Detection of NT-pro BNP using fluorescent protein modified by streptavidin as a label in immunochromatographic assay

•We developed an novel assay for the detection of NT-proBNP using fluorescent-streptavidin fusion protein as an immunosensor.•The immunosensor demonstrated a higher stability, shorter analysis time and a wider linear range for NT-proBNP detection.•The immunosensor has been applied in a total of 131 human serum samples. Compared with CLIA, it showed good correlation.•This assay has significant promise to offer a new avenue for POCT of more future important biomarkers.

A novel fluorescent immunochromatographic assay for the detection of NT-proBNP in human serum has been developed. Based on a sandwich-type immunoassay format, analytes in samples were captured by one monoclonal antibody labeled with fluorescent protein and “sandwiched” by another monoclonal antibody immobilized on the nitrocellulose membrane, the fluorescence and concentration of analytes were measured and then calculated by fluoroanalyzer. The fluorescent protein is a fusion protein and was prepared through the application of Streptavidin gene SA, β subunit cpcB of Phycocyanin, lyase alr0617, and phycoerythrobilin synthetase gene ho1, pebA, pebB for covalent binding. It is characterized with higher stability, good solubility in water and it is not easy to quench fluorescence. Take the advantages of fluorescent protein, the immunochromatographic assay exhibited a wide linear range for NT-proBNP from 200 pg ml− 1 to 26,000 pg ml− 1, with a detection limit of 47 pg ml− 1 under optimal conditions. Compared with chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA), 131 human serum samples were analyzed and the correlation coefficient of the developed immunoassay was 0.978. These results demonstrated that fluorescent immunochromatographic assay is a more rapid, sensitive, specific method and could be developed into a platform for more biomarkers determination in clinical practice.