A multiplex and straightforward aqueous phase immunoassay protocol through the combination of SERS-fluorescence dual mode nanoprobes and magnetic nanobeads.

A novel aqueous phase immunoassay protocol was demonstrated, using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-fluorescence dual mode nanoprobes combined with magnetic nanobeads (MBs). Here, the dual mode nanoprobes provide an excellent multiplexing ability while the MBs greatly simplify the immunoassay process. Basically, the nanoprobes were acquired by assembling the Raman reporter tagged Au@Ag core-shell nanorods and quantum dots onto the silica nanospheres. When the specific antigens are presented in the immunoassay system containing antibody modified nanoprobes and MBs, the nanoprobes are captured by the MBs and further precipitated by a magnet. Consequently, both SERS and fluorescence signals are detected in the precipitates. Sandwich type immunoassay was conducted to examine the practicability of this protocol. Experimental results confirmed that the presented immunoassay protocol can accomplish highly specific and sensitive recognition of the target antigens. The detection limit was found out to be 0.1 pg/mL. We anticipate that high throughput bioanalysis can be fulfilled using the proposed immunoassay protocol, as the dual mode nanoprobes provide a great multiplexing capability while the MBs facilitate the convenient aqueous phase detection of the analytes.