 lamar.edu graphene, ), nanobers, as well as inorganic nano- 15,16 17,18 19,20 cDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, tubes, nanoparticles, and quantum dots, among Published on 04 September 2014. Downloaded by University of Tennessee at Knoxville 10/06/2016 21:50:22. USA Dr Evan K. Wujcik is currently Ms Huige Wei, currently a PhD an Assistant Professor of Chem- candidate in the Dan F. Smith ical Engineering in the Dan F. Department of Chemical Engi- Smith Department of Chemical neering at Lamar University, Engineering at Lamar University obtained her MS (2011) and BE (Beaumont, TX, USA). He (2009) degrees from the Depart- obtained his PhD in Chemical ment of Chemical Engineering and Biomolecular Engineering and Technology at Harbin from The University of Akron Institute of Technology. Her (2013) and his MBA (2011), MS research interests focus on in Chemical Engineering (2009), multifunctional polymer nano- BS in Applied Mathematics composites for electrochromic (2010), and BS in Chemical and energy applications. Engineering (2008) from The University of Rhode Island. Dr Wujcik directs the Materials Engineering And Nanosensor (MEAN) Labo- ratory at Lamar University. His research interests include biona- notechnology, nanocomposites, and nanosensor design & development. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 RSC Adv.,2014,4, 43725–43745 | 43725 View Article Online RSC Advances Review many others. Many of these biocompatible nanomaterials have genes, l and k—which can be arranged in many combinations potential in the eld of implantable nanosensors and to provide a wide range of antigen recognition. devices.21–25 Each “arm” of the Ab is also made up of two domains, a An antibody (Ab)—also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig)— constant domain and a variable domain. These variable monomer is a globular plasma protein of large molecular domains dictate the Ab's function and selectivity to specic weight (150 kDa).26 An Ab monomer is made up of four poly- antigens, or analytes. Within the body, the crystallizable frag- peptide chains—two identical light chains (25 kDa each) and ment (Fc) typically interacts with cell surface receptors or two identical heavy chains (50 kDa each)—forming its char- proteins—allowing the immune system to be triggered—while acteristic “Y” shape, as seen in Fig. 1. Each heavy and light chain the antigen-binding fragment (Fab) interacts with the antigen. pair is connected via a single disul de bond. Immunoglobulin The Fab typically has similar function when used in sensors, — — in humans exist in ve classes IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM while the Fc will typically be functionalized to a surface or with a each distinguished by the isotype of their heavy chains. The IgA uorescent tag, magnetic nanoparticle, etc. The Fc and Fab of the and IgM occur in dimer and pentamer complexes, respectively, antibody—containing the carboxyl terminals (–COOH) and as the IgD, IgE, and IgG occur only as monomers. Isotypes of the amino terminals (–NH2) of the monomer, respectively—are small chains also exist in two variations produced on different joined by a hinge region, which contributes to the molecule's Ms Xi Zhang, currently a PhD Dr Suying Wei, currently an candidate in the Dan F. Smith Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engi- Department of Chemistry and neering at Lamar University, Biochemistry at Lamar Univer- obtained an MS degree from the sity, obtained a PhD degree in Department of Mechanical and chemistry from Louisiana State Automotive Engineering (2010) University (2006), an MS in and a BS degree in Polymer applied chemistry from Beijing Science and Technology (2006) University of Chemical Tech- from South China Institute of nology (2000) and a BS in Technology. Her research inter- chemical engineering from ests include polymer nano- Shandong University of Science composites, and conductive and Technology (1996). Her nanocomposites. research interests include multifunctional composites especially those used in biomedical applications. Her expertise is in analyt- ical, materials and surface chemistry. She was awarded the NSF summer institute fellowship, the Pzer graduate fellowship, and the Robinson award for excellent research in analytical science Published on 04 September 2014. Downloaded by University of Tennessee at Knoxville 10/06/2016 21:50:22. during previous appointment. Mr Jiang Guo, currently a PhD Dr Zhanhu Guo, currently an candidate in the Dan F. Smith Associate Professor in Dan F. Department of Chemical Engi- Smith Department of Chemical neering at Lamar University, Engineering at Lamar Univer- obtained his BE (2012) of sity, obtained a PhD degree in Process Equipment and Control Chemical Engineering from Engineering from the School of Louisiana State University Chemical and Biological Engi- (2005) and received three-year neering at Taiyun University of (2005–2008) postdoctoral Science and Technology. His training in Mechanical and research interests include Aerospace Engineering Depart- polymer/magnetic ment at University of California nanocomposites. Los Angeles. Dr Guo directs the Integrated Composites Laboratory and chairs the Composite Division of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE, 2010–2011). His current research focuses on fundamental science behind multifunctional light-weight nanocomposites especially with polymer and carbon as the hosting matrix for electronic devices and environmental remediation applications. 43726 | RSC Adv.,2014,4,43725–43745 This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 View Article Online Review RSC Advances 2. Electrochemical antibody nanosensors An electrochemical (derived from the Greek elektron meaning “amber” and the Latin alchimicus meaning “of alchemy”)tech- nique is a method that deals with the electrical energy and the chemical change occurring at the electrode/electrolyte inter- face.39 Compared to other detection technologies such as optical, mechanical, electrical, and magnetic resonance techniques, electrochemical detection is advantageous in that direct data analysis is achieved with the electronic signal output and no further transduction is required, which signicantly reduces the complexity of the signal acquisition and the transduction inter- face—ultimately reducing the cost and increasing the portability Fig. 1 Schematic showing the structure of the most common anti- 40–42 body (IgG) monomer. of the sensor device. Electrochemical antibody nanosensors are based on the conformational changes produced by the bio- recognition between the antibody and the antigen, which provides an attractive means for a real time molecular recogni- 43,44 unique biological properties and ability to bind with a high tion technique that is highly sensitive and selective. affinity.27 Here, two disulde bonds connect the two heavy Typically, electrochemical antibody nanosensors consist of a — — chains. The short chain and long chain variable regions allow working electrode or sensing electrode a counter electrode, 45 for the selectivity