Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that can bind to specific antigens, which are foreign substances or molecules in the body. They are used to test microfluidic devices for antigen detection because they can specifically recognize and bind to the target antigen, allowing for its detection and quantification.
Antibodies can be incorporated into microfluidic devices in various ways, such as immobilization onto the surface of the device or as a component of the detection system. They can also be tagged with fluorescent or enzymatic labels for easier detection.
Some commonly used types of antibodies in microfluidic devices include monoclonal antibodies, which are produced from a single type of immune cell and have high specificity, and polyclonal antibodies, which are a mixture of antibodies with varying specificities.
The use of antibodies in microfluidic devices allows for highly specific and sensitive detection of antigens. This is because antibodies can bind to their target antigen with high affinity, resulting in low detection limits and minimal interference from other molecules in the sample.
One limitation of using antibodies for antigen detection in microfluidic devices is that they can sometimes cross-react with similar molecules, leading to false positives. Additionally, antibodies may have reduced stability and functionality in certain environments, which can affect the accuracy of the results.