Towards an integrated biosensor array for simultaneous and rapid multi-analysis of endocrine disrupting chemicals

In this paper we propose the construction and application of a portable multi-purpose biosensor array for the simultaneous detection of a wide range of endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs), based on the recognition operated by various enzymes and microorganisms. The developed biosensor combines both electrochemical and optical transduction systems, in order to increase the number of chemical species which can be monitored. Considering to the maximum residue level (MRL) of contaminants established by the European Commission, the biosensor system was able to detect most of the chemicals analysed with very high sensitivity. In particular, atrazine and diuron were detected with a limit of detection of 0.5 nM, with an RSD% less than 5%; paraoxon and chlorpyrifos were revealed with a detection of 5 μM and 4.5 μM, respectively, with an RSD% less than 6%; catechol and bisphenol A were identified with a limit of detection of 1 μM and 35 μM respectively, with an RSD% less than 5%.     

Screening of endocrine disrupting chemicals using a surface plasmon resonance sensor.

Because concern over endocrine disrupting reactions caused by chemicals to humans and animals is growing, a rapid and reliable screening assay for endocrine disrupting chemicals is required. We have developed an in vitro screening assay based on a hormone receptor mechanism using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. The interaction between an estrogen receptor alpha (ER) and an estrogen response element (ERE) is monitored in real time, when ER is injected over the SPR sensor chip on which a DNA fragment containing ERE is immobilized. In the presence of a chemical with estrogenic activity, the ER-ERE interaction is enhanced and the kinetic parameters are altered. We have validated the assay in terms of its specificity, dose dependency, optimal reaction conditions and reproducibility. It has been shown that the assay is very reliable as a rapid and quantitative screening method to judge the estrogenic activities of chemicals.     

Novel modes of capillary electrophoresis for the determination of endocrine disrupting chemicals

The synthesis and usage of a wide range of organic chemicals has increased dramatically over the last five decades. These compounds sometimes termed endocrine disrupting chemicals include agricultural pesticides, industrial solvents, dyes, plasticisers, detergents and heat exchangers. Concerns have been raised about the potential adverse effects of these compounds on humans and wildlife species. Our objectives are to develop a method to identify, using novel capillary electrophoretic techniques, the endocrine disrupting compounds that are reported to be present in environmental samples. The CE modes, capillary zone electrophoresis, micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), cyclodextrin-modified MEKC (CD-MEKC) and electroosmotic flow-suppressed CD-MEKC were investigated for the determination of a range of endocrine disrupting chemical compounds. This paper shows some initial results obtained.     

An improved method for simultaneous analysis of steroid and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in biological samples

An improved method was developed for the simultaneous determination of eight steroid and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as oestrone (E1), 17β-oestradiol (E2), oestriol (E3), 17α-ethynylestradoil (EE2), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP) and 4-cumylphenol (4-CP), in biological samples. The optimal extraction and clean-up procedures were investigated using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), automated gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and solid phase extraction (SPE). As a consequence, the most efficient extraction was achieved by using MAE with methanol as solvent at an extraction temperature of 110°C for 20?min. The clean-up of extracts was carried out by GPC on a Biobeads S-X3 column with cyclohexane/ethyl acetate (1:1, v/v) as mobile phase. Target compounds were eluted in the fraction from 7–14?min retention time. Moreover, the cleanest extracts were obtained by solid phase extraction with C-18 cartridges after the elution with 15?mL ethyl acetate. The final sample extracts were derivatised using N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) (1% trimethylchlorosilane, TMCS) as derivatisation reagent with pyridine as the solvent. Quantification was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with electron ionisation (EI) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The method was validated by spiked samples which showed good recovery and reproducibility. The overall recoveries ranged between 55.1% and 100.6%, with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 2.3–12.7% for the entire procedure. Method detection limits (MDL) ranged from 0.3 to 0.7?ng?g^?1 dry weight (dw). Performance of the method was demonstrated by its application on tissues from fish exposed to high concentration of EDCs in the laboratory. The developed method is a promising approach for the analysis of steroid and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in various biological samples.     

Countering matrix effects in environmental liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry water analysis for endocrine disrupting chemicals

In recent years, despite the increasing success of liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS), reports on matrix susceptibility have shown the limitations of the this powerful analytical technique. Matrix effects (MEs) result from co-eluting residual matrix components affecting the ionization efficiency of target analytes and can lead to erroneous results. The present work evaluates the matrix effect of environmental water samples on 35 endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in negative and positive LC-ESI-MS/MS. It was shown that mobile-phase additives could significantly influence matrix effects. Addition of acids resulted in a severe signal suppression (average ME%: <65%), and 1 mM ammonium formate increased the average ME% to 84%. The importance of an efficient sample clean-up and internal standardization also was demonstrated. Cleaner extracts resulted in reduced matrix effects (average ME%: 89%) and labeled internal standards proved to have a beneficial effect especially on signal reproducibility (average CV% 4.2% versus 2.6%). The results from the present work indicate that evaluation of matrix effects should become an integrated part of quantitative LC-ESI-MS/MS method development and validation.     

Optical biosensor for pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, hormones, endocrine disrupting chemicals and pesticides in water: Assay optimization process for estrone as example

Certain contaminants at trace concentrations in surface waters can have dramatic effects on the hormonal system of organisms in the aquatic environment. Therefore, immunoanalytical methods at a very low limit of detection (LOD) and a low limit of quantification (LOQ) are becoming more and more important for environmental analysis and especially for monitoring drinking water quality. Environmental monitoring of antibiotics, hormones, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and pesticides in real water samples (e.g. surface, ground or drinking water) with difficult matrices places high demands on chemical analysis. Biosensors have suitable characteristics such as efficiency in allowing very fast, sensitive, and cost-effective detection. Here we describe an assay optimization process with a fully automated immunoassay for estrone which resulted in a LOD below 0.20 ng L⁻¹ and a LOQ below 1.40 ng L⁻¹. In contrast to common analytical methods such as GC-MS or HPLC-MS, the biosensor used requires no sample pre-treatment and pre-concentration. The very low validation parameters for estrone are the result of the continuous optimization of the immunoassay. The basis of our sensitive assay is the antibody with a high affinity constant towards estrone. During the optimization process, we reduced the amount of antibody per sample and improved the chip surface modification. Finally, this proceeding led to a calibration routine with an amount of antibody of only 3.0 ng per sample (sample volume: 1.0 mL). The reduction of the amount of antibody per sample results in better validation parameters (LOD, LOQ, and IC₅₀), but this reduction leads to the current device-related limitation of the River Analyser (RIANA).For some endocrine disrupting compounds, no effect levels (NOELs) in the lower nanogram per liter range are reported. This defines the challenge, which analytical methods have to compete with and our RIANA instrument with its improved sensitivity for the detection of a single hormone in the lower nanogram per liter range is a powerful tool in aquatic analytics in addition to the common analytical methods.     

Determination of four phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in Dianchi Lake,China

An efficient derivatization method using phenyltrimethylammonium (PTA-OH) has been developed to determine simultaneously four phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals, 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-cumylphenol (4-CP) in surface water of Dianchi Lake (China) by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Compared with silylation of target phenols using N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA)?+?1% trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS), methylation by PTA-OH displayed a higher response and stability based on the investigations of various derivatization conditions, including derivatization solvent, amount of derivatization reagent, reaction temperature and time. Experiments were carried out to examine the performance of the proposed method based on the correlation coefficient, the method quantification limit (MQL), mean recovery rate and relative standard deviation (RSD). Under optimum derivatization conditions, MQLs of the methylated target compounds were all below 1?ng?L^?1. Results revealed that the proposed method exhibited a satisfactory precision and reproducibility for the separation and determination of target phenols. The proposed method had been applied to determine four phenols in surface water of Dianchi Lake located in southwest of China. The concentrations of 4-n-NP, 4-t-OP, BPA and 4-CP were determined to be 13.6-141.6?ng?L^?1, N.D.-56.5?ng?L^?1, N.D.- 4713.6?ng?L^?1 and 23.3-48.5?ng?L^?1, respectively.     

New progress in photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A as representative endocrine disrupting chemicals

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a kind of hazardous pollutants in the environment which threaten the health of humans and animals at very low concentrations. EDCs and corresponding processing methods have been the hottest topics of scientific research in recent years. In this article, the classification, risks, occurrence, fate, and treatment methods of EDCs were briefly summarized. Among all of the treatment methods, photocatalytic degradation was one of the most ideal methods with bright prospects for BPA removal in the future. We summarized several problems restricting the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation and the latest progress, and proposed some suggestions on the improvement of photocatalytic degradation. Finally, mechanism of BPA's photocatalytic degradation had been summarized on the basis of free radical theory. New progress and opinions were provided in this review and we wish to provide a helpful guidance of EDCs removal for international readers.     

Analytical methodologies for determining the occurrence of endocrine disrupting chemicals in sewage treatment plants and natural waters

In this study, a method for assessing the occurrence of trace amounts of 12 representative estrogenic compounds in sewage and surface waters was developed. The selected substances were the phytoestrogens daidzein, genistein and biochanin A, the alkylphenols bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol, the natural hormones 17β-estradiol, estrone, estriol and the synthetic hormone 17α-ethynylestradiol and the mycoestrogens zearalenone and two of its metabolites (α-zearalanol and β-zearalanol). The procedure consists in solid phase extraction (SPE) performed with OASIS cartridges followed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Recoveries were all above 80% for each analyzed aqueous matrices. The developed method was applied to verify the occurrence of endocrine disrupters in environmental samples of sewage influents and effluents of an Italian STP. Phytoestrogens were present in effluents at concentrations ranging from 3 to 83 ng/l, whereas the levels detected for alkylphenols were in the range 13-36 ng/l for bisphenol A and up to 1 μg/l for nonylphenol. Estrogens and zeranols were determined at levels below 30 ng/l. Analysis of a river (Tiber) receiving effluent waters revealed high quantities of bisphenol A (15-29 ng/l) and nonylphenol (up to 1.2 μg/l), whereas the presence of all the other compounds were at levels of few ng/l.     

Microwave-assisted extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of endocrine disrupting chemicals in river sediments

A method for the simultaneous measurement of trace amounts of phenolic xenoestrogens, such as 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 4-tert-butyl-phenol (BP), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), 4-nonylphenol (NP), pentachlorophenol (PCP) and bisphenol A (BPA), in water samples was developed using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) with in situ derivatization followed by thermal desorption (TD)-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The conditions for derivatization with acetic acid anhydride were investigated. A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated stir bar and derivatization reagents were added to 10 ml of water sample and stirring was commenced for 10-180 min at room temperature (25 degrees C) in a headspace vial. Then, the extract was analyzed by TD-GC-MS. The optimum time for SBSE with in situ derivatization was 90 min. The detection limits of 2,4-DCP, BP, OP, NP, PCP and BPA were 2, 1, 0.5, 5, 2 and 2 pg ml(-1), respectively. The method showed good linearity over the concentration ranges of 10, 5, 2, 20, 10 and 10-1000 pg ml(-1) for 2,4-DCP, BP, OP, NP, PCP and BPA, respectively, and the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.99. The average recoveries of those compounds in river water samples were equal to or higher than 93.9% (R.S.D. <7.2%) with correction using the added surrogate standards. This simple, accurate, sensitive and selective method can be used in the determination of trace amounts of phenolic xenoestrogens in river water samples.     

内分泌干扰物质检测技术与农产品质量控制措施研究

内分泌干扰物质(EDC)又称环境激素是指影响和扰乱生物体内分泌系统的有害化学物质的总称.这些物质对生物生殖系统产生严重的影响,引起生殖系统病变.内分泌干扰物质的检测技术研究是21世纪分析化学研究的重点之一.目前在环境中已被直接或间接证实的EDC已有70余种,其中农药及其代谢物占65%以上.提高内分泌干扰物质的检测技术,控制内分泌干扰物质的使用,推广环保型、生态型有机农业和实施农产品质量控制是保证人类社会安全,也是克服"绿色壁垒"、"技术壁垒"的重要手段.     

Degradation of liposome cluster caused by the interaction with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

The interaction between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and liposome clusters was investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy and observed by microscope. Since liposome clusters are composed of small unilamellar liposomes and membrane proteins, they are regarded as a model of plasma membranes. The size of each cluster was 10microm in diameter. UV-vis spectroscopy of liposome clusters showed an apparent absorption at 300nm which was affected by the interaction with EDCs. Four EDCs caused an alteration in absorption in a concentration-dependence manner between 0.1 and 10ppm (i.e. 0.1-10mg/l). Microscopic observation showed that the effect was caused by the degradation of liposome clusters while degradation was induced by the interaction; liposome was broken down by EDCs. This report suggests that the liposome cluster can be applied for universal detection of EDCs based on the interaction between a plasma membrane model and EDCs.     

Quantification of steroids and endocrine disrupting chemicals in rat ovaries by LC-MS/MS for reproductive toxicology assessment

Reproductive function is controlled by a finely tuned balance of androgens and estrogens. Environmental toxicants, notably endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), appear to be involved in the disruption of hormonal balance in several studies. To further describe the effects of selected EDCs on steroid secretion in female rats, we aim to simultaneously investigate the EDC concentration and the sex hormone balance in the ovaries. Therefore, an effective method has been developed for the quantification of the sex steroid hormones (testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, and estrone) and four endocrine disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A, atrazine, and the active metabolites of methoxychlor and vinclozolin) in rat ovaries. The sample preparation procedure is based on the so-called "quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe" approach, and an analytical method was developed to quantify these compounds with low detection limits by liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer. This analytical method, applied to rat ovary samples following subacute EDC exposure, revealed some new findings for toxicological evaluation. In particular, we showed that EDCs with the same described in vitro mechanisms of action have different effects on the gonadal steroid balance. These results highlight the need to develop an integrative evaluation with the simultaneous measurement of EDCs and numerous steroids for good risk assessment.     

Determination of endocrine disrupting chemicals in environmental solid matrices by extraction with a non-ionic surfactant (Tween 80)

A readily applicable method based on extraction by aqueous non-ionic surfactant solutions (Tween 80) and RP-HPLC coupled to fluorescence detection, has been developed for the simultaneous determination of the phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) and nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO) and bisphenol A (BPA) in environmental solid matrices. Clean up of sample extracts was performed on Si-C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. The overall Tween 80 extraction-SPE-RP-HPLC procedure was validated for accuracy and precision by analyzing sediment samples spiked with known amounts of EDCs. Recoveries for NP, NP1EO, NP2EO and BPA and limits of detection are in agreement with conventional extraction methods. The developed methodology was successfully applied to the analysis of target compounds in Italian river sediments, river suspended matter and benthonic macroinvertebrate organisms (oligochaetes Lumbriculus variegatus). Results confirmed that this relatively simple procedure performed satisfactorily in the determination of phenolic EDCs in environmental solid matrices of different complexity and that it can be a suitable alternative method to conventional systems even for routine analyses.     

Analyses of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in marine samples by both gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

With the renovation of Boston Harbor's Deer Island wastewater treatment plant and the extension of its diffuser pipes 15 km further into Massachusetts Bay, there arose the question whether the increased load of its secondary-treated wastewater contained significant amounts of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Sampling from an oceanographic research vessel during the summers of 2003 and 2004 allowed for a unique opportunity to obtain clam, zooplankton, and bottom sediment samples. The samples were prepared by enhanced organic-solvent microwave digestion, followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE), derivatization and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or left un-derivatized and analyzed by LC-UV and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The marine samples, especially parts of the clams, zooplankton and certain bottom sediments were found to contain primarily bisphenol A (BPA) at concentrations of 1-30 ng/g.     

Solid-phase microextraction with on-fiber silylation for simultaneous determinations of endocrine disrupting chemicals and steroid hormones by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and on-fiber silylation, a method for simultaneous determinations of exogenous endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and endogenous steroid hormones in environmental aqueous and biological samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed. The selected target compounds were: octylphenol (OP), technical grade nonylphenol (t-NP), diethylstilbestrol (DES), dehydroisoandrosterone (DEHA), estrone (E1), 17beta-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and pregnenolone (PREG). The optimization of operating conditions influencing the performances of SPME and derivatization were studied in detail. The average correlation coefficient of the calibration curves of the target compounds was 0.9968 and the linear ranges of most compounds spanned over three orders of magnitude. The LOD/(LOQ) values of the target compounds in river water and blood serum were in the range of 0.002-0.378/(0.008-1.261) microg L(-1) and 0.004-0.474/(0.013-1.579) microg L(-1), respectively, which were a bit higher than those in the pure water due to matrix effects. The developed method was applied to the determinations of target compounds in real samples. Exogenous OP, t-NP and DES were at 0.15, 4.67 and 0.02 microg L(-1) in river water and 3.21, 12.17 and 0.15 microg L(-1) in fish blood serum. Natural steroid hormones E1, E2 and T were at 0.18, 0.10 and 5.55 microg L(-1) in river water, and in female fish serum, E1, E2 and PREG were at 1.61, 1.08 and 4.58 microg L(-1), respectively. The proposed SPME method was compared with traditional SPE procedure and the results found using both methods were in the same order of magnitude and both are quite agreeable.     

Development of a biosensor for caffeine

We have utilized a microbe, which can degrade caffeine to develop an Amperometric biosensor for determination of caffeine in solutions. Whole cells of Pseudomonas alcaligenes MTCC 5264 having the capability to degrade caffeine were immobilized on a cellophane membrane with a molecular weight cut off (MWCO) of 3000-6000 by covalent crosslinking method using glutaraledhyde as the bifunctional crosslinking agent and gelatin as the protein based stabilizing agent (PBSA). The biosensor system was able to detect caffeine in solution over a concentration range of 0.1 to 1 mg mL⁻¹. With read-times as short as 3 min, this caffeine biosensor acts as a rapid analysis system for caffeine in solutions. Interestingly, successful isolation and immobilization of caffeine degrading bacteria for the analysis of caffeine described here was enabled by a novel selection strategy that incorporated isolation of caffeine degrading bacteria capable of utilizing caffeine as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen from soils and induction of caffeine degrading capacity in bacteria for the development of the biosensor. This biosensor is highly specific for caffeine and response to interfering compounds such as theophylline, theobromine, paraxanthine, other methyl xanthines and sugars was found to be negligible.Although a few biosensing methods for caffeine are reported, they have limitations in application for commercial samples. The development and application of new caffeine detection methods remains an active area of investigation, particularly in food and clinical chemistry. The optimum pH and temperature of measurement were 6.8 and 30 ± 2 °C, respectively. Interference in analysis of caffeine due to different substrates was observed but was not considerable. Caffeine content of commercial samples of instant tea and coffee was analyzed by the biosensor and the results compared well with HPLC analysis.