Label-free and spectral-analysis-free detection of neuropsychiatric disease biomarkers using an ion-sensitive GaInAsP nanolaser biosensor

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics Vol. 117; pp. 161 - 167
• Main Authors: Watanabe, Keisuke, Nomoto, Munetaka, Nakamura, Fumio, Hachuda, Shoji, Sakata, Akihiro, Watanabe, Takumi, Goshima, Yoshio, Baba, Toshihiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 15.10.2018
• Subjects: Biomarker; Biomarkers - analysis; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Collapsin response mediator protein; GaInAsP; Humans; Label-free; Lasers; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - chemistry; Limit of Detection; Mental Disorders - blood; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Nanolaser; Nerve Tissue Proteins - analysis; Nerve Tissue Proteins - blood; Photonic crystal; Photons; Biomarker; Label-free; Photonic crystal; Nanolaser; Collapsin response mediator protein; GaInAsP
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2018.05.059

The emission intensity of GaInAsP semiconductors that show an ion sensitivity is altered by the surface charge. In this study, we propose a biosensing technique using GaInAsP photonic crystal nanolasers based on this principle. Here, simple and rapid detection of collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is demonstrated, which is a promising biomarker candidate for neuropsychiatric diseases existing in peripheral white blood cells. We prepared CRMP2 as a standard protein and introduced sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as an anionic surfactant to enhance the net negative charge of the protein. The nanolaser was modified in advance with an anti-CRMP2 antibody and then photopumped at a constant power. The laser emission intensity was monitored during the antibody–antigen reaction. Consequently, CRMP2 was detected as a decrease in the emission intensity. We achieved a lower limit for detection of 3.8 μg/mL that satisfies the requirement for clinical biomarker testing. Without the requirements of any kind of labels and spectral analyses, this technique allows for simple, rapid, and low-cost biomarker detection. •Ion-sensitivity of GaInAsP photonic crystal nanolaser was investigated.•The biosensing signal was detected only by measuring the emission intensity.•The response was enhanced by setting the pump power close to the laser threshold.•CRMP2, a neuropsychiatric disease biomarker candidate, was detected in 3.8 mg/mL.•This result enables simple detection using neither labels nor spectral analyses.