An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for aconitine-type alkaloids using an anti-aconitine monoclonal antibody

3-Succinylaconitine was conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) for use as an immunogen for the preparation of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against aconitine (Aco). Splenocytes from mice immunized with the Aco-BSA conjugate were fused with an aminopterin-sensitive mouse myeloma cell line, P3-X63-Ag8-653, and a hybridoma secreting a MAb against Aco was successfully obtained. The MAb cross-reacted with mesaconitine, hypaconitine and jesaconitine, which are Aco-type alkaloids, but not with any other compounds examined. The full measurement range of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed using the new MAb extended from 100 ng mL⁻¹ to 1.5 μg mL⁻¹ of Aco. The concentrations of Aco-type alkaloids in various Aconiti radixes assayed using the new ELISA method showed good agreement with previous reports.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using highly-specific monoclonal antibodies against plumbagin

Plumbagin (PL; 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a natural compound mainly isolated from Plumbago zeylanica. This plant is distributed in Southeast Asia, and well known as Ayurvedic medicine in India for its medicinal properties. PL has been shown to have various pharmacological activities. We have successfully prepared monoclonal antibodies against PL, and developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for determination of PL. 3-(5-Hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone-3-yl) propanoic acid was synthesized and purified to prepare PL-bovine serum albumin conjugate (PL-BSA), which was used as an immunogen. PL-BSA conjugate was administered into BALB/c male mice for production of monoclonal antibodies against PL. The monoclonal antibody against PL which is secreted from established hybridoma cell line 3A3 (MAb 3A3) has been proven to have highly-specific to PL resulting from cross-reactivities test. The range for calibration of PL by ELISA was 0.2-25 μg mL⁻¹. Based on validation analysis, this analytical method by ELISA is a precise, accurate, and sensitive method for the determination of PL in plant.     

Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Determination of Total Ginsenosides in Ginseng

Abstract

Hybridoma secreting a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against ginsenosides was produced by fusing splenocytes from a mouse immunized against a ginsenoside Re‐bovine serum albumin (G‐Re‐BSA) conjugate with myeloma cell line SP2/0‐Ag14. A MAb‐4G10 had a wide cross‐reaction with 20(S)‐protopanaxadiol and 20(S)‐protopanaxatriol type ginsenosides. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that had an effective measuring range of 20–400 ng/mL for total ginsenosides when G‐Re was used as a standard. Total ginsenosides concentration in ginseng were determined by ELISA and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in a good agreement together, and the least‐squares fit had a coefficient of determination (γ²) of 0.995.     

Monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the insecticide imidacloprid

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid, 1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine using monoclonal antibodies (MAb). Three MAbs, designated as E6A6, E6F3 and H7F7, were raised from mice immunized with an imidacloprid hapten-ovalbumin conjugate. These MAbs performed similarly in indirect competition ELISA (icELISA), so one, E6F3, was selected for detailed study. The equilibrium constants (K_d) and association and dissociation rate constants (k_on, k_off) for five neonicotinoids and one imidacloprid metabolite to E6F3 were determined by kinetic exclusion fluoroimmunoassay (KinExA). Affinities (1/K_d) of E6F3 for acetamiprid and clothianidin were similar, but 50-fold weaker than that of imidacloprid. MAb E6F3 had no measurable affinity for the other neonicotinoids. The icELISA can tolerate up to 15% (v/v) acetone or 20% (v/v) methanol. Assay sensitivity was similar at pH 4-9, 1-10-fold concentration of PBS with or without 0.05% Tween 20, and incubation times of 30-180 min. The half-maximal inhibition and the limit of detection were approximately 0.8 and 0.1 μg/l of imidacloprid in icELISA, and 0.3 and 0.03 μg/l in direct competition ELISA (dcELISA), respectively. Analysis of imidacloprid-fortified water and cucumber samples by the icELISA showed average recoveries from 70 to 120%.     

Preparation of a specific monoclonal antibody to asiaticoside for the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Asiaticoside (AS), the major active component of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, is used as a memory enhancer and for wound healing. We have successfully prepared monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against AS, and developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for its determination. AS was conjugated to the carrier protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), which acted as an immunogen. In order to confirm its immunogenicity, the ratio of hapten in the AS-BSA conjugate was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). After immunization, hybridomas secreting MAbs against AS were produced by fusing splenocytes with the mouse myeloma cell line, SP2/0-Ag14. After the screening, anti-asiaticoside MAb 2B4 was obtained. Weak cross-reactivities occurred with madecassoside (7.08%), but no cross-reactivities were observed with other related triterpenoid glycosides (<0.01%). The assay was suitable for quantitating AS in the range of 0.78 to 50 μg mL(-1). A good correlation of AS concentrations in crude extracts of C. asiatica between ELISA and HPLC methods was obtained (r(2) = 0.999). The contents of AS in various cultivated C. asiatica samples were assayed by the newly established ELISA. The recovery rates of AS in the samples were in the range of 95-103% with coefficients of variation of <10%. The intra- and inter-assay variations were 3.9 and 4.5%, respectively. The ELISA method described should prove useful as an analytical tool for quality control and standardization of medicinal plants and pharmaceutical products containing AS.     

Flow chemiluminescence sensor for determination of clenbuterol based on molecularly imprinted polymer

In this paper, a novel flow chemiluminescence (CL) clenbuterol sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on line enrichment nanogram clenbuterol and chemiluminescence reaction of potassium permanganate and formaldehyde in the polyphosphate enhanced by clenbuterol. Clenbuterol in the urine was selectively adsorbed on the clenbuterol-imprinted polymer, which was packed into the flow cell. The formaldehyde and the polyphosphate with potassium permanganate flowed through the flow cell and reacted with the on line adsorbed clenbuterol and produced strong CL. The results show that the sensor was reversible. The CL intensity was linear with clenbuterol concentration from 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ g/mL to 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ g/mL. The detection limit was 3.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ g/mL. The R.S.D. for ng/mL clenbuterol was less than 5% (n = 3). The present method offered a high selectivity and sensitivity that made the quantitative analysis of trace clenbuterol (ng/mL) in the animal urine sample.     

Monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of the organophosphorus insecticide diazinon

Four haptens of the organophosphorus (OP) insecticide diazinon were synthesized to develop enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for this pesticide. One of them was conjugated to KLH to be used as the immunogen for production of monoclonal antibodies. By using the antibodies and a coating antigen, an indirect competitive ELISA was developed, which showed an IC₅₀ of 4.0 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.7 ng/mL. A direct competitive ELISA using an enzyme tracer was also developed, which showed an IC₅₀ of 6.0 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.9 ng/mL. The antibodies in both assays showed negligible cross-reactivity with metabolites of diazinon and other OP pesticides. Recovery of diazinon from fortified lettuce and rice samples was satisfactory except at the fortified concentration of 100 ppb.     

Synthesis of haptens of organophosphorus pesticides and development of immunoassays for fenitrothion

A simple synthetic method for haptens of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides with a spacer arm (aminocarboxylic acid) attached at the pesticide thiophosphate group was developed. While the previous synthetic approach for this type of haptens requires seven steps, the present method involves only two steps. Using this method, five haptens of fenitrothion were synthesized and two of them were conjugated to proteins to be used as immunogens for production of polyclonal antibodies. Using the antibodies and a coating antigen, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for fenitrothion was developed, which showed an IC₅₀ of 3.7 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.5 ng/mL. A direct competitive ELISA using an enzyme tracer was also developed, which showed an IC₅₀ of 5.6 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.4 ng/mL. The antibodies in both assays showed negligible cross-reactivity with other OP pesticides except with the insecticide parathion-methyl only in the direct ELISA. Recoveries of fenitrothion from fortified lettuce and rice samples ranged 84-116 and 100-121%, respectively.     

Development and evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for the measurement of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in human urine

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was developed to quantitatively measure 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in human urine. Samples were diluted (1:5) with phosphate-buffered saline containing 0.05% Tween and 0.02% sodium azide, with analysis by a 96-microwell plate immunoassay format. No clean up was required as dilution step minimized sample interferences. Fifty urine samples were received without identifiers from a subset of pesticide applicators and their spouses in an EPA pesticide exposure study (PES) and analyzed by the ELISA method and a conventional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) procedure. For the GC/MS analysis, urine samples were extracted with acidic dichloromethane (DCM); methylated by diazomethane and fractionated by a Florisil solid phase extraction (SPE) column prior to GC/MS detection. The percent relative standard deviation (%R.S.D.) of the 96-microwell plate triplicate assays ranged from 1.2 to 22% for the urine samples. Day-to-day variation of the assay results was within ±20%. Quantitative recoveries (>70%) of 2,4-D were obtained for the spiked urine samples by the ELISA method. Quantitative recoveries (>80%) of 2,4-D were also obtained for these samples by the GC/MS procedure. The overall method precision of these samples was within ±20% for both the ELISA and GC/MS methods. The estimated quantification limit for 2,4-D in urine was 30 ng/mL by ELISA and 0.2 ng/mL by GC/MS. A higher quantification limit for the ELISA method is partly due to the requirement of a 1:5 dilution to remove the urine sample matrix effect. The GC/MS method can accommodate a 10:1 concentration factor (10 mL of urine converted into 1 mL organic solvent for analysis) but requires extraction, methylation and clean up on a solid phase column. The immunoassay and GC/MS data were highly correlated, with a correlation coefficient of 0.94 and a slope of 1.00. Favorable results between the two methods were achieved despite the vast differences in sample preparation. Results indicated that the ELISA method could be used as a high throughput, quantitative monitoring tool for human urine samples to identify individuals with exposure to 2,4-D above the typical background levels.     

Separation and determination of acrylamide in potato chips by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A simple and rapid method using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was developed for the separation and determination of acrylamide in potato chips at low levels for the first time. The experimental conditions for the separation and quantification of acrylamide were optimized at first. The optimized conditions were: 50 mmol/L Na₂B₄O₇ and 40 mmol/L SDS at pH 10.0, 12 kV applied voltage, 76 cm total length (67 cm effective length) and 75 μm i.d. capillary, 198 nm wavelength, 15 cm high 25 s hydrodynamics sample injection, 20 °C air-cooling. The linear response of acrylamide concentration ranges from 0.5 to 100 μg/mL with high correlation coefficient (r = 0.9986, n = 9). The LOD and LOQ were estimated to be 0.1 and 0.33 μg/mL based on S/N = 3 and 10. The precision values (expressed as R.S.D.) of intra- and inter-day were 0.86-4.35% and 2.61-9.65%, respectively. Recoveries spiked at levels 2, 20, 60 μg/mL ranged between 90.86% and 99.6% with R.S.D. less than 6.5%. Finally, the developed method has been applied to the analysis of real samples and has achieved satisfactory results. All of these indicated that it was a reliable method for the quantification of acrylamide in potato chips.     

Sequential injection-ELISA based system for online determination of hyaluronan

Sequential injection-bead-based immunoassay system has been developed. The main purpose is to make immunoassay process more automated by manipulating the precise delivery of micro-volumes of reagents and the precise timing of incubation and washing steps with a computer program that controls the bi-directional syringe pump. The manifold was designed with the aims of reducing back pressure from beads that act as solid surfaces for immobilization of the target substance, reducing dispersion and dilution of the reagent during incubation, and maximizing signal while minimizing incubation time. This was done by introducing air segment to separate the reagent zone from the carrier stream and by using a suitable sensitive detector which, in this case, was an amperometer. In this study, hyaluronan (HA) was used as a target analyte because of its clinical significance as a potential biomarker for liver, bone and cancer diseases. Amount of hyaluronan was determined using competitive enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) based technique where immobilized HA and HA in solution compete to bind with a fixed amount of biotinylated HA-binding proteins (b-HABPs). Upon separation of the two phases, anti-biotin conjugated with enzyme and a suitable substrate were introduced to follow the binding reaction of the immobilized HA and b-HABPs whose degree of binding is indirectly proportional to the amount of HA in solution. A calibration curve was constructed from a series of concentrations of HA standards. Lowest detectable concentration was found to be 1 ng/mL with the dynamic working range of 1-5000 ng/mL and R.S.D. of intra-assay (n = 7) and inter-assay (n = 3) of various HA concentrations were 4-10% and 9-12%, respectively. Used beads could be reused by washing with 2 M guanidine. Total analysis time for this automatic assay was about 30 min as compared to the 5-8 h used in conventional batch well ELISA. The system could be applied to assay HA in human serum.     

Biomimetic properties and surface studies of a piezoelectric caffeine sensor based on electrosynthesized polypyrrole

An approach for preparing a chemical sensor for caffeine through the combination of molecularly imprinted polypyrrole and a piezoelectric quartz transducer was proposed. The caffeine-imprinted polymer was synthesized using galvanostatic electropolymerization of pyrrole monomer directly onto one of the gold electrodes of a 9 MHz AT-cut quartz crystal in the presence of caffeine. The optimum conditions for the electrosynthesis of the reagent phase were established. Caffeine molecules were entrapped in the matrix of polymer film, and were removed by subsequent washing with water, leaving behind pores capable of recognizing the target analyte molecule.The caffeine sensor was fixed in a measuring cell and measurement of the resonant frequency of the quartz crystal as it comes in contact with the caffeine solution was carried out in a stopped flow mode. A steady-state response was achieved in about 10 min. The sensor exhibited a linear relationship between the frequency shift and the ln of caffeine concentration in the range of 0.1-10 mg/mL (correlation coefficient, r = 0.9882). The sensitivity of the sensor was about 255 Hz/ln concentration (mg/mL). A good repeatability, R.S.D. = 9 (n = 6) for 0.5 mg/mL caffeine solution was also observed. The use of the sensor can present a potential low-cost option for determining caffeine.Surface analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed on the polymer coating in order to elucidate the imprinting process and rebinding of caffeine to the polymer matrix during the sensing process. The SEM micrographs and XPS spectra revealed features and structures that could support the imprinting and recognition of caffeine molecule by the imprinted polymer.     

Method development for the determination of teicoplanin in patient serum by solid phase extraction and micellar electrokinetic chromatography

In-hospital deaths caused by the infection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are on the increase worldwide. Teicoplanin is a potent glycopeptide antibiotic against MRSA. A rapid and cost-saving micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method combined with solid phase extraction (SPE) was developed and then validated to quantify teicoplanin in patient serum in this work. The method includes the following steps: (1) pretreatment of the serum samples with 10 M urea to denature proteins, (2) application of SPE by using an OASIS HLB cartridge to clean up and concentrate the serum samples, and (3) use of MEKC for sample analysis. Under the optimized conditions, the SPE recovery of teicoplanin is higher than 90%. The six major components of teicoplanin could be baseline-separated from one another and endogenous materials in 12 min with a background electrolyte composed of 20 mM sodium tetraborate buffer pH 8.8, 40 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 11% (v/v) ACN. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of the peak area ratios for method repeatability (n = 6) and intermediate precision (inter-day, n = 3) were found to be lower than 4.18% and 5.30%, respectively. The calibration curves were linear between the chromatographic response and total teicoplanin concentration over the range of 5 μg/mL to 55 μg/mL. Limit of detection (LOD) for each of the six components was found to be lower than 0.06 μg/mL. Pearson’s correlation revealed that a good correlation (r = 0.98) was obtained between the SPE-MEKC method and the fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) method. The developed method can be used to quantitatively determine serum teicoplanin concentration in patients for dose monitoring and clinical research.     

Synthesis,characterization and bioactivity of mixed-ligand Cu(II) complexes containing Schiff bases derived from S-benzyldithiocarbazate and saccharinate ligand and the X-ray crystal structure of the copper-saccharinate complex containing S-benzyl-β-N-(acetylpyrid-2-yl)methylenedithiocarbazate

Mixed-ligand complexes of general formula, [Cu(NNS)(sac)] (NNS′ = S-benzyl-β-N-(2-acetylpyrid-2-yl)methylenedithiocarbazate, NNS″ = S-benzyl-β-N-(2-benzoylpyrid-2-yl)methylenedithiocarbazate and NNS? = S-benzyl-β-N-(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)methylenedithio-carbazate, sac = the saccharinate anion) have been synthesized by reacting [Cu(sac)₂(H₂O)₄] · 2H₂O with the appropriate ligands in ethanol and characterized by various physico-chemical techniques. Magnetic and spectral evidence indicate that the complexes are four-coordinate in which the Schiff bases coordinate as NNS ligands and the sac- anion coordinates as a unidentate N-donor ligand. An X-ray crystallographic structural analysis of [Cu(NNS′)(sac)] shows that the complex has a distorted square-planar geometry with the Schiff base coordinated to the copper (II) ion as a uninegatively charged tridentate chelating agent via the pyridine nitrogen atom, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulphur atom while the fourth coordination position is occupied by the N-bonded saccharinate anion. The complexes have been evaluated for their biological activities against selected pathogens and cancer cell lines. They display weak activity against the pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The complexes were highly active against the leukemic cell line (HL-60) but only [Cu(NNS′)(sac)] was found to exhibit strong cytotoxicity against the ovarian cancer cell line (Caov-3). All complexes were inactive against the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).     

Highly selective determination of methylmercury with methylmercury-imprinted polymers

In this paper a new prototype of solid phase microextraction-ion mobility spectrometry (SPME-IMS) system was developed to effectively couple the extraction efficiency of SPME with the detection capability of IMS. The main component of this system was the transfer line/desorber, which was a low-thermal-mass (ca. 0.15 g) silicosteel coatings stainless steel tube. The transfer line/desorber was designed to rapidly desorb and transfer the analytes extracted by SPME to IMS. A custom-made temperature controller with a proportional-integral-differential (PID) was used to maintain the temperature of the transfer line/desorber stable and avoid overheating or oscillating. The low thermal mass of this interface allowed it to be rapidly heated and cooled with much less electrical power and could substantially reduce the demand for high capacity batteries. The operational characteristics of this system were demonstrated through the analysis of camphor vapour. The precision of reduced mobility and the peak amplitude of camphor were good (R.S.D. 0.62%, n = 10; R.S.D. 2.5%, n = 10, respectively). SPME-IMS system was also shown to be capable of on-site measurement by monitoring the biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted from eucalyptus citriodora leaves. In addition, this system was applied to quantitation of diazepam and cocaine in aqueous solution. Limits of detection were 10 ng/mL for diazepam and 50 ng/mL for cocaine with the reported experimental conditions. This SPME-IMS system exhibits considerable promise as a robust, simple, rapid, energy-saving fieldable approach for on-site analysis of analytes in various matrix.     

Sandwich-type electrochemiluminescence immunosensor based on N-(aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol labeling and gold nanoparticle amplification

A novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sandwich-type immunosensor for human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) on a gold nanoparticle modified electrode was developed by using N-(aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI) labeling. The primary antibody, goat-anti-human IgG was first immobilized on a gold nanoparticle modified electrode, then the antigen (human IgG) and the ABEI-labeled second antibody was conjugated successively to form a sandwich-type immunocomplex. ECL was carried out with a double-step potential in carbonate buffer solution (CBS) containing 1.5 mM H₂O₂. The ECL intensity increased linearly with the concentration of hIgG over the range 5.0-100 ng/mL. The limit of detection was 1.68 ng/mL (S/N = 3). The relative standard deviation was 3.79% at 60 ng/mL (n = 9). The present immunosensor is simple and sensitive. It has been successfully applied to the detection of hIgG in human serums.     

In vitro selection and characterization of deoxyribonucleic acid aptamers for digoxin

The low therapeutic index of digoxin necessitates careful monitoring of its serum levels. Most of digoxin immunoassays suffer from interferences with digoxin-like immunoreactive substances. Since aptamers have been shown to be highly specific for their targets, the aim of this study was to develop DNA aptamers for this widely used cardiac glycoside. Digoxin was coated onto the surface of streptavidin magnetic beads. DNA aptamers against digoxin were designed using Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment method (SELEX) by 11 iterative rounds of incubation of digoxin-coated streptavidin magnetic beads with synthetic DNA library, DNA elution, electrophoresis and PCR amplification. The PCR product was cloned and sequenced. Binding affinity was determined using digoxin–BSA conjugate, coated onto ELISA plate. Inhibitory effect of anti-digoxin aptamer was conducted using isolated guinea-pig atrium. Three aptamers (D1, D2 and D3) were identified. Binding studies of fluorescein-labeled truncated (without primer binding region) D1 and D2 and full length D1 anti-digoxin aptamers were performed and their corresponding dissociation constants values were 8.2 × 10⁻⁹, 44.0 × 10⁻⁹ and 17.8 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively. This is comparable to what other workers have obtained for interaction of monoclonal antibodies raised against digoxin. There was little difference in binding affinity between full length and truncated anti-digoxin D1 aptamer. D1 anti-digoxin aptamer also inhibited the effects of digoxin on the isolated guinea-pig atrium. D1 anti-digoxin aptamer distinguished between digoxin and ouabain in both tissue study and binding experiments. Our finding indicated that D1 anti-digoxin aptamer can selectively bind to digoxin. Further studies might show its suitability for use in digoxin assays and as a therapeutic agent in life-threatening digoxin toxicity.     

Matrix solid-phase dispersion on column clean-up/pre-concentration as a novel approach for fast isolation of abuse drugs from human hair

A simple and fast sample pre-treatment method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) for isolating cocaine, benzoylecgonine (BZE), codeine, morphine and 6-monoacethylmorphine (6-MAM) from human hair has been developed. The MSPD approach consisted of using alumina (1.80 g) as a dispersing agent and 0.6 M hydrochloric acid (4 mL) as an extracting solvent. For a fixed hair sample mass of 0.050 g, the alumina mass to sample mass ratio obtained was 36. A previously conditioned Oasis HLB cartridge (2 mL methanol, plus 2 mL ultrapure water, plus 1 mL of 0.2 M/0.2 M sodium hydroxide/boric acid buffer solution at pH 9.2) was attached to the end of the MSPD syringe for on column clean-up of the hydrochloric acid extract and for transferring the target compounds to a suitable solvent for gas chromatography (GC) analysis. Therefore, the adsorbed analytes were directly eluted from the Oasis HLB cartridges with 2 mL of 2% acetic acid in methanol before concentration by N₂ stream evaporation and dry extract derivatization with N-methyl-tert-butylsilyltrifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) and chlorotrimethylsilane (TMCS). The optimization/evaluation of all the factors affecting the MSPD and on column clean-up procedures has led to a fast sample treatment, and analytes extraction and pre-concentration can be finished in approximately 30 min. The developed method has been applied to eight hair samples from poli-drug abusers and measured analyte concentrations have been found to be statistically similar (95% confidence interval) to those obtained after a conventional enzymatic hydrolysis method (Pronase E).     

Rapid detection of aflatoxin B1 on membrane by dot-immunogold filtration assay

Immunofiltration assay for mycotoxins in which nitrocellulose membrane (NCM) was used as a support and enzyme was used as the label has been developed since the late 1980s. As colloidal gold is a good labeling substance that can accelerate antibody-antigen reaction which result can be read directly by naked eyes, the colloidal gold particles could replace the enzyme to be labeled to antibody in aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) immunoassay. Dot-immunogold filtration assay (DIGFA) of AFB₁ on NCM was developed in this study. At first, the colloidal gold was synthesized and colloidal gold-monoclonal antibody (McAb) conjugates against AFB₁ were prepared at pH 7.0 of colloidal gold solution, 0.018 mg/mL of McAb. Then the colloidal gold-McAb conjugates were used to develop AFB₁ DIGFA, which detection time was only 15 min, six times less than that of ELISA. With this method to determine the standard AFB₁ solution, the results demonstrated a visual detection limit of approximately 2 ng/mL of AFB₁, which was similar to that of ELISA. This method had good specificities for AFG₁, AFG₂ and AFM₁ and a little cross-reactivity with AFB₂. 45 food samples collected from the markets were subjected to DIGFA and the results showed that one corn sample was positive and in agreement that of HPLC. It is suggested that DIGFA developed in current study has a potential use as a rapid and cost-effective screening tool for the determination of AFB₁ in foods in the field within 15 min without complicated steps.