Enhanced surface plasmon resonance immunoassay for human complement factor 4

Using an enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor, we have determined the concentration of human complement factor 4 (C4). Antibody protein was concentrated into a carboxymethyldextran-modified gold surface by electrostatic attraction force and a simultaneous covalent immobilization of antibody based on amine coupling reaction took place. The sandwich method was applied to enhance the response signal and the specificity of antigen binding assay. The antibody immobilized surface had good response to C4 in the range of 0.02-20 mug/ml by this enhanced immunoassay. The regeneration effect by pH 2 glycine-HC1 buffer was also investigated. The same antibody immobilized surface could be used more than 80 cycles of C4 binding and regeneration. In addition, the ability to determinate C4 directly from serum sample without any purification was investigated. The sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the enhanced immunoassay are satisfactory. The results clearly demonstrate the advantages of the enhanced SPR technique for C4 immunoassay.