Redox-Mediated Indirect Fluorescence Immunoassay for
the Detection of Disease Biomarkers Using Dopamine-Functionalized Quantum Dots
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Abstract
Here, we report a redox-mediated
indirect fluorescence immunoassay
(RMFIA) for the detection of the disease biomarker α-fetoprotein
(AFP) using dopamine (DA)-functionalized CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs).
In this immunoassay, tyrosinase was conjugated with the detection
antibody and acted as a bridge connecting the fluorescence signals
of the QDs with the concentration of the disease biomarkers. The tyrosinase
label used for RMFIA catalyzed the enzymatic oxidation of DAs on the
surface of functionalized QDs and caused fluorescence quenching in
the presence of the analyte. Using this technique, we obtained a limit
of detection as low as 10 pM for AFP. This assay’s potential
for clinical analysis was demonstrated by detecting the real sera
of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study makes
the first use of RMFIA for the rapid detection of AFP, opening up
a new pathway for the detection of disease biomarkers