Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay immobilized antibody

The enzyme-labeled antibody can be evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immobilize the appropriate antigen on the wells of a microtiter plate or strip (at a concentration of 2-10 ]Xg/ mL), incubate various dilutions of the conjugate for a few hours, wash the wells, add substrate, and measure the amount of product formed (see Chapter 15). This approach may also be used for monitoring conjugate purification in chromatography fractions. 

In a direct immunoassay the immobilized antibody binds to the corresponding antigen. The competitive immunoassay relies upon the competition of the analyte with a labelled analyte for antibody binding. These formats are widely used for high throughput affinity arrays. A sandwich immunoassay is based on the trapping or capture of the analyte by another antibody. In ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assays) the second antibody is conjugated with an enzyme. The bound enzyme labelled antibody is detected by its ability to break down its substrate to a colored product. 

A classical approach is the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), where the antigen (e.g., the protein to be quantified) is immobilized on the surface of a well. A first antigen-specific antibody is applied to occupy all antigens, before a second antibody binds all primary antibodies on the well. The second antibody carries an enzyme, which now catalyzes a color reaction. If the substrate of the enzyme is given in high excess, the enzyme is saturated and the production of product is linear with time and concentration of second antibody and antigen (Fig. 8). 

Fig. 8. Schematic presentation of a enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An antigen ( ) is immobilized on the surface of a microtiter plate and incubated with its antibody (abl). A second antibody (ab2) with a covalently linked enzyme ( , e.g., horseradish peroxidase) binds to the primary one and catalyzes a color reaction with its enzyme. All incubations are separated by washing steps...

Figure 8.2. Schematic representation of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using (a) immobilized antigen or (b) immobilized antibody.

Several heterogeneous electrochemical enzyme immunoassays have been demonstrated. These are based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique in which antibody is immobilized on the walls of a small volume plastic vessel. The ELISA technique can follow either a competitive equilibrium or a sandwich format. Both formats have been used with electrochemical detection. The general protocol for these two formats is shown in Fig. 9. 

Enzymes are currently the most widely used and investigated labels for immunoassays, because a single enzyme label can provide multiple copies of detectable species. This catalytic amplification results in immunoassay detection limits that rival those of radioimmunoassay without the storage and disposal problems associated with radioisotopes. Enzyme immunoassays label either ligands or antibodies with enzyme, and enzyme activity in bound or free fractions is measured. Heterogeneous immunoassays employing enzymatic labels have been named enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). ELISA methods usually employ antibody immobilized onto the wells of polystyrene microtiter plates, and may be... 

On the basis of an enzyme thermistor, Mattiasson et al. (1977) developed one of the first immunosensors. Immobilized antibodies against albumin are placed in a column and set into an ET. After injection of an albumin-sample and a known amount of enzyme-labeled albumin, both are separated from the sample matrix by antibody-antigen-interaction. After injection of a substrate, the change in heat is a measure of analyte concentration. The less heat produced means that more albumin has been bound. An elution step regenerates the ELISA. Due to its thermal detection principle, the procedure is called TELISA (thermometric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Figure 3 shows the principle of the TELISA procedure in its sandwich configuration. 

Although thermistor devices involving the use of immobilized enzymes or antibodies for a number of clinically relevant substances have been described (Table 22), their practical use is at present limited to a few research laboratories. Thermometric enzyme linked immunosorbent assays are being routinely employed in monitoring the production of monoclonal antibodies. A broad application is restricted by the low sample throughput and the high equipment costs. 

For the determination of binding properties of biotinylated proteins and conjugates, use flexible 96-wells microplates (Nunc). The general design of the method is similar to classical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RIA methods. Use the described procedure for immobilization of streptavidin, antigen, biotinylated or nonmodified antibody, or catalase. 

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