Microchip device with 64-site electrode array for multiplexed immunoassay of cell surface antigens based on electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer.

This paper describes a novel on-chip microarray platform based on an electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) strategy for rapid assay of cancer cell surface biomarkers. This platform consists of 64 antigen-decorated CdS nanorod spots with the diameter of 1.0 cm uniformly distributed on 16 indium tin oxide (ITO) strips, which is coated with a multichannel decorated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) slice to realize multiplexed determination of antigens. To shorten the immune reaction time in the microchannels and simplify the device, magnetic stirring and four-channel universal serial bus (USB) ports for plug-and-play were used. When Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) labeled antibodies were selectively captured by the corresponding antigens on the CdS nanorod spot array, ECL-RET from the CdS nanorod (donor) by cathodic emission in the presence of K(2)S(2)O(8) to Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) (acceptor) occurred. With signal amplification of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and competitive immunoassay, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), α-fetoprotein (AFP), and prostate specific antigen (PSA) as models were detected on this microfluidic device via recording the increased ECL-RET signals on electrode surfaces. Furthermore, this multiplexed competitive immunoassay was successfully used for detecting cancer cell surface antigens via the specific antibody-cell interactions and cell counting via cell surface receptors and antigens on the CdS nanorod surface. This platform provides a rapid and simple but sensitive approach with microliter-level sample volume and holds great promise for multiplexed detection of antigens and antigen-specific cells.