A novel probe Au(III) for chemiluminescent image detection of protein blots on nitrocellulose membranes

A new method, based on the chloroauric acid-enhanced luminol chemiluminescence, is established for the chemiluminescent imaging detection of protein blots on nitrocellulose membranes. After transferring to the nitrocellulose (NC) membranes, various proteins in human serum can be easily detected using this method. Simplicity and wide applicability are achieved, without the need of expensive antibodies or tedious immunoassay procedures. Furthermore, neither noxious materials nor radioactive pollution is produced. The successful detection of proteins is due to the binding of Au(III) to the protein blots and the chemiluminescent character of the enhanced luminol signal. As a novel chemiluminescent detection method, it offers significant biological analytical potentials in biochemistry and in molecular biology.