Preparation of Polyclonal Antibodies with Application for an Organophosphorus Pesticide Immunoassay

Haptens of dichlorvos and paraoxon were conjugated to the carrier proteins of bovine serum albumin. The obtained conjugates were characterized by infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The binding ratios of dichlorvos and paraoxon-to-carrier proteins were also evaluated. The number of hapten molecules per protein molecule of dichlorvos–cationized bovine serum albumin conjugate was higher than for paraoxon–bovine serum albumin conjugate. The sheep polyclonal antibodies were produced against the dichlorvos and paraoxon. New multipolyclonal antibodies were obtained and characterized following the immunization of a 1:1 mixture of the immunogens for the simultaneous determination of dichlorvos and paraoxon by the immunoassay. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to characterize the reactivity of the antibodies to hapten conjugates. The multiantibodies showed lower affinities than the separate antibodies, but their affinities were sufficient for an immunoassay for the simultaneous determination of the analytes. The detection limit and linear range for the determination of dichlorvos and paraoxon alone and together were determined. The recovery was characterized to determine dichlorvos and paraoxon fortified in model solutions and milk. These results demonstrate the potential of this immunoassay for the quantitative screening of dichlorvos and paraoxon.     

Homogeneous indirect fluorescence quenching immunoassay for the determination of low molecular weight substances

This paper describes the principle of a homogeneous indirect fluorescence quenching immunoassay that uses monoclonal antibodies. It is a carrier-free assay system that is performed completely in solution. The assay system was established for the determination of a low molecular weight substance (hapten), the herbicide diuron, used as a model analyte. A fluorescein–monuron conjugate together with a fluorescence-quenching monoclonal anti-fluorescein antibody and an anti-analyte antibody (here an anti-diuron/monuron monoclonal antibody) were used as central components of the assay. The fluorescein–monuron conjugate can be bound either by the anti-fluorescein monoclonal antibody or by the anti-diuron/monuron monoclonal antibody. Due to steric hindrance, binding of both antibodies to the conjugate was not possible at the same time. By selecting the antibody concentrations appropriately, a dynamic equilibrium can be established that permits the preferential binding of the anti-diuron/monuron antibody to the conjugate, which allows the fluorescein in the conjugate to fluoresce. This equilibrium can be easily altered by adding free analyte (diuron), which competes with the conjugate to bind to the anti-diuron/monuron antibody. A reduction of anti-diuron/monuron antibody binding to the conjugate results in an increase in the binding of the anti-fluorescein antibody, which leads to a decrease in the fluorescence of the conjugate. The fluorescence is therefore a direct indicator of the state of equilibrium of the system and thus also the presence of free unconjugated analyte. The determination of an analyte based on this test principle does not require any washing steps. After the test components are mixed, the dynamic equilibrium is rapidly reached and the results can be obtained in less than 5 min by measuring the fluorescence of the fluorescein. We used this test principle for the determination of diuron, which was demonstrated for concentrations of ∼5 nM.     

Preparation and characterization of digoxin antibody and its application to immunoassays: comparison of performance characteristics between enzyme immunoassay and immunostrip test

After characterizing digoxin immunogens and antibodies, we investigated the assay performances of enzyme immunoassay (EIA), biotin–streptavidin mediated enzyme immunoassay (B-Av EIA), and immunostrip test and compared the effectiveness of these tests for detecting the presence of digoxin and its analogues. The clinical use of digoxin is very complicated due to its narrow therapeutic range. Thus, the development of a rapid and simple detection device has been needed. In our study, we determined digoxin levels by EIA and B-Av EIA, and compared these tests with the immunotest strip to determine the possibility of personal monitoring at the bedside. Three kinds of digoxin antibodies were produced from various digoxin–BSA immunogens (digoxin/BSA molar ratio of 15:1, 50:1, and 200:1 in their preparation step). The antibodies produced were purified by the immunoaffinity chromatography using digoxin–KLH or digoxin–BSA as the affinity ligand. Antibody #7 and its matching coating ligand of digoxin–KLH were selected by titration and sensitivity studies for use in EIA and B-Av EIA. Colloidal gold-labeled antibody #7 on a glass fiber membrane and digoxin–BSA on a nitrocellulose membrane were selected for the immunostrip preparation. The EIA and B-Av EIA could detect 0.01 ppb digoxin within 2.5 h, but the immunostrip could detect 0.01 ppm within 3 min, which was three orders less sensitive than EIA or B-Av EIA.     

Enzyme immunoassay for aflatoxin B1-lysine adduct and its validation

A simple procedure was developed for in vitro synthesis and characterization of aflatoxin B1-lysine adduct using aflatoxin B1, N-alpha-acetyl lysine and m-chloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA). At a molar ratio of 1:16 (aflatoxin B1:N-alpha-cetyl lysine), the recovery of adduct was 62%. Analysis of the adduct by thin-layer chromatography showed a single spot (Rf = 0). Absorption spectra of the adduct showed 2 peaks at 275 and 335 nm. Liquid chromatographic (LC) analysis of the AFB1-lysine adduct showed a relative retention time of 2.1 min. Using the same epoxidation procedure, BSA-AFB1 adduct and ovalbumin-AFB1 adduct were synthesized for production of antibodies and as coating antigen, respectively. Control rat serum, spiked with AFB1-lysine adduct and subjected to LC analysis showed a retention time of 2.1 min, which is similar to that of AFB1-lysine reference standard, synthesized. Further, enzymatically hydrolyzed, control rat serum spiked with BSA-AFB1 adduct showed 2 peaks with retention times of 2.1 and 2.7 min. Based on the LC analysis, recovery of BSA-AFB1 in terms of AFB1-lysine adducts was 67 +/- 5%. The major peak (2.1 min) accounted for 72% of the adduct; the second minor peak (2.7 min) accounted for 28% of the total AFB1-lysine adducts formed. Stability studies on the AFB1-lysine adduct synthesized, indicated that it was stable for 1 month. Antibody capture assay showed an absorbance of 0.9 to 1.0 at a dilution of 1:50,000 when ovalbumin-AFB1 was used as a coating antigen. Indirect competitive ELISA showed 50% displacement (IC50) of the antibodies at a concentration of 13 ng AFB1-lysine, whereas the IC50 for AFB1 was 7 ng. The recovery of AFB1-lysine adduct spiked to control rat serum followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and immunoanalysis (indirect ELISA) was 93 +/- 6%. The enzyme immunoassay was validated by a rodent model, in which the animals were exposed to aflatoxin B1 (20 microg AFB1/kg body mass/day). The level of AFB1-lysine adduct in the rat serum was 27.3 +/- 4.37 microg/mg albumin.     

Characterization of s-triazine antibodies and comparison of enzyme immunoassay and biotin-avidin enzyme immunoassay for the determination of s-triazine

Triazines have been used widely as herbicides and known to cause environmental contamination. For developing ELISA of s-triazines, six kinds of s-triazine derivatives (one from simazine, one from atrazine and four from cyanuric chloride) which contained a C3- or C6-carboxylic acid group bridge were prepared. These derivatives were conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) for the use of immunogens and to KLH for the use of coating ligands on the microtiter plate wells. Polyclonal antibodies produced from rabbit or sheep using atrazine-BSA (1b-BSA) and simazine-BSA (1a-BSA) immunogens. These antibodies were characterized and biotinylated for the use of enzyme immunoassay (EIA). We evaluated EIA and biotin-streptavidin mediated EIA in terms of the sensitivities and specificities with these antibodies. The results in both assay systems showed that coating ligand synthesized from atrazine derivative was better than that from simazine derivative. Comparing binding ability between C3-carboxylic acid and C6-carboxylic acid spacers of N-alkyl group in s-triazine ring, C3-carboxylate-KLH (2c-KLH) derived from atrazine showed better sensitivity for the both assay systems. The detection limit was found to be 0.01 ppb in biotin-streptavidin mediated EIA (B-Av EIA). Comparing IC₉₀ values of EIA (0.5 ppb) and B-Av EIA (0.05 ppb), B-Av EIA was able to detect one order lower concentration range of atrazine than EIA.     

Development of a one step strip test for the detection of sulfadimidine residues.

The one step strip test described is a competitive immunoassay in which the detector reagent consists of colloidal gold particles coated with affinity purified polyclonal anti-sulfadimidine (SDD) antibodies. The capture reagent in the assay is an SDD-ovalbumin conjugate which is immobilised on the lateral flow membrane of the test device. In the test procedure, 150 microliters (four drops) of a liquid sample (buffer, urine or milk) are brought into the sample well of the test device and allowed to migrate over the membrane. The more analyte present in the sample, the more effectively it will compete with the SDD immobilised on the membrane for binding to the limited amount of antibodies of the detector reagent. A sufficient amount of SDD in the sample will therefore prevent the binding of the detector reagent to the SDD immobilised on the membrane. Therefore, a positive sample will not show a test line in the read-out zone. With spiked buffer or calf urine this was obtained at a level of > 10 ng ml-1 of SDD and with spiked (diluted) fresh cow milk at a level > 20 ng ml-1 of SDD. At these levels, the test is applicable only as a qualitative assay. The presence or absence of a test line indicates lower or higher levels of SDD, respectively. The major advantages of the one step strip test are that results can be obtained within 10 min and that all reagents are included in the test device.     

Development of Magnetic Particle-based Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immunoassay for the Detection of 17β-estradiol in Environmental Water

In the present work, a simple, fast, and highly sensitive chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay for 17β-estradiol (E2) in environmental water samples was developed, using magnetic particles (MPs) labeled with secondary antibody as both the immobilization matrix and the separation tools. The specific anti-E2 polyclonal antibody (PcAb) was produced against a conjugate of estradiol–bovine serum albumin. The specificity of the anti-E2 antibody was studied. The results showed that the antibody did not cross-react with the structurally related endocrine-disrupting compounds, including estrone, ethinyl E2, estriol, E2-17-glucuronide, E2-3-sulfate-17-glucuronide, androstenedione, and dihydrotestosterone. The water samples were pretreated with solid-phase extraction using C₁₈ cartridges for the removal of matrix effects. Several physicochemical parameters including the dilution ratios of E2-6–horseradish peroxidase conjugate and anti-E2 PcAb, immunoreaction time, volume of chemiluminescent substrate and MPs, chemiluminescence reaction time, and pH of assay solution were studied and optimized. At optimal experimental conditions, it was found that the proposed method exhibited high performance with detection limit of 2.0 pg/mL, linear range of 20–1,200 pg/mL, and total assay time of 45 min. Both inter- and intra-assay coefficient of variation were less than 10%. The average recoveries of three different spiked concentration samples ranged from 86.3% to 108%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of E2 in river, waste, and tap water, and showed a good correlation with the commercially available radioimmunoassay kit.     

Direct detection of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in saliva using a novel homogeneous competitive immunoassay with fluorescence quenching

For the detection of the major active component of cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in aqueous samples, a homogeneous competitive immunoassay based on fluorescence quenching induced by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) has been developed. The fluorescence of anti-THC-antibody, labeled with fluorescence dye DY-481XL, can be quenched after its binding to THC-BSA-quencher conjugate (bovine serum albumin coupled with THC and another fluorescence dye, DYQ-661, as quencher). This quenching effect is inhibited when the antibodies bind to free THC in aqueous sample, thus competing for binding sites with the THC-BSA-quencher conjugate. The extent of the inhibition corresponds to the concentration of THC in the samples. The assay principle is simple and the test duration is within 10 min. The detection limit for THC in buffer was 2 ng mL⁻¹. In pooled saliva samples a detection limit of 50 ng mL⁻¹ was achieved.     

Displacement immunoassay for the detection of ochratoxin A using ochratoxin B modified glass beads

We report here the development of a new assay for the detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) based on the use of its dechlorinated analogue, ochratoxin B (OTB), in a displacement immunoassay. OTB was immobilised on controlled-pore glass beads followed by the binding of anti-OTA antibody, with anti-IgG antibody peroxidase conjugate used as a label. In this manner, an original bio-sensing material was obtained. Upon incubation of this material with OTA, the toxin competes with OTB for the binding sites of the anti-OTA antibodies and releases the antibody-tagged peroxidase complex into the solution. Compared to classic competitive immunoassays, this newly developed displacement immunoassay presents a similar detection limit and assay time. Moreover, the detection, based on the activity of the horseradish peroxidase, is performed for the first time in situ using wine samples.     

Rapid polyelectrolyte-based immunofiltration technique for testosterone detection in serum samples

A new immunofiltration assay for testosterone is proposed. During the first step of the assay, testosterone molecules in serum samples compete in solution with the testosterone-peroxidase conjugate for interaction with anti-testosterone antibodies pre-bound to the conjugate between staphylococcal protein A and polymethacrylate polyanion. The reaction mixture is then filtered through a membrane charged with immobilized poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium) polycation. The filtration is accompanied by a rapid separation of the polyanion containing complexes due to high-affinity electrostatic interactions. Following removal of unbound compounds the immobilized peroxidase is detected using a substrate that produces an insoluble coloured product. The proposed assay has been shown to combine high speed (20 min) and sensitivity (0.1 ng ml(-1)), and to be applicable for out-of-laboratory conditions. Based on densitometric measurements, the RSD of the assay is calculated to be 3.2-5.1% (n = 4). The proposed assay is 4 times faster than the microplate enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) based on the same immunoreagents. Pre-incubation of the antibody and the polyanion-protein A conjugate at a certain ratio excludes the influence of immunoglobulins from the tested serum samples on the assay results. The polyanion-protein A conjugate can be used as a universal reagent, eliminating the necessity to modify specific antibodies for each immunoassay.     

New highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the determination of pravastatin in human plasma

New highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) has been developed and validated for the determination of pravastatin (PRV) in human plasma samples. PRV was coupled to keyhole limpt hemocyanin (KLH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) via its terminal carboxylic acid group by carbodiimide reagent. PRV-KLH conjugate was used as an immunogen for raising anti-PRV polyclonal antibody in rabbits. The generated anti-PRV antibody recognized PRV with high affinity and selectivity. PRV-BSA conjugate was immobilized onto microwell plates and used as a solid phase. The assay involved a competitive binding reaction between PRV, in plasma sample, and the immobilized PRV-BSA for the binding sites on a limited amount of the anti-PRV antibody. The anti-PRV antibody bound to the plate wells was quantified with horseradish peroxidase-labeled anti-immunoglobulin second anti-rabbit IgG antibody and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine as a substrate for the peroxidase enzyme. The concentration of PRV in the sample was quantified by its ability to inhibit the binding of the anti-PRV antibody to the immobilized PRV-BSA and subsequently the color development in the assay wells. The conditions of the proposed EIA were investigated and the optimum conditions were employed in the determination of PRV in plasma samples. The assay limit of detection was 0.2 ng mL⁻¹ and the effective working range at relative standard deviation (RSD) of ≤5% was 0.5-20 ng mL⁻¹. The mean analytical recovery of PRV from spiked plasma was 100.9 ± 2.98%. The precision of the assay was satisfactory; RSD was 2.61-3.70 and 3.96-4.17% for intra- and inter-assay precision, respectively. The analytical procedure is convenient, and one can analyze ∼200 samples per working day, facilitating the processing of large-number batch of samples. The proposed EIA has a great value in the routine analysis of PRV in plasma samples for its therapeutic monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies.     

Development of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the detection of phenyl-β-d-thioglucuronide in human urine

Immunoassays for the measurement of glucuronides in human urine can be a helpful tool for the assessment of human exposure to toxic chemicals. Therefore an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the specific detection of phenyl-β-d-thioglucuronide was developed. The immunoconjugate was formed by coupling p-aminophenyl-β-d-thioglucuronide to the carrier protein thyroglobulin leaving an exposed glucuronic acid. The hapten-protein conjugate was adsorbed to gold colloids in order to enhance the immunogenic effect. Rabbits were injected with the immunogold conjugates to raise polyclonal antibodies. The resulting competitive assay showed an inhibition by phenyl-β-d-thioglucuronide at sample concentrations of 23.0 ± 1.3 ng/mL (50% B/B₀) and a high cross-reactivity to p-aminophenyl-β-D-thioglucuronide (120%). Little cross-reactivities (< 2%) were observed for potential urinary cross reactants. In addition human urine samples were incubated with β-glucuronidase in order to investigate the EIA for specific matrix effects. An integration of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and EIA was developed in an attempt to decrease the matrix effects and increase the sensitivity of the overall method. The hyphenated technique HPLC-EIA may be used to monitor human exposure to toxic thiophenol which is excreted by mammals as urinary phenyl thioglucuronide.     

Application of capillary isotachophoresis to the analysis of glutathione conjugates

An analytical capillary isotachophoretic method has been applied for the quantitative assay of reduced glutathione (GSH) conjugates produced by the cytosolic enzyme GSH S-transferase. The donor molecule GSH in reduced and oxidized (GSSG) forms and the GSH conjugates of at least two electrophilic acceptors can be assayed in a single analysis. This technique also permits the quantitative assay of further metabolites of GSH conjugates including mercapturic acids. The total analysis time was of the order of 30 min. The sensitivity of the method is sufficient for the accurate detection of 0.15 nmol GSH conjugate of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and p-nitrobenzyl chloride, 0.2 nmol GSH conjugate of 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)-propane and 0.15 nmol GSH. The present method is simple, accurate and does not require radioactively labelled compounds or separate analytical procedures.     

Automated flow immunoassay for detection of food allergen using anion-exchange resin and alkaline phosphatase conjugated immunoglobulin G

A novel automated flow immunoassay system is developed for the detection of wheat protein as a food allergen. A polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was isolated from serum of a rat with a wheat allergy, then reductively treated using dithiothreitol and covalently coupled to alkaline phosphatase. This conjugate was used in a non-competitive binding assay. The automated system was equipped with an immunoreaction column, an anion-exchange column, a luminescent reaction column and a photodetector. Antibody–antigen complexes were separated from their free conjugate on the basis of a difference in isoelectric point (pI) by an anion-exchange column. This simple technique permits the assay of wheat-protein allergen in 25 min with a reliable detection limit of 5 μg/ml. The anion-exchange column was regenerated by occasional elution with N-methylpiperazine buffer (pH 5.0) containing 0.5 M NaCl, to remove free conjugate. Free conjugate recovered in this manner could be reused up to four times without significant decrease in sensitivity of the immunoassay.     

Zwitterionic reagents for labeling, cross-linking and improving the performance of chemiluminescent immunoassays

Improving reagent performance in immunoassays both to enhance assay sensitivity and to minimize interference are ongoing challenges in clinical diagnostics. We describe herein the syntheses of a new class of hydrophilic reagents containing sulfobetaine zwitterions and their applications. These zwitterionic reagents are potentially useful for improving the properties of immunoassay reagents. We demonstrate for the first time that zwitterion labeling is a general and viable strategy for reducing the non-specific binding of proteins to microparticles and, to improve the aqueous solubility of hydrophobic peptides. We also describe the synthesis of zwitterionic cross-linking reagents and demonstrate their utility for peptide conjugation. In automated, chemiluminescent immunoassays, improved assay performance was observed for a hydrophobic, small analyte (theophylline) using an acridinium ester conjugate with a zwitterionic sulfobetaine linker compared to a hexa(ethylene)glycol linker. Sandwich assay performance for a large analyte (thyroid stimulating hormone) was similar for the two acridinium ester labels. These results indicate that zwitterions are complementary to poly(ethylene)glycol in improving the aqueous solubility and reducing the non-specific binding of chemiluminescent acridinium ester conjugates.     

Development of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the detection of phenyl-beta-D-thioglucuronide in human urine

Immunoassays for the measurement of glucuronides in human urine can be a helpful tool for the assessment of human exposure to toxic chemicals. Therefore an enzyme imimunoassay (EIA) for the specific detection of phenyl-beta-D-thioglucuronide was developed. The immunoconjugate was formed by coupling p-aminophenyl-beta-D-thioglucuronide to the carrier protein thyroglobulin leaving an exposed glucuronic acid. The hapten-protein conjugate was adsorbed to gold colloids in order to enhance the immunogenic effect. Rabbits were injected with the immunogold conjugates to raise polyclonal antibodies. The resulting competitive assay showed an inhibition by phenyl-beta-D-thioglucuronide at sample concentrations of 23.0 +/- 1.3 ng/mL (50% B/B0) and a high cross-reactivity to p-aminophenyl-beta-D-thioglucuronide (120%). Little cross-reactivities (< 2%) were observed for potential urinary cross reactants. In addition human urine samples were incubated with beta-glucuronidase in order to investigate the EIA for specific matrix effects. An integration of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and EIA was developed in an attempt to decrease the matrix effects and increase the sensitivity of the overall method. The hyphenated technique HPLC-EIA may be used to monitor human exposure to toxic thiophenol which is excreted by mammals as urinary phenyl thioglucuronide.     

Different Biotinylation Strategies for Competitive Immunoassay of Estradiol

Study on biotinylation strategies for competitive immunoassay of estradiol (E2) was carried out. Two types of competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with Biotin-Avidin amplification system were established and optimized.The E2-Biotin conjugate was used as a tracer in one assay, and biotinylated antibody was used as a tracer in the other. In both of EIAs, horseradish peroxidase-labelled Avidin (Avidin-HRP) was used with a spectrometric determination of enzyme activity. The precision, sensitivity and specificity were measured and compared. The results showed that although both were satisfactory in specificity, the EIA with hapten-Biotin showed to be superior to the EIA with biotinylated antibody in sensitivity and precision. The limit of detection of serum E2 was 8 and 50 pg/mL with E2-Biotin and biotinylated antibody as tracer, respectively.     

Detection of analyte binding to microarrays using gold nanoparticle labels and a desktop scanner

Microarray hybridization or antibody binding can be detected by many techniques, however, only a few are suitable for widespread use since many of these detection techniques rely on bulky and expensive instruments. Here, we describe the usefulness of a simple and inexpensive detection method based on gold nanoparticle labeled antibodies visualized by a commercial, office desktop flatbed scanner. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that the signal from the flatbed scanner was proportional to the surface density of the bound antibody-gold conjugates, and that the flatbed scanner could detect six attomoles of antibody-gold conjugates. This detection system was used in a competitive immunoassay to measure the concentration of the pesticide metabolite 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) in water samples. The results showed that the gold labeled antibodies functioned comparably with a fluorescent based immunoassay for detecting BAM in water. A qualitative immunoassay based on gold-labeled antibodies could determine if a water sample contained BAM above and below 60-70 ng L(-1), which is below the maximum allowed BAM concentration for drinking water (100 ng L(-1)) according to European Union legislation.     

管式磁微粒化学发光免疫分析法测定玉米样品中的黄曲霉毒素B1

开发了一种管式磁微粒化学发光免疫分析法测定玉米样品中黄曲霉毒素B1的方法,该方法使待测玉米样品中的黄曲霉毒素B1、辣根过氧化物酶标记的黄曲霉毒素B1与异硫氰酸荧光素(FITC)标记的黄曲霉毒素B1单克隆抗体在均相体系中发生竞争性免疫反应,再加入用抗FITC抗体包被的磁微粒作分离剂,抗原抗体复合物结合在磁微粒上,在磁场中经分离、洗涤后加发光底物,检测发光强度,测定玉米样品中黄曲霉毒素B1的含量.此方法标准曲线线性范围为0.05～5ng/mL,检测限为0.02ng/mL,批内相对标准偏差小于9%,批间相对标准偏差小于15%,具有良好的稳定性和重现性.     

Oligoarginine-based prodrugs with self-cleavable spacers for caco-2 cell permeation

In the development of oligoarginine-based prodrugs with self-cleavable spacers for intestinal absorption, we previously reported a series of spacers with variable half-lives of parent compound release based on a neighboring group participation mechanism from an amino acid side-chain structure next to the succinyl moiety. In the present study, to diversify the half-life of the spacer, we first synthesized several additional fluorescein isothiocyanate ethanolamine (FE)-heptaarginine conjugates (4d--g) and evaluated their conversion time. To investigate the overall cellular uptake of FE-heptaarginine conjugates, the cellular uptakes of FE-heptaarginines 4a and 4b possessing the longest and shortest half-lives, respectively, were evaluated using HeLa cells by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Conjugate 4a with a longer half-life was more efficiently taken up by the cells than conjugate 4b. However, in term of the transport rate of parent FE 1 in in vitro Caco-2 cell permeation assay, conjugate 4b with a short half-life could function more efficiently that conjugate 4a. To understand the reason for this discrepant finding, fluorescence on the basal side medium after treatment with conjugate 4b in the permeation assay was determined. It became apparent that the fluorescence was mostly from the parent FE 1 itself, and not conjugate 4b, suggesting that the conjugate was cleaved inside the cells. Moreover, the conversion time of conjugate 4b (t1/2=9.4 min at pH 7.4) was significantly extended in slightly acidic media. These results suggest that the conversion rate was slowed in the relatively acidic endosomal environment where the conjugate was transferred after endocytosis, and resulted in a favorable migration time across the cells. The other conjugates, including conjugate 4a, were more stable inside of the cell, resulting in very long conversion times that were ineffective in increasing the permeation rate. Therefore, spacers with shorter half lives, in order to produce a larger amount of the parent compound inside the cells are promising development for effective oligoarginine-based cargo-transporter systems to enhance intestinal absorption of parent drugs with low permeability.