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Fluorescent Silver Staining of Proteins in Polyacrylamide Gels
Published on: April 21, 2019
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Metal-enhanced fluorescent detection for protein microarrays based on a silver plasmonic substrate
Hui Li1, Min Wang, Weibing Qiang
1State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, China. xudanke@nju.edu.cn.
The Analyst
|February 8, 2014
Summary
This study introduces a novel ultrasensitive fluorescent detection method using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on a microarray substrate. This technique enables highly sensitive and specific detection of protein biomarkers, showing great potential for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) is crucial for sensitive bioassays.
- Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and core-shell nanoparticles offer unique optical properties for MEF.
- Developing versatile platforms for simultaneous biomarker detection is essential in diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an ultrasensitive fluorescent detection method using a silver nanoparticle-based plasmonic microarray.
- To investigate the metal-enhanced fluorescence properties of AgNPs and Ag@Au nanoparticles.
- To achieve simultaneous detection of human IgE and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) with high sensitivity and specificity.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of AgNPs and Ag@Au core-shell nanoparticles via seed-mediated growth.
- Investigation of metal-enhanced fluorescence with various fluorophores.
- Fabrication of a plasmonic microarray substrate using functionalized AgNPs.
- Simultaneous detection of human IgE and PDGF-BB using the developed microarray.
Main Results:
- AgNPs demonstrated versatile metal-enhanced fluorescence for multiple fluorophores.
- Ag@Au nanoparticles showed limited fluorescence enhancement to specific fluorophores.
- A linear response for PDGF-BB was observed from 16 pg/mL to 50 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 3.2 pg/mL.
- The AgNP-modified microarray showed high specificity, sensitivity, and minimal interference from human serum.
Conclusions:
- AgNPs are effective materials for metal-enhanced fluorescence and can be used to fabricate sensitive plasmonic microarray substrates.
- The developed method allows for ultrasensitive and simultaneous detection of protein biomarkers.
- This novel approach holds significant promise for advancing protein microarray detection in the biomedical field.

