# Fluorescence-Enhanced Immunoassay (FEIA) Platform by Combining AIE Nanobeads on a Plasmonic Device for Selective Detection of IL‑6 Cytokine

## TL;DR

A new immunoassay platform using AIE nanobeads and a plasmonic device enables highly sensitive detection of the IL-6 cytokine, which is important for diagnosing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

## Contribution

A novel fluorescence-enhanced immunoassay platform combining AIE nanobeads and a plasmonic substrate for selective and sensitive IL-6 detection.

## Key findings

- The platform achieves a detection limit of 0.5 pM for IL-6.
- It has a dynamic linear range from 0 to 1250 pM.
- The platform is low-cost, scalable, and compatible with existing clinical equipment.

## Abstract

The development of
advanced diagnostic systems with exceptional
sensitivity and precision is important for the accurate and timely
detection of biomarkers associated with inflammatory responses and
autoimmune disorders. Here, we introduce a simple and high-throughput
fluorescence-enhanced immunoassay (FEIA) platform for detection of
cytokine interleukin (IL-6). This platform is based on a plasmonic
gold substrate integrated with aggregation-induced emission (AIE)
nanobeads. The plasmonic substrate is low-cost and easily scalable
and can be fabricated using a straightforward plasma etching method.
Our FEIA platform facilitates precise quantification of IL-6, achieving
a low detection limit of 0.5 pM and a dynamic linear range from 0
to 1250 pM, manifesting the efficiency of the technique. The platform
with improved fluorescence and stability of the AIE nanobeads, together
with the plasmonic substrate, offers an effective tool for cytokine
monitoring. By enabling easy integration into the current clinical
diagnosis routine by the possible use of plate imagers and plate readers,
it provides significant advancement in accuracy and diagnosis along
with therapeutic outcomes for inflammatory conditions.