(191q) Preventing Adhesion of Immunoassay Components to Solid Surfaces

Immunoassays are a key tool for clinical and research laboratories.  Immunoassays are often solution-based kits made up of active ingredients in diluents and executed in multi-step automated systems.  The active ingredients are commonly antibodies designed to bind target diagnostic markers with high specificity.  The diluents are formulated to prevent active assay components from aggregating, adhering to surfaces, or precipitating while ensuring accurate, optimal, and repeatable results.  These diluents can include buffers, salts, chelators, proteins, surfactants, and antifoams.  The research being presented focuses on preventing non-specific binding of assay components to surfaces.

Contact angle has been used to compare the effect diluent components have on the attraction of a solution to a surface.  A Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Technology (QCM-D) has been used to detect the adhesion of diluent components to surfaces.  Visualizations have been obtained to determine if diluent components can prevent materials from adhering to surfaces.  Using these methods, potential diluent components have been screened to determine their effectiveness in preventing non-specific binding of assay components to surfaces