Chapter 12 - Signal Amplification

Abstract

Ultrasensitive protein assays rely on signal amplification which provides amplified recognition and amplify weak input signals. Signal amplification based on nucleic acid amplification, enzymes, and nanomaterials has recently attracted considerable attention due to the need for ultrasensitive bioassays. In this chapter, we will focus on recent significant advances with several examples to summarize signal amplification strategies for protein assays, which are divided into three parts including nucleic acid amplification-based signal amplification, enzyme-aided signal amplification, “1-to-N” binding-based signal amplification. With the development of physics, chemistry, biology, and nanoscience, these signal amplification techniques will offer new tools for detection of trace amounts of a wide variety of analytes in clinical, environmental, and industrial applications. Furthermore, the future will open new sights of these signal amplification techniques for the multiplexed detection of analytes and more intelligent signal amplification strategies with simple operation can be developed and applied to track biomarkers in vivo.