Comparative flow cytometric analysis of immunofunctionalized nanowire and nanoparticle signatures

Flow cytometry is one of the gold-standard techniques used in clinical medicine for quantitative immunoassaying. The continuous development of its probes, commonly fluorescent nanoparticles, is important. Lately, the introduction of quantitative multiplexed immunoassay has challenged the use of nanoparticles as probes. Functionalized fluorescent silica-based magnetic nanowires are investigated under flow cytometry as a novel probe category. The preparation and full characterization of these multimodal nanowires is reported and compared to those of silica-based magnetic nanoparticles by flow cytometry. Full characterization includes transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy imaging, flow cytometric assaying, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetization, and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. This work shows that loaded silica nanowires have intrinsic geometrical advantages when compared to similar spherical particles due to their unique "flow cytometry fingerprint" when utilized as magnetic carriers for immunodetection applications. These advantages account for a 17% yield in detecting the functional binding between THP-1 and ICAM-1, by utilizing a much lower concentration than that required for the nanoparticles.