2019-2020 Faculty Research Grants

Hyun Kwon and Getahun Merga (Engineering, Chemistry)

Sandwich Immunoassays Study Using Silver Nanoparticles-doped [Ru(bpy)3]2+

Dr. Kwon has NSF funded project on mobile technology based electrochemiluminescent (ECL) biosensor instrumentation (2018-2020). While she is actively pursuing the 3 yr NSF project, a new collaboration idea on the immunoassay methodology has emerged. While various nanoparticles are employed in ECL immunoassays, the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has not been extensively explored. This project aims to develop an immunoassay methodology using silver nanoparticles-doped [Ru(bpy)3]2+that allows high selective and sensitive detection of disease-related proteins or biomolecules. The synthesis and characterization of AgNPs and their application is an area of expertise of Dr. Merga. In this context, this project leads to a collaboration between colleagues in the departments of chemistry and the engineering and explore a new application for AgNPs. Selected antibodies of interest will be labeled with 20 - 40 nm AgNPs to retain their bioactivity and interact with the counterpart, and based on the detection of those nanoparticles, the amount or concentration of biomolecules will be determined. This emerging research field provides possibility for advanced development of instrumentation for analytical applications. In this study an analytical device under development in our research team referred to as ECL immunosensor with cell phone detector will be used to perform the main parts of the assays. This device will interface with a smartphone or tablet that provides a user interface for receiving the experiment.