Aggregation-induced emissive nanoparticles for fluorescence signaling in a low cost paper-based immunoassay

• One step top down synthesis of Aggregated Induced Emissive nanoparticles.
• Novel TPEDH bio-functionalised nanoparticles.
• Low cost paper based immunoassay with AIEgen signal generation.

Low cost paper based immunoassays are receiving interest due to their fast performance and small amounts of biomolecules needed for developing an immunoassay complex. In this work aggregation-induced emissive (AIE) nanoparticles, obtained from a diastereoisomeric mixture of 1,2-di-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethene (TPEDH) in a one-step top-down method, are characterized through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Zeta potential. By measuring the Zeta potential before and after labeling the nanoparticles with antibodies we demonstrate that the colloidal system is stable in a wide pH-range. The AIE-active nanoparticles are deposited on chitosan and glutaraldehyde modified paper pads overcoming the common aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect. Analyte concentrations from 1000 ng and below are applied in a model immunocomplex using Goat anti-Rabbit IgG and Rabbit IgG. In the range of 7.81 ng–250 ng, linear trends with a high R2 are observed, which leads to a strong increase of the blue fluorescence from the TPEDH nanoparticles.

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