| Summary: | The ultra-sensitive protein detection is the major need of today‟s bioworld as protein serves as
the biomarker of existing or newly developing diseases. Many advancements are made in the
field of proteomics and clinical diagnostics towards protein detection and one such advancement
is the use of nanotechnology. Nanoparticles used for biomolecular detection is mainly due to its
size and unique properties. With higher historical importance, gold nanoparticles are mostly used
in the sensing platform and act as an excellent scaffold for the fabrication of novel biological
sensors. The majority of nanoparticle-based colorimetric protein detection are done in the
solution phase. But there arises several drawbacks of solution phase diagnostic methods
including the aggregation of nanoparticles, non-specific interaction with non-target molecules
and lack of sensitivity for the coloured samples. To avoid these, physical immobilization of
nanoparticles on a solid substrate found to be a better alternative.Though solid phase detection
prevents aggregation of nanoparticles , formation of protein corona blocks its ultra-sensitivity
and specificity of detection. To overcome this problem, many works are done to immobilize
nanoparticles on non-fouling polymer brush, which serves as a stable solid platform for ultrasensitive
protein detection. POEGMA found to be superior from other types of anti-fouling
polymer brush because of its biocompatibility, thermo-responsive behavior and extreme
mechanical and chemical robustness. Thus, implemented a novel and unique strategy of cluster
formation of small sized nanoparticles that are embedded on POEGMA polymer brush for
femtomolar detection of protein in undiluted human serum. The objective of this study is to see how heating can trigger the formation of cluster and how that can be used for ultra-sensitive
detection. From various trials, obtained lower limit of detection with higher dynamic range and
good ultra-sensitivity of the sensor at much reduced cost.
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