Over the last couple of years our laboratories have developed a new fluorescence based phenomenon, which is now having profound implications in clinical biotechnology. This new technology has led to the recent publication of over 50 peer reviewed articles, one edited hard bound volume and the launch of a new peer reviewed Springer Journal, entitled Plasmonics. This new phenomenon relies on the interactions of fluorophores with metallic nanoparticles and can increase the quantum yield of fluorescing species, provide spatially localized excitation and can even substantially improve fluorophore photostability. Our new technology clearly demonstrates that these novel effects can result in up to a million-fold more photons per fluorophore, which when applied to assay sensing platforms, provides for quick and simple high sensitivity assays. In this regard, under a recently completed NIH award to the PI, we were able to develop an enhanced assay platform for RNA target detection which has the sensitivity of PCR and ELISA, but most profoundly, without any amplification steps. In this R21 proposal we have assembled a multidisciplinary team of Spectroscopists, Biostatisticians and Clinicians alike, to develop a high sensitivity assay for the detection of free unbound Bilirubin in neonatal serum, an area of intense research and high clinical importance due to its ability to cross the blood brain barrier and participate in various neurological disorders. At present, tests for free unbound bilirubin are arduous, time consuming, and no approach has to date been standardized. The Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) free bilirubin assay described here, offers high sensitivity detection, simple operation, can be made disposable and has the potential to even be standardized in laboratories around the world. The MEF assay functions as follows: Human Serum Albumin (HSA), which binds and transports serum free and bound bilirubin respectively, is immobilized in a hydrophilic copolymer, itself immobilized onto a glass slide. When serum, containing serum albumin predominantly bound bilirubin (> 99 %) is washed across the assay surface, free bilirubin diffuses into the polymer, binds to the embedded HSA and becomes intrinsically highly fluorescent due to its locality to surface silver nanostructures. We intend to optimize and determine the sensitivity of the assay using both laboratory and clinical samples and most importantly, statistically compare our results with the """"""""UB analyzer"""""""", one of only 3 instruments in the USA designed to measure free bilirubin. This proposed research aims to develop a highly novel sensing platform for whole blood free Bilirubin detection in neonates. No commercial instrument is available in the US today. Given that free bilirubin has been linked to later stage neurological disorders, then the technology underpinned by this proposal goes some significant ways to safeguard both neonatal and in-turn adult health. ? ? ?
| Aslan, Kadir; Geddes, Chris D (2009) Metal-enhanced chemiluminescence: advanced chemiluminescence concepts for the 21st century. Chem Soc Rev 38:2556-64 |
| Aslan, Kadir; Geddes, Chris D (2009) Directional surface plasmon coupled luminescence for analytical sensing applications: which metal, what wavelength, what observation angle? Anal Chem 81:6913-22 |
| Aslan, Kadir; Zhang, Yongxia; Geddes, Chris D (2009) Directional, Broad, and Fixed Angle Surface Plasmon Coupled Fluorescence from Iron Thin Films. J Phys Chem C Nanomater Interfaces 113:20535-20538 |
| Aslan, Kadir; Previte, Michael J R; Zhang, Yongxia et al. (2008) Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence from Nanoparticulate Zinc Films. J Phys Chem C Nanomater Interfaces 112:18368-18375 |
| Zhang, Yongxia; Aslan, Kadir; Previte', Michael J R et al. (2008) Metal-Enhanced Excimer (P-type) Fluorescence. Chem Phys Lett 458:147-151 |
| Zhang, Yongxia; Aslan, Kadir; Previte, Michael J R et al. (2008) Metal-enhanced e-type fluorescence. Appl Phys Lett 92:13905 |
| Aslan, Kadir; Malyn, Stuart N; Geddes, Chris D (2008) Angular-Dependent Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence from Silver Island Films. Chem Phys Lett 453:222-228 |
| Chowdhury, Mustafa H; Ray, Krishanu; Aslan, Kadir et al. (2007) Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence of Phycobiliproteins from Heterogeneous Plasmonic Nanostructures. J Phys Chem C Nanomater Interfaces 111:18856-18863 |
