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

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.