Immunoelectrochemical assessment of human IgE in non-invasive samples of allergic individuals using PdNCs-labelled antibodies

The escalating global prevalence of allergies presents a substantial public health challenge. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) serves as a key biomarker for allergic diseases, often measured in blood serum by ELISA immunoassays. Despite recent interest in minimally invasive sampling of biological fluids, the low sample volumes and IgE concentrations demand highly sensitive methodologies, typically confined to centralized laboratories. In this article, a decentralizable approach based on competitive immunoassays using Pd nanocluster (PdNCs)-labelled antibodies for electrochemical detection is proposed. With this aim, PdNCs were successfully bioconjugated with an anti-hIgE antibody to perform competitive immunoassays. To improve the analytical capabilities of the methodology, disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes with dual working electrodes were used for enhancing precision. Prior electrodeposition of PdNCs at − 0.6 V for 90 s significantly improved sensitivity (7.1 µA g ng⁻¹) and lowered the limit of detection (LoD) to 0.3 ng g⁻¹ for PdNCs determination. The use of PdNCs as labels resulted in an improvement in the LoD for IgE determination. Calibration curves performed using competitive immunoassays for IgE determination, ranging from 10⁻⁵ to 10² ng g⁻¹, demonstrated sensitivity comparable to high-tech methods, with a LoD of 0.008 ng g⁻¹ for electrochemical measurements. Bimodal detection of Pd (linear sweep voltammetry and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry) in various biological fluids (saliva, tears, nasal exudate, capillary blood, and blood serum) revealed significant differences in IgE levels between allergic and non-allergic individuals. Notably, capillary blood correlated strongly with serum blood, and a certain correlation has also been found with nasal exudate. The electrochemical approach, combining sensitivity and precision with non-invasive sampling, offers a simplified alternative for IgE determination in allergic disease.

Graphical Abstract