Abstract: | In today's security conscious environment rapid detection of explosives, such as pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), the high energy material common in plastic explosives, is of critical importance. We evaluated two monoclonal antibodies and a rabbit polyclonal antibody, developed for the detection of PETN. Although these antibodies showed binding to bioconjugates of PETN as well as the hapten, PETN-succinate, we did not observe binding by free PETN. For demonstration of a competitive bead based fluid array immunoassay for PETN detection, we developed llama polyclonal antibody for the detection of free PETN. Our ultimate goal is developing anti-PETN single domain antibodies. |