Development of a chemiluminescence-based quantitative lateral flow immunoassay for on-field detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Simple, rapid and highly sensitive assays, possibly allowing on-site analysis, are required in the security and forensic fields or to obtain early signs of environmental pollution. Several bioanalytical methods and biosensors based on portable devices have been developed for this purpose. Among them, Lateral Flow ImmunoAssays (LFIAs) offer the advantages of rapidity and ease of use and, thanks to the high specificity of antigen–antibody binding, allow greatly simplifying and reducing sample pre-analytical treatments. However, LFIAs usually employ colloidal gold or latex beads as labels and they rely on the formation of colored bands visible by the naked eye. With this assay format, only qualitative or semi-quantitative information can be obtained and low sensitivity is achieved. Recently, the use of enzyme-catalyzed chemiluminescence detection in LFIA has been proposed to overcome these problems. In this work, we describe the development of a quantitative CL-LFIA assay for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in real samples. Thanks to the use of a portable imaging device for CL signal measurement based on a thermoelectrically cooled CCD camera, the analysis could be performed directly on-field. A limit of detection of 0.2 μg mL⁻¹ TNT was obtained, which is five times lower than that obtained with a previously described colloidal gold-based LFIA developed employing the same immunoreagents. The dynamic range of the assay extended up to 5 μg mL⁻¹ TNT and recoveries ranging from 97% to 111% were obtained in the analysis of real samples (post blast residues obtained from controlled explosion).     

Multiplex competitive microbead-based flow cytometric immunoassay using quantum dot fluorescent labels

In answer to the ever-increasing need to perform the simultaneous analysis of environmental hazards, microcarrier-based multiplex technologies show great promise. Further integration with biofunctionalized quantum dots (QDs) creates new opportunities to extend the capabilities of multicolor flow cytometry with their unique fluorescence properties. Here, we have developed a competitive microbead-based flow cytometric immunoassay using QDs fluorescent labels for simultaneous detection of two analytes, bringing the benefits of sensitive, rapid and easy-of-manipulation analytical tool for environmental contaminants. As model target compounds, the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-LR and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound benzo[a]pyrene were selected. The assay was carried out in two steps: the competitive immunological reaction of multiple targets using their exclusive sensing elements of QD/antibody detection probes and antigen-coated microsphere, and the subsequent flow cytometric analysis. The fluorescence of the QD-encoded microsphere was thus found to be inversely proportional to target analyte concentration. Under optimized conditions, the proposed assay performed well within 30 min for the identification and quantitative analysis of the two environmental contaminants. For microcystin-LR and benzo[a]pyrene, dose–response curves with IC₅₀ values of 5 μg L⁻¹ and 1.1 μg L⁻¹ and dynamic ranges of 0.52–30 μg L⁻¹ and 0.13–10 μg L⁻¹ were obtained, respectively. Recovery was 92.6–106.5% for 5 types of water samples like bottled water, tap water, surface water and seawater using only filtration as sample pretreatment.     

Amperometric Immunoassay of Azinphos‐Methyl in Water and Honeybees Based on Indirect Competitive ELISA

Abstract

An electrochemical immunosensor based on indirect competitive ELISA technique has been developed and tested for the detection of azinphos‐methyl in aqueous solutions and spiked honeybee extracts. The detection of the pesticide was based on competition for binding to monoclonal antibodies with an ovalbumin (OVA) conjugate, followed by the incubation with anti‐mouse IgG labeled with horseradish peroxidase, whose activity was measured amperometrically with hydroquinone as the substrate. The sensitivity of the azinphos‐methyl assay, estimated as the IC₅₀ value, was found to be 1.2 nmol L^?1 (60 min incubation), with a linear range of 0.6–500 nmol L^?1 in optimal conditions. The matrix effect on the detection of azinphos‐methyl in honeybee extract was found negligible, with the recovery values in the range 92–105%.     

Sequential Injection System with Modified Glass Capillary for Automation in Immunoassay of Chondroitin Sulfate

Sequential injection was introduced to perform a multi-step immunoassay. Modified low cost hematocrit glass capillary was employed as the immobilization surface for a competitive immunoassay of chondroitin sulfate (CS), a potential biomarker for cancer. Glass capillary is low cost and adapts well to the flow system without causing back pressure. The analysis time per sample run with automation of the multi-step immunoassay is improved as compared to the conventional batch-wise micro-plate format. The performance of the sequential injection capillary immunoassay (SI-CI) system for CS was evaluated with spiked human serum samples.     

Novel and Sensitive Noncompetitive Enzyme Immunoassay (Hetero-Two-Site Enzyme Immunoassay) for Arginine Vasopressin

Abstract

A novel and sensitive noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (hetero-two-site enzyme immunoassay) for arginine vasopressin in plasma is described. Plasma (0.3 ml) was diluted 1.3-fold with an appropriate buffer and filtered by centrifugation in a micro-concentrator with polysaccharide membrane to eliminate plasma proteins. Arginine vasopressin in plasma filtrates was biotinylated and trapped onto anti-arginine vasopressin IgG-coated polystyrene balls. After washing the polystyrene balls to eliminate other biotinylated substances, the biotinylated arginine vasopressin was eluted from the polystyrene balls with HCl and was reacted with anti-arginine vasopressin Fab′-peroxidase conjugate. The complex formed was trapped onto streptavidin-coated polystyrene balls. Peroxidase activity bound to the polystyrene balls was assayed by fluorometry. The detection limit of arginine vasopressin was 11 fg (10 amol)/tube. This was 45-fold lower than that by competitive enzyme immunoassay using the same antiserum as used in this study and 9 to 400-fold lower than those previously reported by competitive radioimmunoassays. The assay range of arginine vasopressin in plasma was 0.14–140 ng /l using 100 μl of plasma filtrates corresponding to 75 u1 o f plasma. Plasma levels of arginine vasopressin i n 8 healthy subjects aged 25–41 yr with, ad libitum water in take and normal activity approximately 4 h after breakfast were 0.72 ± 0.22 (SD) ng /l (range, 0.42–1.04 ng /l).     

An Enzyme Immunoassay for the Determination of Methabenzthiazuron

Abstract

A sensitive enzyme immunoassay is described for the determination of the urea herbicide methabenzthiazuron. The assay is carried out with polyclonal antibodies, which were raised in rabbits by immunization with a methabenzthiazuron-BSA conjugate containing five methabenzthiazuron residues per molecule. The ELISA was optimized on microtiter plates with a peroxidase-methabenzthiazuron tracer. The middle of the test (50% B/B₀) was found at 1.0 μg/l. The lower detection limit of methabenzthiazuron is c. 0.05 μg/l. Samples can be measured up to 10 μg/l methabenzthiazuron (upper detection limit). The assay does not require concentration or clean-up steps for drinking or ground water samples. Validation experiments showed a good accuracy and precision. Work with monoclonal antibodies is in progress.     

A Simultaneous Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay for Anti-Thyroglobulin Autoantibody in Human Serum

Abstract

A “simultaneous” enzyme-linked immunoassay for the measurement of anti-thyroglobulin autoantibody in human serum was studied, in which human thyroglobulin-coated silicone rubber rod, ß-D-galactosidase- or horseradish peroxidase-conjugated human thyroglobulin and serum sample were mixed at the same time. In order to obtain a suitable range of the measurable antibody, an appropriate amount of human thyroglobulin-enzyme conjugate was carefully selected. A successful simultaneous assay for antithyroglobulin was obtained using thyroglobulin-ß-D-galactosidase conjugate, in which the minimum amount of detectable antibody was approximately 10 ng/ml using 5 μl of serum. This sensitivity was 20-fold higher than that in two-step sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay reported previously.     

Analysis of Enestroburin Residues in Wheat and Soil by Solid Phase Extraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A method was developed for the determination of enestroburin residues in wheat grain, wheat straw, and soil by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC-UV. The analytes were extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned up by PestiCarb/NH₂ cartridges and determined by HPLC with UV detector. This method is characterized by recovery >88.0%, precision (RSD) <7.8% and sensitivity of 0.005 mg/kg, in agreement with directives for method validation in residue analysis. The proposed method was successfully employed for the determination of enestroburin residue levels and its dissipation rates in a field trial in Beijing, China. Dissipation study shows that the half life of enestroburin in wheat straw was 5.35–5.81 days and in soil was 6.13–6.75 days. When enestroburin was applied according to the recommended dose and doubled dose, the final residue in wheat grain was both lower than 0.2 mg/kg. A harvest interval should be more than 7 d, and a dosage of 100–200 g (a.i.)/ha was suggested and considered as safe to human beings and animals.     

增强型酶催化发光免疫分析法高灵敏测定血清中心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ

基于辣根过氧化物酶（HRP）催化 H₂O₂-Luminol系统,对一种新型酚类衍生物 4-（1,2,4-三氮唑-1-基）苯酚对化学发光的增强作用进行了研究。用HRP标记急性心肌梗死标志物心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ（cTnⅠ）单克隆抗体,通过cTnⅠ的双抗体夹心免疫反应,建立了简单、灵敏和快速检测人血清中的cTnⅠ含量的增强型酶发光免疫分析方法。实验结果表明,cTnⅠ在1.2 ~ 24 ng/mL浓度范围内与增强型发光强度具有良好的线性关系（R=0.99）,变异系数（n= 8）为 4.7%。最后,使用该方法对人血清样品中的cTnⅠ含量进行测定,测试结果具有较好的稳定性和精度,能够满足临床检测要求。     

AC susceptibility of magnetic markers in suspension for liquid phase immunoassay

AC susceptibility of magnetic markers in solution was studied for biosensor applications. First, frequency dependence of the susceptibility was measured, and size distribution of the markers was estimated by analyzing the experimental result with the so-called singular value decomposition (SVD) method. The size distribution estimated with the magnetic measurement agreed with that obtained from conventional optical measurement. Next, susceptibility measurement was applied to the liquid-phase immunoassay without bound/free (B/F) separation. We performed the detection of biotin-coated polymer beads in suspension using avidin-coated magnetic markers. Changes of the susceptibility and the size distribution caused by the binding reaction were shown.