Novel type of flow injection immunoassay for the determination of phenytoin in serum

Recombinant protein detection in crude extracts by flow-injection immunoassay

An immunofluorescence method that allows detection and quantification of recombinant proteins in complex mixtures (e.g. crude cell extracts and fermentation media) is described. The method is based on a non-denaturing chromatographic analysis which is performed after the addition of a fluorescently labelled antibody specific for the target protein. HPLC analysis through a size-exclusion column allows to separate and quantify the immunocomplex and the excess antibody, which are the only fluorescent species in the mixture. The method was applied to the analysis of recombinant human Fabs expressed in bacteria. Preliminary validation data are reported.

Bacterial Separation and Concentration from Complex Sample Matrices: A Review

The use of many rapid detection technologies could be expanded if the bacteria were separated, concentrated, and purified from the sample matrix before detection. Specific advantages of bacterial concentration might include facilitating the detection of multiple bacterial strains; removal of matrix-associated assay inhibitors; and provision of adequate sample size reduction to allow for the use of representative food sample sizes and/or small media volumes. Furthermore, bacterial concentration could aid in improving sampling techniques needed to detect low levels of pathogens or sporadic contamination, which may perhaps reduce or even eliminate the need for cultural enrichment prior to detection. Although bacterial concentration methods such as centrifugation, filtration, and immunomagnetic separation have been reported for food systems, none of these is ideal and in many cases a technique optimized for one food system or microorganism is not readily adaptable to others. Indeed, the separation and subsequent concentration of bacterial cells from a food sample during sample preparation continues to be a stumbling block in the advancement of molecular methods for the detection of foodborne pathogens. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed understanding of the science, possibilities, and limitations of separating and concentrating bacterial cells from the food matrix in an effort to further improve our ability to harness molecular methods for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens.

Analysis of free drug fractions using near-infrared fluorescent labels and an ultrafast immunoextraction/displacement assay

A chromatographic method was developed for measuring free drug fractions based on the use of an ultrafast immunoextraction/displacement assay (UFIDA) with near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent labels. This approach was evaluated by using it to determine the free fraction of phenytoin in serum or samples containing the binding protein human serum albumin (HSA). Items considered in the design of this method included the dissociation rate of HSA-bound phenytoin, the rate of capture of free phenytoin by immunoextraction microcolumns, the behavior of NIR fluorescent labels in a displacement format, and the overall response and stability of the resulting assay. In the final UFIDA method, the free fraction of phenytoin was extracted in approximately 100 ms by a microcolumn containing a small layer of anti-phenytoin antibodies. This gave a displacement peak for a NIR-fluorescent-labeled analogue of phenytoin that appeared within 2-3 min of sample injection, creating a signal proportional to the amount of free phenytoin in the sample. The UFIDA method provided results within 1-5% of those determined by ultrafiltration for reference samples. The lower limit of detection was 570 pM, and the linear range extended up to 10 microM. This approach is not limited to phenytoin but can be adapted for other analytes through the use of appropriate antibodies and labeled analogues.

Disposable biosensor based on enzyme immobilized on Au–chitosan-modified indium tin oxide electrode with flow injection amperometric analysis

Indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode is used to fabricate a novel disposable biosensor combined with flow injection analysis for the rapid determination of H2O2. The biosensor is prepared by entrapping horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme in colloidal gold nanoparticle-modified chitosan membrane (Au-chitosan) to modify the ITO electrode. The biosensor is characterized by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and electrochemical methods. Parameters affecting the performance of the biosensor, including concentrations of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) and pH of substrate solution, were optimized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, H2O2 could be determined in the linear calibration range from 0.01 to 0.5 mM with a correlation coefficient of 0.997 (n=8). The amperometric response of the biosensor did not show an obvious decrease after the substrates were injected continuously 34 times into the flow cell. The prepared biosensor not only is economic and disposable, due to the low-cost ITO film electrode obtained from industrial mass production, but also is capable with good detection precision, acceptable accuracy, and storage stability for the fabrication in batch.

A disposable electrochemical immunosensor for flow injection immunoassay of carcinoembryonic antigen

A new simple immunoassay method for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) detection using a disposable immunosensor coupled with a flow injection system was developed. The immunosensor was prepared by coating CEA/colloid Au/chitosan membrane at a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Using a competitive immunoassay format, the immunosensor inserted in the flow system with an injection of sample and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled CEA antibody was used to trap the labeled antibody at room temperature for 35 min. The current response obtained from the labeled HRP to thionine-H(2)O(2) system decreased proportionally to the CEA concentration in the range of 0.50-25 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.9981 and a detection limit of 0.22 ng/ml (S/N=3). The immunoassay system could automatically control the incubation, washing and current measurement steps with good stability and acceptable accuracy. Thus, the proposed method proved its potential use in clinical immunoassay of CEA.

Labeling strategies for bioassays

Different labeling strategies for enzymatic assays and immunoassays are reviewed. Techniques which make use of direct detection of a label, e.g. radioimmunoassays, are discussed, as are techniques in which the label is associated with inherent signal amplification. Examples of the latter, e.g. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays or nanoparticle-label based assays, are presented. Coupling of the bioassays to chromatographic separations adds selectivity but renders the assays more difficult to apply. The advantages and drawbacks of the different analytical principles, including future perspectives, are discussed and compared. Selected applications from clinical, pharmaceutical, and environmental analysis are provided as examples.

Flow injection immunoassay for carcinoembryonic antigen combined with time-resolved fluorometric detection

Time-resolved fluorescence has been developed for immunoassay to obtain higher sensitivity than usual immunoassays. In this paper, a simple, sensitive and specific method was developed for immunoassay of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by combining time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) and flow injection analysis. Based on a sandwich immunoassay format, a monoclonal antibody immobilized immunoaffinity column inserted in a flow system was used for immunoreactions. The cleaved solution was collected after the reaction between the immunocomplex in the immunoaffinity column and the enhancement solution that was used to cleave the Eu-labels from the immunocomplex, and then detected by time-resolved fluorescence. Serum CEA could be detected in the linear range from 2.5 to 100 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.997 and the detection limit of 1.0 ng/ml. Twenty human serum samples detected by this method were in good agreement with the results obtained by the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. This method could be further developed for fast practical clinical detection of serum CEA levels.

Electrochemical and chemiluminescent immunosensors for tumor markers

The determination of serum tumor markers plays an important role in clinical diagnoses for the patients with certain tumor-associated disease. Although many commercial kits have been applied in clinical immunoassays, conventional methods always have some disadvantages, resulting in the need of other new, efficient, and easily automated methods. Immunosensors, considered as a major development in immunochemical field, have attracted considerable attention. With the aim of rapid screening, many immunosensors that are small, semi-automated and portable are being developed. This brief review focuses on the current research of immunosensors for tumor markers based on the electrochemical and chemiluminescent detection with emphasis on recent advances, challenges, and trends. The works on series of novel immunosensors developed for the determination of tumor markers in our group in the last few years are also introduced.

Chemiluminescent immunosensor for CA19-9 based on antigen immobilization on a cross-linked chitosan membrane

A novel chemiluminescent immunosensor for carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) based on the immobilization of CA19-9 on the cross-linked chitosan membrane was developed. The different membranes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and infrared spectrum, respectively. Based on a noncompetitive immunoassay format, this proposed chemiluminescent immunosensor enabled a low-cost, flexible and rapid determination for CA19-9 in combination with flow injection analysis (FIA). After an off-line incubation of the analyte CA19-9 with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled anti-CA19-9, the mixture was injected into the immunosensor, which led to the trapping of free HRP-labeled anti-CA19-9 by the immobilized antigen in the immunosensor. The trapped HRP-labeled antibody was detected by chemiluminescence due to its catalytic activity following the reaction of luminol and H2O2. Under optimal conditions, the decreased chemiluminescent signal of the immunosensor was proportional to the CA19-9 concentration in the range of 2.0-25 U/ml with a detection limit of 1.0 U/ml. The immunosensor showed an acceptable accuracy and good reproducibility. The results of 20 human serum samples detected by this method were in acceptable agreement with those obtained by immunoradiometric assay. The proposed immunosensor provided a new promising tool for practical clinical detection of the serum CA19-9 level.

Noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay for carcinoembryonic antigen by flow injection chemiluminescence

BACKGROUND

Recently, many automated immunoassay analyzers have been developed for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) to overcome the shortcomings in traditional immunoassay methods that are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Flow injection immunoassay (FIIA) has been increasingly applied to laboratory medicine due to its ease in automation, rapid speed and reproducible results. It is important to develop a FIIA method for CEA determination.

METHODS

Based on a noncompetitive immunoassay format, a CEA-immobilized immunoaffinity column inserted in the flow system was used to trap the unbound horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled antibody after an off-line incubation of CEA and HRP-labeled anti-CEA. The trapped enzyme conjugate was detected by injecting substrates to produce an enhanced chemiluminescence (CL).

RESULTS

The linear range for CEA was 1.0-25 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.997 and a detection limit of 0.5 ng/ml. The sampling and chemiluminescence detection time for one sample was 5 min after a preincubation procedure of 25 min. Twenty five human serum samples detected by this method were in good agreement with the results obtained by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA).

CONCLUSIONS

This method could be used for rapid analysis of CEA and potentially other antigens.

Methods for rapid separation and concentration of bacteria in food that bypass time-consuming cultural enrichment

The rapid detection of pathogenic organisms that cause foodborne illnesses is needed to insure food safety. Conventional methods for the detection of pathogens in foods are time-consuming and labor-intensive. New advanced rapid methods (i.e., polymerase chain reaction, DNA probes) are more sensitive and selective than conventional techniques, but many of these tests are inhibited by food components, rendering them dependent on slow cultural enrichment. The need for alternative methods that will rapidly separate and concentrate bacteria directly from food samples, thereby reducing the time required for these new rapid detection techniques, is evident. Separation and concentration methods extract target bacteria from interfering food components and/or concentrate bacteria to detectable levels. This review describes several methods used to separate and/or concentrate bacteria in food samples. Several methods discussed here, including centrifugation and immunomagnetic separation, have been successfully used, individually and in combination, to rapidly separate and/or concentrate bacteria from food samples in less time than is required for cultural enrichment.

Immunoassay-based determination of phenobarbital using size-exclusion chromatography

The measurement of the anti-epileptic drug phenobarbital from serum samples combining immunoassay and size-exclusion chromatography is presented. The immunoreaction is based on the competitive binding of the analyte (unlabelled phenobarbital) and the fluorescent-labelled phenobarbital to anti-phenobarbital antibodies. Mixing of the reagents and the immunoreaction takes place in a flow system. The products are separated on-line on a short gel chromatographic column and the fluorescence intensity of the marker is measured. The calibration curve shows good linearity in the range 5-80 microg/ml, corresponding to therapeutically relevant serum levels. Intra-day precision values are between 7.32 and 9.48%; the accuracy is between 0.97 and 9.43%. Inter-day precision and accuracy measured on 6 different days fall between 5.38 and 10.05% and -8.27 and -4.97%, respectively. The results obtained with the proposed method show a good correlation with those of other methods (radioimmunoassay and fluorescence polarisation immunoassay) already established in clinical laboratories.