Fluorescent immunosensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer between CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and Au nanorods for PRRSV detection

An ultrasensitive and selective sandwich-type fluorescent immunosensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and Au nanorods (AuNRs) was developed for the rapid detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Modified CdSe/ZnS QDs and AuNRs were bioconjugated with primary antibodies M and GP5, respectively. When the target antigen was present, a well-known sandwich-type form CdSe/ZnS QDs-M antibody-antigen-GP5 antibody-AuNRs was produced, and thus reducing the distance between the QDs and NRs. As a result, FRET occurred and the fluorescence intensity of CdSe/ZnS QDs decreased, and this decrease was used to determine the antigen concentration. Ultrasensitive detection of PRRSV at low concentrations in swine serum was achieved with a limit of detection of 0.55 TCID₅₀/mL and a linear detection range of 10¹–3.5 ?× ?10⁴ TCID₅₀/mL. Therefore, the fluorescent immunosensor is selective and highly sensitive; specifically, it can detect PRRSV at low concentrations in swine serum over a large concentration range. This proposed detection method can facilitate the development of high-performance fluorescent immunosensors for the detection of PRRSV and other antigens.