Sandwich-type immunosensors and immunoassays exploiting nanostructure labels: A review

Methods based on sandwich-type immunosensors and immunoassays have been developed for detection of multivalent antigens/analytes with more than one eptiope due to the use of two matched antibodies. High-affinity antibodies and appropriate labels are usually employed for the amplification of detectable signal. Recent research has looked to develop innovative and powerful novel nanoparticle labels, controlling and tailoring their properties in a very predictable manner to meet the requirements of specific applications. This articles reviews recent advances, exploiting nanoparticle labels, in the sandwich-type immunosensors and immunoassays. Routine approaches involve noble metal nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, semiconductor nanoparticles, metal oxide nanostructures, and hybrid nanostructures. The enormous signal enhancement associated with the use of nanoparticle labels and with the formation of nanoparticle-antibody-antigen assemblies provides the basis for sensitive detection of disease-related proteins or biomolecules. Techniques commonly rely on the use of biofunctionalized nanoparticles, inorganic-biological hybrid nanoparticles, and signal tag-doped nanoparticles. Rather than being exhaustive, this review focuses on selected examples to illustrate novel concepts and promising applications. Approaches described include the biofunctionalized nanoparticles, inorganic-biological hybrid nanoparticles, and signal tage-doped nanoparticles. Further, promising application in electrochemical, mass-sensitive, optical and multianalyte detection are discussed in detail.