Detection of potential biomarkers associated with outrageous diseases and environmental pollutants by nanoparticle-based immuno-PCR assays

Immuno-polymerase chain reaction (I-PCR) assay with advantages of both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and PCR exhibits several-fold enhanced sensitivity in comparison to respective ELISA, which has wide applications for ultralow detection of several molecules, i.e. cytokines, protooncogenes and biomarkers associated with several diseases. Conjugation of reporter DNA to the detection antibodies is the most crucial step of I-PCR assay that usually employs streptavidin-protein A, streptavidin-biotin conjugate or succinimidyl-4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC) system by a covalent binding. However, coupling of antibodies and oligonucleotides to nanoparticles (NPs) is relatively easier in the NP-based I-PCR (NP-I-PCR) that also displays better accuracy. This article is mainly focused on the detection of important biomarkers associated with several outrageous infectious and non-infectious diseases by NP-I-PCR assays, which would expedite an early initiation of therapy thus human health would be improved. Similarly, ultralow detection of environmental pollutants by these assays and their elimination would certainly improve human health.