Lanthanide nanoparticles in immunodiagnostics

This thesis shows the surface functionalisation of gold nanoparticles with surface active, luminescent Eu complexes and free light chain antibodies, to produce free light chain antibody functionalised gold nanoparticles which show characteristic, Eu luminescence. We show how these particles can be used in the development of a novel FRET based assay whereby the Eu luminescence is quenched on addition of free light chain specific antibody, labelled with a suitable organic FRET acceptor for Eu luminescence as measured by lifetime measurements. We show how these particles can be used to develop a competitive immunoassay to measure the concentration of free light chain antibodies. We also report the preparation of a novel functionalised dibenzoylmethane molecule with a thiol surface active group as to functionalise gold nanoparticles which can bind and sensitize Eu ions