The Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles, tailored with maleimidyl 3-succinimidopropionate ligands, were conjugated with paclitaxel molecules that were attached with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer through a phosphodiester moiety at the (C-2')-OH position. The average number of paclitaxel molecules/nanoparticles was determined as 83. These nanoparticles liberated paclitaxel molecules upon exposure to phosphodiesterase.

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In an attempt to fabricate highly active immunoprobes for serum biomarker detection, we report a simple and effective method for site-specific and self-oriented immobilization of antibodies on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Through boronate formation, the carbohydrate moiety within the constant domain, Fc, of the antibody can be specifically and covalently linked to a boronic acid-functionalized MNP (BA@MNP) without hindering the antigen binding domain, Fab. The performance was evaluated by immunoaffinity extraction of multiple serum antigens. Compared with the random immobilization of antibody on a MNP, the antibody self-oriented immunoprobe provides long-term stability (>2 months) and 5-fold extraction efficiency. It also provides 5-fold improved sensitivity at a low nM range (0.4 nM), presumably through enhanced antibody@MNP activity. In addition, false-positive detections arising from nonspecific binding can be completely minimized by effective surface protection using concentration-dependent dextran blocking. Compared with conventional antibody site-specific immobilization through protein G, this new BA-mediated covalent antibody immobilization provides interference-free extraction resulting from noncovalent immobilization of antibody by protein G. The new immunoassay was applied in comparative profiling of serum amyloid P (SAP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in human serum. Our triple immunoassay revealed a distinct pattern among normal patients, patients with cancer, and patients with cardiovascular disease. Using the previously reported quantization capability of the MALDI MS readout, we expect that this site-specific immunonanoprobe-based immunoassay can be highly active, rapid, and accurate in nanodiagnosis.