Parallel Detection of Anti‐Tuberculosis Antibodies upon a Liquid Crystal‐based Optical Sensor

In the present study, we developed a label‐free liquid crystal ( LC )‐based system to simultaneously detect anti‐tuberculosis ( TB ) antibodies against multiple antigens. Multiple TB antigens were discretely immobilized on a substrate with nano‐patterns replicated from a buckled poly(dimethylsiloxane) to orient LCs uniformly. After the antibody solution was introduced to surface‐immobilized antigens, non‐specific antibodies did not have any effect on the orientation of LCs ; however, the antigen–antibody complexes formed by specific interactions disturbed the orientation of LCs by masking the anisotropic surface topography. The orientational behavior of LCs was visualized with a polarizing optical microscope. The limit of detection was from 0.15 to 1.5 µg/ mL . With this method, antibodies in the solution of interest can be identified, which will facilitate the development of a new diagnostic approach for TB .