Development of a Sandwich Chemiluminescence Immunoassay for the Detection of Intact Procollagen Type I N Propeptide with Magnetic Nanosphere Carrier Technology

The metabolic product of type I collagen synthesis, intact procollagen type I N propeptide (intact PINP), is a potential marker of bone formation and osteoporosis, which is not affected by kidney function. We sought to establish a chemi-luminescent immunoassay method for the detection of serum intact PINP with previously prepared paired monoclonal antibodies and to evaluate the diagnostic value of the assay in osteoporosis. Using the capture molecule and monoclonal antibody as detection molecule, a diagnostic reagent was developed to detect intact PINP in serum with magnetic nanosphere carriers by the chemiluminescence method, and its analytical performance in the laboratory was evaluated. Serum intact PINP was measured in 142 healthy people and 115 osteoporosis patients. Results were matched with results of a similar test kit, Roche total PINP Elecsys Chemiluminescent Immunoassay Assay. Compared with the performance of the Roche PINP assay product, our method had higher sensitivity (0.02 ng/mL), wider linear range (0.02-1500 ng/mL), and anti-interference. Serum intact PINP values in osteoporosis patients were significantly higher than in healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Our method had good consistency compared with the Roche PINP assay (r = 0.9794). This chemiluminescence method for detecting serum intact PINP (CLIA-intact PINP) with magnetic nanosphere carrier technology meets the requirements of a clinical testing reagent and is expected to have clinical application after further evaluation and can compete with expensive imported kits on the market.

Automated summary

The study developed a chemiluminescence method for detecting serum intact PINP, a potential marker for osteoporosis. Results showed that compared with the Roche PINP assay, this method had higher sensitivity, wider linear range, and anti-interference capabilities.