Life Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Antibody-Based Nanosensor for Single-Cell Measurement (August 1998)

Optical sensors with nanoscale dimensions are powerful tools that are capable of providing selective identification of biochemical compounds at ultra-trace levels in biological systems. Research staff in the Advanced Monitoring Development Group, Life Sciences Division, have recently developed an antibody-based nanosensor for measurement of benzo(a)pyrene tetrol (BPT), a metabolite of the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene inside a single cell. The antibody has recognition/binding sites for specific molecular structures of the antigen and "fit" the unique antigen such that hollows, protrusions, planes, and ridges of the antigen and antibody are complementary. One can then develop antibodies to recognize molecular structures of chemicals, biochemicals, and microorganism components. The inherent selectivity of these antibodies can be utilized as specific "detectors" to identify many analytes of interest that are present at ultra-trace levels in single cells for studying gene expression or for medical diagnostics. Combining the exquisite specificity of biological recognition probes (antibodies) and the excellent sensitivity of laser-based optical detection, optical biosensors are capable of detecting and differentiating bio-chemical constituents of complex systems in order to provide unambiguous identification of a variety of diseases. (Contact: Tuan Vo-Dinh, tvo@ornl.gov, 574-6249; Funding Source: KP)