Synthesis of three haptens for the class-specific immunoassay of O,O-dimethyl organophosphorus pesticides and effect of hapten heterology on immunoassay sensitivity

A general and broad class-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the O,O-dimethyl organophosphorus pesticides, including malathion, dimethoate, phenthoate, phosmet, methidathion, fenitrothion, methyl parathion and fenthion. Three haptens with different spacer-arms were synthesized. The haptens were conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) for immunogens and to ovalbumin (OVA) for coating antigens. Rabbits were immunized with the immunogens and six polyclonal antisera were produced and screened against each of the coating antigens using competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for selecting the proper antiserum. The effect of hapten heterology on immunoassay sensitivity was also studied. The antibody-antigen combination with the most selectivity for malathion was further optimized and tested for tolerance to co-solvent, pH and ionic strength changes. The IC₅₀ values, under optimum conditions, were estimated to be 30.1 μg L⁻¹for malathion, 28.9 μg L⁻¹ for dimethoate, 88.3 μg L⁻¹ for phenthoate, 159.7 μg L⁻¹ for phosmet, 191.7 μg L⁻¹ for methidathion, 324.0 μg L⁻¹ for fenitrothion, 483.9 μg L⁻¹ for methyl parathion, and 788.9 μg L⁻¹ for fenthion. Recoveries of malathion, dimethoate, phenthoate, phosmet and methidathion from fortified Chinese cabbage samples ranged between 77.1% and 104.7%. This assay can be used in monitoring studies for the multi-residue determination of O,O-dimethyl organophosphorus pesticides.     

Development and validation of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for surveillance of Cry1Ab toxin in bovine blood plasma of cows fed Bt-maize (MON810)

The increasing global adoption of genetically modified (GM) plant derivatives in animal feed has provoked a strong demand for an appropriate detection method to evaluate the existence of transgenic protein in animal tissues and animal by-products derived from GM plant fed animals. A highly specific and sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the surveillance of transgenic Cry1Ab protein from Bt-maize in the blood plasma of cows fed on Bt-maize was developed and validated according to the criteria of EU-Decision 2002/657/EC. The sandwich assay is based on immuno-affinity purified polyclonal antibody raised against Cry1Ab protein in rabbits. Native and biotinylated forms of this antibody served as capture antibody and detection antibody for the ELISA, respectively. Streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate and TMB substrate provided the means for enzymatic colour development.The immunoassay allowed Cry1Ab protein determination in bovine blood plasma in an analytical range of 0.4-100 ng mL⁻¹ with a decision limit (CCα) of 1.5 ng mL⁻¹ and detection capability (CCβ) of 2.3 ng mL⁻¹. Recoveries ranged from 89 to 106% (mean value of 98%) in spiked plasma.In total, 20 plasma samples from cows (n = 7) fed non-transgenic maize and 24 samples from cows (n = 8) fed transgenic maize (collected before and, after 1 and 2 months of feeding) were investigated for the presence of the Cry1Ab protein. There was no difference amongst both groups (all the samples were below 1.5 ng mL⁻¹; CCα). No plasma sample was positive for the presence of the Cry1Ab protein at CCα and CCβ of the assay.     

Influences of Seven Taiwan‐Produced Adulterants on Gas Chromatographic‐Mass Spectrometric (GC‐MS) Urinalysis of Amphetamines

This study was conducted to better understand the influences exerted by seven Taiwan‐produced adulterants on the forensic gas chromatographic‐mass spectrometric (GC‐MS) confirmatory urinalysis of amphetamines. The results verified that, when added at 5‐15% (w/w), chlorine bleach would lower the GC‐MS outcomes of the spiked and case specimens by 36‐63%, and was most likely to cause false negatives. Liquid soap, potassium dichromate, soda water for drinking, and tap water would decrease the GC‐MS outcomes by 9‐29%, 8‐20%, 8‐20%, and 5‐16%, respectively, and also had the risk of negating near‐cutoff initial positives into false confirmatory negatives. The negative‐directing effects were mostly due to degradation of analytes and/or deactivation of the derivatizing agent by oxidizing adulterants and/or dilution of analytes by the added liquid. Alum and table salt added as powder had little impact on the test. Responsible institutions and relevant laboratories should face the facts seriously and include the specimen validity testing (SVT) battery in the routine drug testing procedures.     

A sensitive and semi-quantitative method for determination of multi-drug residues in animal body fluids using multiplex dipstick immunoassay

The objective of this research was to develop a multiplex dipstick immunoassay method for the simultaneous determination of multi-veterinary drug residues, such as β-agonists, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines in milk, urine, and serum. The multiplex dipstick assay format was based on an indirect competitive approach: Three test lines (different antigens) and one control line (goat anti-mouse IgG) were located on the strip membrane. Labeled antibodies were freeze-dried in microwells. Samples did not require pretreatment and could be directly analyzed within 10 min. Threshold levels in different sample matrices were visually estimated at 0.3–0.45 ng mL⁻¹ for clenbuterol; 3–4 ng mL⁻¹ for sulfadiazine; and 4.5–6 ng mL⁻¹ for tetracycline, respectively. The linear relationship between the concentrations of veterinary drug residues and the Au nanoparticles plasmon absorbance allowed quantitative determination of these veterinary drug residues. The recoveries of clenbuterol, sulfadiazine and tetracycline in spiked samples ranged from 78.4% to 112.6%, and the relative standard deviations were below 11.2%. Analysis of animal samples suggested that the proposed multiplex dipstick assay method was consistent with the LC-MS/MS method. The percentage of false results was less than or equal to 5%. Thus, the proposed multiplex dipstick assay is inexpensive, easy-to-use, and suitable for the purposes of rapid and comprehensive screening of 3 families of β-agonists, sulfonamides and tetracyclines including 26 drugs in animal body fluids.     

Amplified inhibition of the electrochemical signal of ferrocene by enzyme-functionalized graphene oxide nanoprobe for ultrasensitive immunoassay

A nanoprobe-induced signal inhibition mechanism was designed for ultrasensitive electrochemical immunoassay at a chitosan-ferrocene (CS-Fc) based immunosensor. The nanoprobe was prepared by covalently loading signal antibody and high-content horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on the graphene oxide (GO) nanocarrier. The immunosensor was prepared through the stepwise assembly of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and capture antibody at a CS-Fc modified electrode. After sandwich immunoreaction, the GO-HRP nanoprobes were quantitatively captured onto the immunosensor surface and thus induced the production of a layer of insoluble film through the enzymatically catalytic reaction of the HRP labels. Both the dielectric immunocomplex formed on the immunosensor surface and the enzymatic precipitate with low electroconductivity led to the electrochemical signal decease of the Fc indicator, which was greatly amplified by the multi-enzyme signal amplification of the nanoprobe. Based on this amplified signal inhibition mechanism, a new ultrasensitive electrochemical immunoassay method was developed. Using carcinoembryonic antigen as a model analyte, this method showed a wide linear range over 5 orders of magnitude with a detection limit down to 0.54 pg/mL. Besides, the immunosensor showed good specificity, acceptable reproducibility and stability as well as satisfactory reliability for the serum sample analysis.     

Nanogold-penetrated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer for enzyme-free electrochemical immunoassay of cardiac biomarker using cathodic stripping voltammetric method

Methods based on immunoassays have been developed for cardiac biomarkers, but most involve the low sensitivity and are unsuitable for early disease diagnosis. Herein we design an electrochemical immunoassay for sensitive detection of myoglobin (a cardiac biomarker for acute myocardial infarction) by using nanogold-penetrated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (AuNP-PAMAM) for signal amplification without the need of natural enzymes. The assay was carried out on the monoclonal mouse anti-myoglobin (capture) antibody-anchored glassy carbon electrode using polyclonal rabbit anti-myoglobin (detection) antibody-labeled AuNP-PAMAM as the signal tag. In the presence of target myoglobin, the sandwiched immunocomplex could be formed between capture antibody and detection antibody. Accompanying AuNP-PAMAM, the carried gold nanoparticles could be directly determined via stripping voltammetric method under acidic conditions. Under optimal conditions, the detectable electrochemical signal increased with the increasing target myoglobin in the sample within a dynamic working range from 0.01 to 500 ng mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 3.8 pg mL⁻¹. The electrochemical immunoassay also exhibited high specificity and good precision toward target myoglobin. Importantly, our strategy could be applied for quantitative monitoring of myoglobin in human serum specimens, giving well matched results with those obtained from commercialized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.     

菊酯类农药广谱型免疫层析试纸条的研究及应用

建立了菊酯类农药广谱型免疫层析检测方法,可同时检测水果、蔬菜中12种甲氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、氯氰菊酯、三氟氯氰菊酯农药残留。以粒径20 nm的胶体金标记羊抗小鼠IgG抗体于金标垫上,分别固定包被原(检测线,T线)、兔抗山羊 IgG 抗体(质控线, C 线)于硝酸纤维素膜( NC 膜)上,与吸水垫及聚氯乙烯( PVC)底板组合成层析试纸条。10 g样品经乙腈提取,PBS稀释4倍,取100μL与菊酯类农药的单克隆抗体混合后,直接用于试纸条检测。结果表明,试纸条对甲氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、氯氰菊酯、三氟氯氰菊酯农药的裸眼观察检测灵敏度为0.5,5.0,5.0和5.0μg/mL,检测时长为8~10 min,采用QuEChERS方法,方法检测灵敏度可提高16倍。对蔬菜和水果的方法验证表明,除辣椒基质干扰呈假阳性外,其它样本的检测结果均与GC方法结果一致。试纸条采用金标羊抗小鼠IgG二抗的方法,使检测结果的重现性更好、更稳定,且抗基质干扰能力强,为菊酯类农药的累积毒性检测提供了新方法。     

Anti-idiotypic nanobody-alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins: Development of a one-step competitive enzyme immunoassay for fumonisin B1 detection in cereal

A rapid and sensitive one-step competitive enzyme immunoassay for the detection of FB₁ was developed. The anti-idiotypic nanobody–alkaline phosphatase (Ab2β−Nb−AP) was validated by the AP enzyme activity and the properties of bounding to anti-FB1-mAb (3F11) through colorimetric and chemiluminescence analyses. The 50% inhibitory concentration and the detection limit (LOD) of colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for FB₁ were 2.69 and 0.35 ng mL⁻¹, respectively, with a linear range of 0.93–7.73 ng mL⁻¹. The LOD of the chemiluminescence ELISA (CLIA) was 0.12 ng mL⁻¹, and the IC₅₀ was 0.89 ± 0.09 ng mL⁻¹ with a linear range of 0.29–2.68 ng mL⁻¹. Compared with LC-MS/MS, the results of this assay indicated the reliability of the Ab2β−Nb−AP fusion protein based one-step competitive immunoassay for monitoring FB₁ contamination in cereals. The Ab2β−Nb−AP fusion proteins have the potential to replace chemically-coupled probes in competitive enzyme immunoassay systems.     

Highly sensitive and rapid tandem bioluminescent immunoassay using aequorin labeled Fab fragment and biotinylated firefly luciferase

We established a simultaneous bioluminescent assay utilizing aequorin (Aq) and biotinylated firefly luciferase (b-Luc); furthermore, we developed a highly sensitive and rapid tandem bioluminescent immunoassay (BLIA) involving the Aq-labeled Fab fragment and b-Luc-streptavidin complex. Minimum detection limits of Aq and b-Luc were 9.4 × 10⁻²¹ mol assay⁻¹ (blank + 3S.D.) and 3.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ mol assay⁻¹ (blank + 3S.D.), respectively. Measurements of two luminescent proteins were completed in 4 s with a single assay medium. In this study, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostate specific antigen (PSA), which served as analytes, were measured in the tandem BLIA. PAP and PSA were detected by the Aq-labeled anti-Dig Fab fragment and b-Luc-streptavidin complex, respectively. The measurable ranges of PAP and PSA were 0.04-100 and 0.2-200 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. This technique was also applied to the simultaneous measurement of PSA and α-fetoprotein (AFP). Measurable ranges of PSA and AFP were 0.2-200 and 1.95-1000 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. Levels of PAP and PSA or PSA and AFP in human serum could be accurately determined with the proposed BLIA. Satisfactory correlations were observed between results obtained from the proposed BLIA and those derived from commercial kits.     

稀土穴状荧光配合物的合成与光谱性质

以2,6-二甲基吡啶-3,5-二甲酸二乙酯为起始原料,经N-溴代丁二酰亚胺(NBS)溴代、亲电取代反应合成了时间分辨荧光免疫分析双功能螯合剂2,6-{N,N′,N,N′-[二(2,2′-联吡啶-6,6′-二甲基)]二(氨甲基)}-吡啶-3,5-二羧酸二乙酯。经差热分析仪(DTA)、傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)、核磁共振波谱仪(1 H NMR)、质谱仪(MS)等技术手段表征确认了化合物结构和性能。对该化合物与铕离子形成螯合物的荧光性质研究表明:激发光谱波长范围较宽,激发峰值为322nm;荧光发射峰为597nm(~5D_0-~7F_1)、618nm(~5D_0-~7F_2);荧光寿命为918μs;量子产率Φ=0.249。