[Atomic force microscopy detection of serological markers of viral hepatites B and C]

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the possibility of detection of serological markers, containing the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus core-antigen (HCVcoreAg) in human serum, by use of a new atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanotechnological approach. In this study, the immobilization on AFM-chip of antibodies against the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBsAg) as well as the antibodies against the hepatitis C virus core antigen (anti-HCVcoreAg) was performed. It was shown that such approach enables to detect: HBsAg, HCVcoreAg and the viral fragments containing these antigens in the serum. Comparative analysis of detection of HBsAg- and HCVcoreAg-containing particles by use of the AFM method vs. traditional methods (ELISA, PCR) has demonstrated the 75% coincidence of results between the AFM and the latter two methods.