A method for rapid,non-targeted screening for environmental contaminants in household dust

Household dust can be a major source of human exposure to environmental contaminants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, pesticides, and other compounds. This work shows a screening technique that may be used to identify components in an environmental sample as xenobiotics based on mass spectral characteristics of classes of compounds that may be expected to be present in the environment. Household dust (SRM-2585) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was extracted with hexane using accelerated solvent extraction. Large molecules, such as triglycerides and fatty acids were removed with gel permeation chromatography. The extract was then concentrated and analyzed by comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography coupled to a time of flight mass spectrometer. The resulting peak table was automatically filtered to identify compound classes such as phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their heterocyclic analogs, chlorinated compounds, brominated compounds, and nitro compounds. While phthalates can be identified by abundances at specific masses, the identification of the remaining classes is based on the identification of the molecular ion and identification of isotope clusters or other spectral characteristics. The technique detected compounds identified and quantified by NIST as well as compounds not identified by NIST in the sample. By comparison with concentrations determined by NIST for the analytes found, the technique is able to identify analytes in these compound classes at concentrations as low as 10–20 ng/g dust.     

Flow injection analysis system for on-line cutinase activity assay

A FIA system based on a micellar system for a substrate (p-nitrophenylbutyrate) with low stability in aqueous phase was built to monitor cutinase activity in bioprocesses. All samples were previously diluted with 50 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.0 containing 11.6 mM sodium cholate. The cutinase activity in this diluted solution enhances about 40% in relation to phosphate buffer. Furthermore, the enzyme adsorption and consequent blocking/fouling of injector and tubes of the FIA system was eliminated due to excellent properties of sodium cholate as surface active agent.The cutinase activity is based in following the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylbutyrate to p-nitrophenol in the reaction stream through the formation of an absorbance peak at 400 nm proportional to enzyme activity. The compositions of reaction stream as well as its stability were studied in order to minimize non-enzymatic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylbutyrate and maximize cutinase activity assay reproducibility. An excellent correlation was obtained between the FIA system and off-line method for determination of cutinase activity in the culture media, and during separation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and cutinase concentration by micro and ultrafiltration, respectively.     

ATP bioluminescence method: tool for rapid screening of organic and microbial contaminants on deteriorated mural paintings

Abstract

The extent of the microbial contamination of the seventeenth-century wall paintings in the nave of the old Church of the Holy Ascension (Veliki Kr?imir, Serbia) was evaluated via newly implemented ATP bioluminescence method, and traditional cultivation-based method, utilising commercially available dip slides. To assess the validity of ATP, as a biomarker for rapid detection of mural surface contamination, obtained zones of cleanliness values, in range from 1.0 to 5.3, were compared to documented total microbial counts, ranging between seven and 247 CFU/cm². Small coefficients of determination, 0.0106–0.0385, suggest poor correlation between microbial counts and surface ATP levels; however, zones of cleanliness values are of great help in determining the high points of contamination, aka ‘hotspots’, which should be given special attention during sampling and investigation using other methods. In addition, various aspects of the possible implementation of the ATP bioluminescence method in an integrated system of wall painting conservation are discussed.     

A rapid spectrophotometric assay of some organophosphorus pesticide residues in vegetable samples

A rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of some organophosphorus insecticides, i.e. malathion, dimethoate and phorate is described. It is based on the oxidation of organophosphorus pesticide with slight excess of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and the unconsumed NBS is determined with rhodamine B (lambda max: 550 nm). Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 0.108-1.08, 0.056-0.56 and 0.028-0.28 microg mL(-1) for malathion, phorate and dimethoate, respectively. The method has been successfully applied for the determination of organophosphorus pesticide residues in various vegetable samples.     

Development and evaluation of a rapid lateral flow immunochromatographic strip assay for screening 19-nortestosterone

The lateral flow strip test for 19-nortestosterone is one kind of immunochromatographic assay. Nitrocellulose membrane was separately immobilized with goat anti-rabbit IgG (control line) and 19-NT-OVA conjugate (test line). Anti-19-NT polyclonal antibody labeled with colloidal gold particles acted as the detector reagent. The assay is qualitatively, not quantitatively, judged with positive or negative result. We tested the sensitivity of the strip using spiked swine urine, and each specimen was independently measured by LC/MS/MS. The sensitivity, measure by eye, was determined to be 200 ng/mL. The assay time was less than 15 min, and so suitable for on-site rapid test.     

Improvement of acetylcholinesterase-based assay for organophosphates in way of identification by reactivators

Organophosphates present serious fulmination in several aspects of human life. Detection of organophosphates is frequently based on following acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. Although limit of detection and sensitivity for AChE-based assays seem to be intriguing, the identification of organophosphates is not currently efficient in this way. We introduce an improvement of AChE-based assay by reactivators using a selective come-back of AChE activity after previous inhibition. We have chosen four organophosphates: paraoxon-ethyl, paraoxon-methyl, trichlorfon, methamidophos as representative pesticides and the three most available reactivators: HI-6, obidoxime, pralidoxime. Reactivation was realized in the 96-wells photometric microplates and activity of human recombinant AChE was followed by reaction of Ellman's reagent with one of enzyme digestion product: thiocholine. Distinguishing of reactivation efficacy was judged by the independent two population t-test. The most significant identification was based on methamidophos inhibited AChE reactivation by HI-6 or pralidoxime and paraoxon-ethyl inhibited AChE by obidoxime; moreover, identification of trichlorfon and paraoxon-methyl was possible, too. Practical impact of described method is discussed.     

Off-line SFE-CZE analysis of carbamates residues in tobacco samples

Summary Determination of carbamate residues in tobacco samples was carried out by solid-liquid extraction (SLE) and supercritical-fluid extraction (SFE) methods, both developed for this purpose. The clean-up step was carried out on SPE-Florisil cartridges and the extracts analysed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with UV detection.The results were compared and SFE using CO₂-acetone showed the best results in terms of recovery and generally higher extraction power. SFE in conjunction with CZE proved suitable for carbamate residue analysis in real tobacco samples.     

中草药中有机磷及氨基甲酸酯类农药残留量的GC-MS测定

气相色谱-质谱法同时测定中草药中多种有机磷及氨基甲酸酯类农药残留量.采用V(乙腈)∶V(丙酮)＝3∶7混合溶剂微波辅助提取,弗罗里硅土和中性氧化铝层析柱净化,气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用检测,农药混标在0.01～1.0 μg/mL范围内线性良好,在0.5、0.1、0.05 μg/mL 3个水平添加平均回收率分别为86.5%～110.6%、81.2%～108.3%和72.9%～122.3%,相对标准偏差分别为2.6%～8.3%、4.6%～9.7%和2.3%～10.7%.     

Development of colloidal gold-based immumochromatographic assay for the rapid detection of medroxyprogesterone acetate residues in biological materials

A competitive colloidal gold-based immunoassay in lateral-flow format for the rapid detection of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in biological materials was developed. A nitro-cellulose membrane strip was separately coated with goat anti-rabbit IgG (control line) and MPA hapten-OVA conjugate (test line). Anti-MPA polyclonal antibody labelled with colloidal gold particles was first incubated with MPA. The limit of detection for lateral flow was 5?ng?g^?1 for detecting an MPA standard solution, and the limit of detection was 10?ng?mL^?1 for detecting the MPA spiked in pig urine and 10?ng?g^?1 for spiked in pig liver. The results were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) and indicated that there was a good agreement between both methods (R ²?=?0.976). The assay time for the test was less than 5?min, suitable for rapid testing on site.     

Application of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for determining organic food contaminants and residues

Food contamination continues to be a serious problem around the world. Surveillance of chemical contaminants in foods is important not only for public health but also because of the negative economic impact of contamination. From the analytical perspective, analysis of contaminants in food is an extremely challenging area. There is a wide variety of questions, ranging from the quantification of extremely low levels of individual components to the detailed assessment and evaluation of the analytical technique possibilities. This review considers the applications of CE coupled to MS detection (CE-MS) for the analysis of organic contaminants in food. Analytical information on sample concentration techniques, as well as on the CE separation conditions and recoveries obtained from water and food are provided. Different sections include several fields of application, such as pesticides, drug residues, or toxic formed during food processing in different matrices. A number of tables report a comprehensive listing of CE-MS applications. As a result, this work presents an update overview on the principal application of CE-MS together with a discussion of their main advantages and drawbacks, and an outline of future trends on analysis of organic contaminants.     

蔬菜中有机磷和氨基甲酸酯农药残留GC-MS-SIM分析

我国对食品中农药残留的检测正在不断地探索快速准确的有效方法。现在普遍采用气相色谱法或气相色谱一质谱全扫描法检测蔬菜中农药残留,由于蔬菜中组成成份复杂,本底干扰较大,而且不同农药品种的理化性质差异较大,因此单纯用气相色谱法容易产生误判。本文介绍一种用气相色谱．质谱选择离子扫描法,同时检测蔬菜中15种有机磷和氨基甲酸酯农药残留的方法,该方法对农药残留检测具有定性准确、灵敏度高的特点。     

A new electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the screening of macrolide antibiotic residues in bovine meat.

A new sensitive electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of two macrolides (erythromycin and tylosin) in bovine muscle was developed, using the mouse monoclonal antibodies anti-erythromycin and anti-tylosin. The competitive indirect assay was performed using an erythromycin (or tylosin)-BSA conjugate as a coating molecule; after competition between free and coated analytes for the antibodies, the activity of the horseradish peroxidase-labelled antiglobulins was measured electrochemically using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as substrate. The detection limit of the assay was 0.4 ng ml(-1) for erythromycin and 4.0 ng ml(-1) for tylosin, while the sensitivity (25% inhibition concentration) was 1.4 ng ml(-1) for erythromycin and 13.0 ng ml(-1) for tylosin. The specificity of the assay was assessed by studying the cross-reactivity of various macrolides other than erythromycin and tylosin. The results indicate that the monoclonal antibodies anti-erythromycin and anti-tylosin can readily distinguish the target compound from other macrolides, with the exception of roxithromycin, a semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic derived from erythromycin. Fortified and real samples were analysed by the developed ELISA method and results confirmed by micro-LC-MS-MS using an atmospheric pressure ionisation (API) source and an ionspray (IS) interface. The latter provides unequivocal identification and quantification of the analytes at the level of interest. The ELISA assay showed precision (RSD) values ranging from 6.3 to 11.4% for erythromycin and from 7.5 to 12.6% for tylosin; the accuracy (relative error, RE) ranged from -16.0 to -9.8% and from -9.5 to 8.0% for erythromycin and tylosin, respectively. All results obtained demonstrate that the electrochemical ELISA is a suitable method for a sensitive, simple, rapid and reliable screening of the two macrolides in animal tissues.     

Sample preparation techniques for the determination of trace residues and contaminants in foods

The determination of trace residues and contaminants in complex matrices, such as food, often requires extensive sample extraction and preparation prior to instrumental analysis. Sample preparation is often the bottleneck in analysis and there is a need to minimise the number of steps to reduce both time and sources of error. There is also a move towards more environmentally friendly techniques, which use less solvent and smaller sample sizes. Smaller sample size becomes important when dealing with real life problems, such as consumer complaints and alleged chemical contamination. Optimal sample preparation can reduce analysis time, sources of error, enhance sensitivity and enable unequivocal identification, confirmation and quantification. This review considers all aspects of sample preparation, covering general extraction techniques, such as Soxhlet and pressurised liquid extraction, microextraction techniques such as liquid phase microextraction (LPME) and more selective techniques, such as solid phase extraction (SPE), solid phase microextraction (SPME) and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). The applicability of each technique in food analysis, particularly for the determination of trace organic contaminants in foods is discussed.     

Monoclonal-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunochromatographic rapid assay for monensin.

Monensin, a member of the ionophoric polyether antibiotics, is used primarily as a coccidiostat. A protein conjugate of monensin was prepared and utilized to produce monoclonal antibodies in the BALB/c-P3X63Ag8U.1 fusion system. Only one hybridoma that produces monoclonal antibody against monensin was isolated from one in 329 wells. The monoclonal antibody was used to develop quantitative assays for monensin by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The detection limit was 1 ng ml-1 and the relative standard deviations were 2.1-6.3% intra-assay and 5.9-12.9% inter-assay. All ELISA results for assay of chicken plasma and cattle milk were confirmed using a bioassay to be used as the official method. The ELISA and bioassay results showed close correlations for plasma (r2 = 0.98, n = 25) and milk (r2 = 0.95, n = 25). Using the anti-monensin monoclonal antibodies produced, a rapid test kit based on the immunochromatographic method was developed. Detection limits of monensin for cattle milk, cattle plasma and chicken plasma were about 40, 40 and 160 ppb. respectively.     

Direct SERS detection of contaminants in a complex mixture: rapid, single step screening for melamine in liquid infant formula

Melamine can be detected in infant formula without the need for additional sample preparation or purification using a simple galvanic displacement reaction to fabricate portable silver SERS substrates. The reaction is rapid, inexpensive, and robust enough to perform well on highly heterogeneous common metal objects such as tape and coins.     

Recent applications of surface plasmon resonance biosensors for analyzing residues and contaminants in food

Abstract  Optical biosensors based on surface plasmon resonance are increasingly used to detect and (semi)quantify residues and contaminants in food. This review provides an overview of the methods published in this field since the year 2003. Such biosensors have mostly been applied to veterinary drug residues, like aminoglycosides, beta-agonists, cephalexin, chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolones, levamisole, nicarbazin, nitroimidazoles, penicillins, ractopamine, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and tylosin in milk, egg, honey, prawn, muscle, liver and kidney. Only a few methods have been published on pesticide residues, mycotoxins, phycotoxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and surfactants. These procedures are described with regard to biological recognition element, type of sensor chip, immobilisation procedure, sample extraction and clean-up, crossreactivity, nonspecific binding, matrix interference, chip regeneration, assay formats, calibration, validation and instrumentation. Graphical Abstract        

Recent applications of surface plasmon resonance biosensors for analyzing residues and contaminants in food

Abstract  

Optical biosensors based on surface plasmon resonance are increasingly used to detect and (semi)quantify residues and contaminants in food. This review provides an overview of the methods published in this field since the year 2003. Such biosensors have mostly been applied to veterinary drug residues, like aminoglycosides, beta-agonists, cephalexin, chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolones, levamisole, nicarbazin, nitroimidazoles, penicillins, ractopamine, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and tylosin in milk, egg, honey, prawn, muscle, liver and kidney. Only a few methods have been published on pesticide residues, mycotoxins, phycotoxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and surfactants. These procedures are described with regard to biological recognition element, type of sensor chip, immobilisation procedure, sample extraction and clean-up, crossreactivity, nonspecific binding, matrix interference, chip regeneration, assay formats, calibration, validation and instrumentation.     

Bipolar electrodes for rapid screening of electrocatalysts

We report a method for rapid screening of arrays of electrocatalyst candidates. The approach is based on simultaneous activation of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and Ag electrodissolution at the cathodic and anodic poles, respectively, of bipolar electrodes (BPEs). Because the electrochemical activity of the two poles is directly coupled via the BPE, the extent of Ag electrodissolution is directly related to the ORR activity. The screening process lasts ~12 min. Because Ag dissolution provides a permanent record of catalyst activity, the screening results can be determined by simple optical microscopy after the electrochemical experiment. The method has the potential to provide quantitative information about electrocatalyst activity.     

固相萃取技术在食品痕量残留和污染分析中的应用

食品痕量残留和污染分析中,样品的前处理极为重要,也是其难点所在。由于食品和农产品样品的多样性和复杂性,目前还没有一种前处理技术能够适合所有情况下的所有样品。本文对近年来发展起来的新型固相萃取技术如固相微萃取、搅拌棒吸附萃取、基质固相分散萃取、分子印迹固相萃取、免疫亲和固相萃取、整体柱固相萃取、碳纳米管固相萃取等在食品痕量残留和污染分析中的应用进行了综述,对未来的发展前景作了展望。