Quantitative Single-Molecule Electrochemiluminescence Bioassay

A single-molecule electrochemiluminescence bioassay is developed here which allows imaging and direct quantification of single biomolecules. Imaging single biomolecules is realized by localizing the electrochemiluminescence events of the labeled molecules. Such an imaging system allows mapping the spatial distribution of biomolecules with electrochemiluminescence and contains quantitative single-molecule insights. We further quantify biomolecules by spatiotemporally merging the repeated reactions at one molecule site and then counting the clustered molecules. The proposed single-molecule electrochemiluminescence bioassay is used to detect carcinoembryonic antigen, showing a limit of detection of 67 attomole concentration which is 10 000 times better than conventional electrochemiluminescence bioassays. This spatial resolution and sensitivity enable single-molecule electrochemiluminescence bioassay a new toolbox for both specific bioimaging and ultrasensitive quantitative analysis.     

CALUX measurements: statistical inferences for the dose-response curve

Chemical Activated LUciferase gene eXpression [CALUX] is a reporter gene mammalian cell bioassay used for detection and semi-quantitative analyses of dioxin-like compounds. CALUX dose-response curves for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin [TCDD] are typically smooth and sigmoidal when the dose is portrayed on a logarithmic scale. Non-linear regression models are used to calibrate the CALUX response versus TCDD standards and to convert the sample response into Bioanalytical EQuivalents (BEQs). Several complications may arise in terms of statistical inference, specifically and most important is the uncertainty assessment of the predicted BEQ. This paper presents the use of linear calibration functions based on Box-Cox transformations to overcome the issue of uncertainty assessment. Main issues being addressed are (i) confidence and prediction intervals for the CALUX response, (ii) confidence and prediction intervals for the predicted BEQ-value, and (iii) detection/estimation capabilities for the sigmoid and linearized models. Statistical comparisons between different calculation methods involving inverse prediction, effective concentration ratios (ECR_20-50-80) and slope ratio were achieved with example datasets in order to provide guidance for optimizing BEQ determinations and expand assay performance with the recombinant mouse hepatoma CALUX cell line H1L6.1c3.     

Assessing the effect of oxygen and microbial inhibitors to optimize ferricyanide-mediated BOD assay

Methods for short-term BOD analysis (BOD_st) based on ferricyanide mediator reduction have succeeded in overcoming some problems associated with the standard BOD test analysis (BOD₅) such as long-term incubations (5 days), the need to dilute samples and low reproducibility. Here we present a bioassay where a Klebsiella pneumoniae environmental strain successfully reduces ferricyanide without de-aeration of the samples with linear BOD₅ ranges between 30 and 500 mg L⁻¹ or 30 and 200 mg L⁻¹, using glucose-glutamic acid solution (GGA) or OECD standards respectively. We further propose a new assay termination solution that allows higher reproducibility and standardization of the cell-based assay, employing formaldehyde (22.7 g L⁻¹) or other compounds in order to stop ferricyanide reduction without affecting the amperometric detection and therefore replace the centrifugation step normally used to stop microbial-driven reactions in ferricyanide-mediated bioassays. These improvements led to an accurate determination of real municipal wastewater samples.     

Microplate-based microbial assay for risk assessment and (eco)toxic fingerprinting of chemicals

We have developed a multi-species microbial assay, MARA, for assessing the (eco)toxic risks of chemical compounds and for the determination of their toxic fingerprints. The main advantages with MARA are (1) the simultaneous testing on several microbial strains; (2) the concept of toxic fingerprinting; (3) the simple and inexpensive handling and reading of the test. The toxic activity is measured in parallel on 11 different micro-organisms lyophilised in a microplate. A concentration gradient of the chemical to be tested is added and growth is indicated through the reduction of tetrazolium red (TTC). The microplates are read by a common flatbed scanner or a microplate spectrophotometer. The array of the 11 different inhibition values constitute a toxic fingerprint, characteristic for each type of chemical compound, and it is shown that the assay can distinguish between 12 standard chemicals. Both the reproducibility (CV≈20%) and the sensitivity are similar to other toxicity tests based on micro-organisms.     

基于化学指纹图谱和抗血小板聚集效价的丹参质量评价

通过化学分析和生物活性评价考察丹参药材的品质差异,探讨丹参抗血小板聚集生物活性的主要贡献成分.采用高效液相色谱(HPLC)技术建立丹参药材HPLC指纹图谱,以抗血小板聚集相对效价作为指标,评价不同产地不同批次丹参药材的品质差异,构建基于化学表征及生物效价测定的评价模式.结果表明,不同批次丹参药材的HPLC指纹图谱相似度很高(相似度0.930~0.998),而其抗血小板聚集相对效价相差10倍,提示化学指纹图谱难以反映丹参的活性和质量差异.通过化学指纹图谱与抗血小板聚集生物效价进行谱效相关分析,筛选出与生物活性相关系数大于0.5的6个色谱峰:二氢丹参酮Ⅰ、隐丹参酮、丹参酮Ⅰ、丹参酮ⅡA及2个未知化合物.对上述4种已知化合物单体进行活性验证发现,隐丹参酮的抗血小板聚集活性最强,而其它3种丹参酮类化合物几乎没有体外抗血小板聚集活性.进一步比较丹参中高含量成分丹酚酸B与低含量成分隐丹参酮的活性贡献,结果表明,两者的活性贡献基本相当,说明隐丹参酮是丹参中低含量高活性成分,对评价丹参质量具有重要贡献度.     

Molecular recognition of endocrine disruptors by synthetic and natural 17β-estradiol receptors: a comparative study

A β-estradiol receptor binding mimic was synthesised using molecular imprinting. Bulk polymers and spherical polymer nanoparticles based on methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the functional monomer and crosslinker, respectively, were prepared in acetonitrile. The selectivity was evaluated by radioligand binding assays. The imprinted polymers were very specific to β-estradiol since the control polymers bound virtually none of the radioligand. The bulk polymer was then employed to screen endocrine disrupting chemicals. Structurally related steroids like α-estradiol, estrone and ethynylestradiol showed, respectively, 14.0, 5.0 and 0.7% of relative binding to the β-estradiol polymer, whereas most unrelated chemicals did not bind at all. These results are compared to those obtained with a bioassay using stably transfected yeast cells in culture bearing the human estrogen receptor. The receptor was activated by several estrogen-like chemicals and to a lesser extent by some structurally related chemicals. Figure A molecularly imprinted polymer that was a synthetic receptor for beta-estradiol was used for the screening of endocrine disrupting chemicals that are structurally related or unrelated to beta-estradiol. The results were compared with the recognition of the compounds by the biological estrogen receptor expressed in yeast cells. Related steroids like alpha-estradiol, estrone and ethynylestradiol showed significant binding to the beta-estradiol imprinted polymer, whereas most unrelated chemicals did not bind. The biological receptor was activated by several estrogen-like chemicals, and to a lesser extent by some structurally related chemicals     

二(口恶)英类化合物分析研究进展

介绍了同位素稀释气相色谱与质谱联用和生物检测法测定二恶英类化合物的研究进展，概述了国际通用的二恶英类标准分析方法体系，综述了我国二恶英类化合物分析的研究现状并对我国开展二恶英类分析检测提出了建议和展望。     

Nanomaterial-amplified chemiluminescence systems and their applications in bioassays

Nanomaterial-amplified chemiluminescence (CL) has become a growing area of interest in recent years. We review the development of nanomaterial-amplified CL systems and their applications in bioassays. We mainly focus on nanoparticles (gold, platinum, silver, bimetallic, semiconductor and magnetic). Furthermore, we discuss some critical challenges in this field and possible solutions to overcome these challenges.     

Microbiological Assay of Tetracycline with a Potentiometric CO2 Gas Sensor

Abstract

A novel potentiometric method for the determination of the antibiotic tetracycline in pharmaceutical preparations is reported. The method is based on the inhibition of respiration of a suspension of Escherichia cole, which is measured with a potentiometric carbon dioxide sensor. The dose-response curve of carbon dioxide produced versus the logarithm of the tetracycline hydro-chloride concentration is linear from 33 to 167 μg/ml. Good agreement with the label claim was obtained in the assay of a pharmaceutical preparation of tetracycline hydrochloride.