Applications of quantum dots as probes in immunosensing of small-sized analytes

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles with very interesting optical properties, like high quantum yield or narrow and size-tuneable fluorescence spectra. Current applications of QDs are widespread, their use as fluorescence labels in bioassays being one of the most promising. These nano...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Esteve Turrillas, Francesc A., Abad Fuentes, Antonio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/111031
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/111031
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:ELISA
Immunoassay
Hapten
Conjugation
Antibodies
Fluorescence
FRET
Immunosensor
Quantum dots
Descripción
Sumario:Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles with very interesting optical properties, like high quantum yield or narrow and size-tuneable fluorescence spectra. Current applications of QDs are widespread, their use as fluorescence labels in bioassays being one of the most promising. These nanoparticles are usually conjugated to highly specific biomolecules like antibodies, oligonucleotides, enzymes or aptamers to improve assay selectivity. In this review, QD surface passivation, conjugation to biomolecules, and purification strategies are discussed with special emphasis to the development of QD-based immunoassays for the detection of low molecular weight compounds given the relevance of this sort of analytes in health, food safety, pharmaceutical, or environmental monitoring areas. The aim of this review is to summarise the main achievements attained so far and to initialise researchers in the field of antibody-based assays employing QDs as labels, such as fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA), fluorescence (or Förster) resonance energy transfer (FRET), immunochromatographic methods, and immunosensors.