Fluorescent immunosensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer between CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and Au nanorods for PRRSV detection
Xue Li, Jinhua Li, Wentao Yang, Dandan Han, Na Yao, Hongbin Zhao, Xueying Chu, Xuemei Liang, Chunguang Bi, Chunfeng Wang, Guilian Yang
Abstract
An ultrasensitive and selective sandwich-type fluorescent immunosensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and Au nanorods (AuNRs) was developed for the rapid detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Modified CdSe/ZnS QDs and AuNRs were bioconjugated with primary antibodies M and GP5, respectively. When the target antigen was present, a well-known sandwich-type form CdSe/ZnS QDs-M antibody-antigen-GP5 antibody-AuNRs was produced, and thus reducing the distance between the QDs and NRs. As a result, FRET occurred and the fluorescence intensity of CdSe/ZnS QDs decreased, and this decrease was used to determine the antigen concentration. Ultrasensitive detection of PRRSV at low concentrations in swine serum was achieved with a limit of detection of 0.55 TCID50/mL and a linear detection range of 101–3.5 × 104 TCID50/mL. Therefore, the fluorescent immunosensor is selective and highly sensitive; specifically, it can detect PRRSV at low concentrations in swine serum over a large concentration range. This proposed detection method can facilitate the development of high-performance fluorescent immunosensors for the detection of PRRSV and other antigens.