Streptavidin-conjugated gold nanoclusters as ultrasensitive fluorescent sensors for early diagnosis of HIV infection.
Aditya Dileep KurdekarL A Avinash ChunduriSai Manohar ChelliMohan Kumar Haleyur Giri SettyIndira K HewlettKamisetti VenkataramaniahPublished in: Science advances (2018)
We have engineered streptavidin-labeled fluorescent gold nanoclusters to develop a gold nanocluster immunoassay (GNCIA) for the early and sensitive detection of HIV infection. We performed computational simulations on the mechanism of interaction between the nanoclusters and the streptavidin protein via in silico studies and showed that gold nanoclusters enhance the binding to the protein, by enhancing interaction between the Au atoms and the specific active site residues, compared to other metal nanoclusters. We also evaluated the role of glutathione conjugation in binding to gold nanoclusters with streptavidin. As proof of concept, GNCIA achieved a sensitivity limit of detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen in clinical specimens of 5 pg/ml, with a detection range up to1000 pg/ml in a linear dose-dependent manner. GNCIA demonstrated a threefold higher sensitivity and specificity compared to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of HIV p24 antigen. The specificity of the immunoassay was 100% when tested with plasma samples negative for HIV-1 p24 antigen and positive for viruses such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and dengue. GNCIA could be developed into a universal labeling technology using the relevant capture and detector antibodies for the specific detection of antigens of various pathogens in the future.
Keyphrases
- sensitive detection
- label free
- loop mediated isothermal amplification
- quantum dots
- hepatitis c virus
- antiretroviral therapy
- human immunodeficiency virus
- hepatitis b virus
- hiv infected
- hiv positive
- hiv testing
- hiv aids
- silver nanoparticles
- men who have sex with men
- zika virus
- magnetic resonance imaging
- real time pcr
- dendritic cells
- energy transfer
- amino acid
- computed tomography
- molecular docking
- protein protein
- magnetic resonance
- positron emission tomography
- south africa
- liver failure
- gram negative
- living cells
- antimicrobial resistance
- single cell