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)32+ 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 K2S2O8 to Ru(bpy)32+ (acceptor) occurred. With signal amplification of Ru(bpy)32+ 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.