We report a facile method for detection of metallothionein (MT), a promising clinically relevant biomarker, in spiked plasma samples. This method, for the first time, integrates molecularly imprinted polymers as purification/pretreatment step with matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection and with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for analysis of MTs. The prepared MT-imprinted polydopamine layer showed high binding capacity and specific recognition properties toward the template. Optimal monomer (dopamine) concentration was found to be 16 mM of dopamine. This experimental setup allows to measure µM concentrations of MT that are present in blood as this can be used for clinical studies recognizing MT as marker of various diseases including tumour one. Presented approach not only provides fast sample throughput but also avoids the limitations of methods based on use of antibodies (e.g. high price, cross-reactivity, limited availability in some cases, etc.).

Department of Chemical Biology Faculty of Biotechnology University of Wroclaw Joliot Curie 14a 50 383 Wrocław Poland

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Mendel University in Brno Zemedelska 1 CZ 613 00 Brno Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology Brno University of Technology Purkynova 123 CZ 612 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kamenice 753 5 CZ 625 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kamenice 753 5 CZ 625 00 Brno Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology Masaryk University Kamenice 753 5 CZ 625 00 Brno Czech Republic

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CdS quantum dots-based immunoassay combined with particle imprinted polymer technology and laser ablation ICP-MS as a versatile tool for protein detection