Amorphous carbon nanoparticles: a versatile label for rapid diagnostic (immuno)assays

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Bioconjugation
• Diagnostic Assays

Background:

• Traditional signaling labels in diagnostic assays include gold nanoparticles, silica, and quantum dots.
• There is a need for novel, versatile labeling agents for enhanced diagnostic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the preparation of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) labeled with reporter molecules.
• To demonstrate the utility of these biomolecule-labeled CNPs as versatile signaling labels in diagnostic applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs).
• Labeling of CNPs with various biomolecules, including DNA, antibodies, and proteins (e.g., neutravidin, enzyme fusion proteins).
• Application of the resulting CNP-biomolecule conjugates in detecting analytes of varying molecular masses.

Main Results:

• Successful preparation of biomolecule-labeled CNPs.
• Demonstrated versatility of CNPs as signaling labels, comparable to or exceeding existing alternatives.
• Effective detection of both high and low molecular mass analytes using CNP conjugates.

Conclusions:

• Biomolecule-labeled carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) represent a promising alternative signaling label for rapid diagnostic assays.
• The developed CNP labeling strategy offers broad applicability for detecting diverse analytes.
• CNPs provide a versatile platform for the next generation of diagnostic tools.