LA-ICP-MS as a sensitive method for detection of nanoparticle-antibody conjugates in immunochemistry analysis

Abstract

Laser ablation followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is an analytical method suitable for low concentration measurement of elements in a sample. This can be used not only for detection of elemental distribution within a sample but also as a detection means for immunoanalytical techniques using nanoparticle-antibody conjugates as recognition elements. The aim of this work was to prepare a conjugate of 10nm gold nanoparticles with anti-p53 antibody, to verify the antigen binding ability, and to use this construct for identification of p53 in a real sample of cell lysate. It has been experimentally verified that it is possible to use nanoparticle-modified antibodies for immunochemical analysis coupled to LA-ICP-MS detection. However, the nonspecific sorption of nanoparticles on the sample surface needs to be minimized by optimization of the blocking step.