Surface plasmon resonance imaging biosensors for aromatase based on a potent inhibitor and a specific antibody: Sensor development and application for biological material

Aromatase (ARO) is an enzyme with potential diagnostic significance. Aberrant expression of aromatase in tissues is associated with a number of pathological conditions, including tumor of the breast, ovary, testes, liver, adrenal cortex and uterus, as well as endometriosis. Two methods for the highly selective determination of ARO concentration in human tissues by using of two different biosensors co-operating with the surface plasmon resonance imaging technique (SPRI) have been developed. One of the developed biosensors contains immobilised rabbit polyclonal antibody specific for aromatase (Y-ARO), while the other contains immobilized ARO inhibitor-exemestane (E-ARO). Both biosensors specifically bound ARO from analyzed samples. The analytically useful dynamic response range of both biosensors is between 0.3 and 5.0 ng mL(-1). The detection limit (3S.D.) of both biosensors is 90 pg mL(-1). Standard deviation of both biosensors is 1%. Recoveries of ARO spikes are between 97 and 108% for both biosensors under model conditions and for real samples. Albumin and alkaline phosphatase are tolerated for both biosensors up to 10,000 fold excess.