Adaptable spectral surface plasmon imaging for single molecule detection

Project coordinator @ CEST: Philipp Fruhmann

 Project abstract:

The project aims for the development of an ultra-sensitive biosensor platform for rapid detection of protein biomarkers that are present in bodily fluids at extremely low concentrations. It is pursued by using plasmonic biosensor with a digital type of assay readout that enables resolving individual specific binding events occurring on the sensor chip. The proposed solution allows overcoming the compartmentization of the analysed sample and simplifies the readout by avoiding using of fluorescence optics with respect to already available digital enzyme linked immunoassays. The novel surface plasmon imaging concept will be developed for probing of individual binding events on a sensor chip based on digital micro-mirror device and spectral analysis of surface plasmon resonance. Dedicated plasmonic nanostructures will deployed on large footprint (mm2 areas) of the sensor chip to probe the affinity binding events powered by the isothermal rolling circle amplification. In order to detect minute amounts of target analyte present in the analysed sample, the implementation of digital type of readout based on counting of individual binding events will be carried out by using antibody recognition elements. Capture antibody will be immobilized on the plasmonic nanostructures and detection antibody carrying a single stranded DNA tag will enable enabling rolling circle amplification. In addition, molecular imprinted polymers in form of coatings and nanoparticles will be explored as alternative to delicate antibodies. The concept will be validated for selected sepsis biomarkers including interleukins and tumor necrosis alpha in diluted blood serum and plasma to deliver multiplexed detection at fM limit of detection.

General info:

Program: Life Science call 2020

Funding agency: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Ges.m.b.H Niederösterreich (GFF NÖ)

Project duration: 01.01.2022 – 31.12.2024

Project partners: Dr. Jakub Dostalek, Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT, Biosensor Technologies Dept)

Topic manager (if applicable): Philipp Fruhmann