Nanoporous silica coupled MALDI-TOF MS detection of Bence-Jones proteins in human urine for diagnosis of multiple myeloma

Bence-Jones protein is a biomarker in urine for multiple myeloma. Traditional methods for urine Bence-Jones protein detection are either less-sensitive or laborious. Herein, we describe a new method for the detection of urine Bence-Jones protein using nanoporous materials and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Macroporous ordered silica foams (MOSF) were used to enrich proteins in urine, and then the materials-proteins composites were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. Based on the presence of specific mass spectrometric signals, Bence-Jones protein can be detected for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Twenty-one clinical positive and twenty-seven clinical negative urine samples were analyzed by the method. High sensitivity (95.24%, 20/21) and specificity (100%, 27/27) for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma were achieved. Compared to other methods for multiple myeloma diagnosis, e.g. immunofixation electrophoresis and immunonephelometry, our approach is more rapid, economical and convenient, which can be a new choice for the clinical diagnosis of Bence-Jones protein related diseases.