Immunological-chromatographic analysis

Immunochromatographic removal of albumin in erythropoietin biopharmaceutical formulations for its analysis by capillary electrophoresis

Human serum albumin (HSA) is added to some pharmaceutical preparations as an excipient. This is the case for some of the commercial preparations of recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO). Differences in the number of the sialic acid moieties in the different rEPO glycoforms confer to these forms different net charges and different bioactivity. Knowledge of the isoforms present in each pharmaceutical product is then of interest. Differences in net charge of the rEPO forms make possible their separation by electrophoretical methods. However it has been observed in our laboratory that the amount of HSA usually present in these drug formulations interferes or even precludes separation of rEPO bands by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). In this work, an immunochromatographic method to remove HSA from rEPO biopharmaceutical formulations and a procedure to concentrate the sample that is needed to be performed prior to the analysis by CZE are developed. A home-made computer program to compare the percentage of correct assignments of electrophoretical bands provided by different migration parameters is used to study the effect of HSA remaining in samples on the accuracy of assignment of rEPO bands. When there exists a residual concentration of HSA in the sample (<2mg/ml) only the effective electrophoretic mobility is a reliable migration parameter to assign rEPO bands with a 100% of correct assignment. This parameter allows the correct assignment of bands of rEPO from pharmaceutical products formulated with HSA after immunochromatographic removal of HSA. Electrophoretical bands found in epoetin alpha, one of the commercial formulations of rEPO, are independent of the molecular mass of the excipients. The methodology used in this work for the analysis by CZE and the assignment of rEPO isoforms, as well as for the immunochromatographic HSA removal in the pharmaceutical products could be of high interest for the health authorities to control the quality of the product in marketing surveillance studies and for the quality control laboratories of the manufacturers.

Detection of Polyclonal Antibody Against Any Area of the Protein-Antigen Using Immobilized Protein-Antigens: The Critical Role of the Immobilization Protocol

Antigens immobilized on solid supports may be used to detect or purify their corresponding antibodies (Ab) from serum. Direct immobilization of antigens on support surfaces (through short spacer arms) may promote interesting stabilizing effects on the immobilized antigen. However, the proximity of the support may prevent the interaction of some fractions of polyclonal Ab with some regions of the antigen (those placed in close contact with the support surface). Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was immobilized on agarose by different protocols of multipoint covalent immobilization involving different regions of the antigen surface. Glyoxyl-agarose, BrCN-agarose, and glutaraldehyde-agarose were used as activated supports. Each HRP-immobilized preparation was much more stable than the soluble enzyme, but it was only able to adsorb up to 60-70% of a mixture of polyclonal anti-HRP antibodies. On the other hand, HRP was also immobilized on agarose through a very long, flexible, and hydrophilic spacer arm (dextran). This immobilized HRP was hardly stabilized, but it was able to adsorb 100% of the polyclonal anti-HRP. The absence of steric hindrances seems to play a critical role favoring the complete recognition of all classes of polyclonal Ab. Another solution to achieve a complete adsorption of polyclonal Ab on immobilized-stabilized antigens has been also reached by using a mixture of the differently immobilized and stabilized HRP-agarose preparations. In this case, an improved storage and operational stabilities of the immobilized antigens can be combined with the complete adsorption of any class of antibody.

The use of selective adsorbents in capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for analyte preconcentration and microreactions: a powerful three-dimensional tool for multiple chemical and biological applications

Much attention has recently been directed to the development and application of online sample preconcentration and microreactions in capillary electrophoresis using selective adsorbents based on chemical or biological specificity. The basic principle involves two interacting chemical or biological systems with high selectivity and affinity for each other. These molecular interactions in nature usually involve noncovalent and reversible chemical processes. Properly bound to a solid support, an "affinity ligand" can selectively adsorb a "target analyte" found in a simple or complex mixture at a wide range of concentrations. As a result, the isolated analyte is enriched and highly purified. When this affinity technique, allowing noncovalent chemical interactions and biochemical reactions to occur, is coupled on-line to high-resolution capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, a powerful tool of chemical and biological information is created. This paper describes the concept of biological recognition and affinity interaction on-line with high-resolution separation, the fabrication of an "analyte concentrator-microreactor", optimization conditions of adsorption and desorption, the coupling to mass spectrometry, and various applications of clinical and pharmaceutical interest.

Coupling immunoassays with chromatographic separation techniques

Coupling immunoassays with HPLC separation techniques is becoming increasingly useful in the analysis of biological and nonbiological samples of both large and small molecules. This is because it provides both sensitivity and selectivity for molecular analysis at relatively low cost, low maintenance and with excellent potential for automation. This paper reviews application of this hyphenated approach both in the pre-column immunoextraction and post-column immunodetection modes. Systems in which immunoassays are interfaced to chromatographic separations in order to separate bound and free fractions of the immunoassay will not be included since these systems do not provide the enhanced selectivity common to hyphenated systems. Post-column immunodetection is based on various immunoassay formats such as direct detection, one-site, competitive and sandwich immunoassays. Homogeneous immunodetectors are more convenient than heterogeneous immunodectors since there are no separation and column regeneration steps involved in homogeneous immunoassays. On the other hand, heterogeneous immunoassays are generally more sensitive than homogeneous immunoassays since interfering substances are removed prior to immunodetection. Advantages and limitations for the various approaches will be discussed.

Elucidation of peptide metabolism by on-line immunoaffinity liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

An immunoaffinity chromatography extraction capillary liquid chromatography separation has been coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for on-line characterization of drug metabolites of a therapeutic peptide in plasma. It is demonstrated that the selectivity, sensitivity and molecular weight data provided by immunoaffinity chromatography coupled to liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry provides a means of rapidly achieving qualitative determinations of small amounts of material in complicated biological matrices such as plasma. The ability to detect the peptide in rat plasma at a level of 10 ng/mL is demonstrated using this method. In addition, experiments to study the epitope of the peptide by enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry are also discussed. The method is proposed as an alternative approach to studying the metabolism of therapeutic peptides.

Noncompetitive immunoassays using protein G affinity capillary chromatography and capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A new and simple approach to perform immunoassay using protein G affinity capillary chromatography and laser-induced fluorescence detection was described. A noncompetitive assay for monoclonal anti-bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used to test the performance of the system. Fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled BSA was used as a tracer to determine anti-BSA in pM level. Capillaries with inner diameter of 150 microns were packed with recombinant protein G-bound perfusive support. The packed capillary was used to capture the immunocomplexes, which were subsequently desorbed by 100 mM glycine (pH 9.0). Open tube capillary electrophoresis-based immunoassay (CEIA) for anti-BSA was also performed. Using standard samples, calibration curves for anti-BSA was established in both assays. Compared with CEIA, this system improved the concentration sensitivity for about 100-fold due to the pre-concentration of immunocomplex in the protein G column, while the mass sensitivity was similar in the two methods.

Affinity Chromatography: A Review of Clinical Applications

Affinity chromatography is a type of liquid chromatography that makes use of biological-like interactions for the separation and specific analysis of sample components. This review describes the basic principles of affinity chromatography and examines its use in the testing of clinical samples, with an emphasis on HPLC-based methods. Some traditional applications of this approach include the use of boronate, lectin, protein A or protein G, and immunoaffinity supports for the direct quantification of solutes. Newer techniques that use antibody-based columns for on- or off-line sample extraction are examined in detail, as are methods that use affinity chromatography in combination with other analytical methods, such as reversed-phase liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis. Indirect analyte detection methods are also described in which immunoaffinity chromatography is used to perform flow-based immunoassays. Other applications that are reviewed include affinity-based chiral separations and the use of affinity chromatography for the study of drug or hormone interactions with binding proteins. Some areas of possible future developments are then considered, such as tandem affinity methods and the use of synthetic dyes, immobilized metal ions, molecular imprints, or aptamers as affinity ligands for clinical analytes.

Survey of recent advances in analytical applications of immunoaffinity chromatography

Methods that use immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) for sample preparation or detection are becoming increasingly popular as tools in the analysis of biological and nonbiological compounds. This paper presents an overview of immunoaffinity chromatography and examines some recent developments of this technique in analytical applications. The emphasis is placed on HPLC-based IAC methods or those that combine IAC with other instrumental techniques; however, novel approaches that employ low-performance IAC columns for chemical quantitation are also considered. Particular applications that are examined include (1) the use of IAC in the direct detection of analytes, (2) the extraction of samples by IAC prior to on- or off-line detection by other methods, (3) the use of IAC in chromatographic-based immunoassays, and (4) the development of postcolumn reactors based on IAC for the detection of analytes as they elute from other types of chromatographic columns. The advantages and limitations for each approach are considered. In addition, a summary is provided of reports in the literature that have used IAC for these various formats.

Dual microcolumn immunoassay applied to determination of insulin secretion from single islets of Langerhans and insulin in serum

A dual microcolumn immunoassay (DMIA) was developed and applied to determination of insulin in biological samples. The DMIA utilized a protein G capillary column (150 microns I.D.) with covalently attached anti-insulin to selectively capture and concentrate insulins in a sample. Insulins retained in the capillary immunoaffinity column were desorbed and injected onto a reversed-phase capillary column (150 microns I.D.) for further separation from interferences such as cross-reactive antigens and non-specifically adsorbed sample components. Bovine, porcine and rat insulin all cross-reacted with the antibody and could be determined simultaneously. Using a UV absorbance detector, the dual microcolumn system had a detection limit of 10 fmol or 20 pM for 500-microliter sample volumes. The DMIA system was used to measure glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from single rat islets of Langerhans. Because of the separation in the second dimension, both rat I and rat II insulin could be independently determined. The system was also evaluated for determination of insulin in serum. Using microcolumns instead of conventional HPLC columns resulted in several advantages including use of less chromatographic material and improved mass detection limit.

Immunochromatographic analysis of bovine growth hormone releasing factor involving reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-immunodetection

We have developed high-performance immunoaffinity chromatography (HPIAC) methods for the detection and quantitation of bovine growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF), which could also be applicable to its metabolites in biofluids. These approaches have involved a combination of IAC using immobilized antibody (Ab) to GHRF, together with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) separations of initially isolated and concentrated protein, followed by selective detection, involving on-line immunodetection (ID) schemes. ID methods involved HPIAC supports of the Ab, together with synthesized Ab-fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugates. We have demonstrated optimization methods for each step of the entire hyphenated technique (IAC-HPLC-ID), and then actually quantitated GHRF using this overall system. The minimum detectable concentration was about 1 ng/5 ml (200 ppt) with fluorescence detection (excitation wavelength, 490 nm; emission wavelength, 510-650 nm). We have also tested a single blind, spiked biological sample (bovine plasma), spiked with a known level of GHRF. Accuracy (7.4%) and precision (S.D. = +/- 22%) were quite acceptable for a double immunoassay method.

Selective preconcentration for capillary zone electrophoresis using protein G immunoaffinity capillary chromatography

Capillaries with 150 microns inner diameter were packed with a perfused protein G chromatographic support and used as immunoaffinity preconcentrators for capillary zone electrophoresis. Antibody was loaded onto the protein G support to form an immunoaffinity stationary phase. Injection of samples onto the column caused selective retention and preconcentration of antigen. Injection of appropriate buffers onto the column caused desorption of the antibody and antigen which were then separated by capillary zone electrophoresis. The combination was used on-line and off-line. For on-line combination, a flow-gated interface coupled the two columns and allowed injection of desorbed zones onto the electrophoresis system. Off-line coupling required collection of desorbed fractions and then injection onto the electrophoresis system. Flow rates as high as 100 microL/min were used to load sample onto the affinity column. Desorbing flow rates had to be 1 microL/min or less to prevent excessive dilution during desorption. Using the system, 1 mL insulin samples could be loaded onto the affinity column and desorbed in volumes as small as 1 microL for 1000-fold preconcentration. The use of the preconcentrator with serum samples spiked with insulin was demonstrated.

Rapid process monitoring in biotechnology

Detection of protein variants in the production of recombinant DNA products is an important and complex task. Rapid acquisition of this information permits feedback control of the production process and continuous validation of the product. Much of the technology required for rapid process monitoring is currently available or under development.

Quantitative determination of albumin in urine by on-line immunoadsorptive cleanup and reversed-phase chromatography

Albumin in urine is selectively adsorbed on an immunoadsorber (human serum albumin-specific antibodies coupled covalently with a silica stationary phase) and after elution with 0.1% HCl is quantitatively determined by reversed-phase chromatography with detection of native fluorescence. The optimization of sample preparation and characteristics of the method such as recovery, linearity, reproducibility, detection limit, and selectivity are discussed.

Coated hydrophilic polystyrene-based packing materials

A very hydrophilic high-performance liquid chromatographic base support was created from microparticulate, macroporous poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) beads. An organic monomer containing cross-linking functionalities was coated on the poly(styrene-divinylbenzene), followed by a catalyzed cross-linking reaction. The coatings formed contain only stable chemical bonds (e.g., C-C, C-O-C), and easily-derivatized hydroxyl moieties. This coated base support was evaluated for hydrophilicity, chemical stability, solvent compatibility, rigidity, and irreversible adsorption. Derivatives of the coated base support were made and applied in various modes of chromatography.

Tandem immunoaffinity and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for the identification of the specific binding sites of a hapten on a proteic carrier

Immunoaffinity (IA) and reversed-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatography were combined for the identification of the specific binding sites of benzylpenicilloyl (BPO) groups on human serum albumin (HSA). Tryptic hydrolysates of BPO-HSA were loaded on the IA column. BPO-peptides were desorbed and concentrated directly on the RP column, coupled via a switching valve, then separated by using gradient elution and identified by the amino acid sequences. This single-step procedure permitted more than 95% recovery of the BPO-peptides present in minute amounts, with good specificity.

Analysis of drugs and other toxic substances in biological samples for pharmacokinetic studies

The importance of the role of analysis of drugs and other toxic substances in biological samples (bioanalysis) in medicine, toxicology, pharmacology, forensic science, environmental research and other biomedical disciplines is self-evident. Among these disciplines, bioanalysis plays a special pivotal role in pharmacokinetics. The pharmacokinetic parameters, such as half-life, volume of distribution, clearance and bioavailability, of drugs and other compounds are derived from the concentrations of these analytes assayed in the biological samples collected at specified time points. The capability of analysts to develop sensitive and specific analytical methods for the assay of low concentrations of drugs and other toxic compounds in small amounts of biological samples has contributed significantly to the theoretical advances in pharmacokinetics and its applications in clinical pharmacology and the management of drug therapy in patients. The increased demands for pharmacokinetic applications in turn have stimulated the innovation and improvement in bioanalytical technologies. The reliability of the pharmacokinetic conclusions depends on the accuracy and precision of the analytical methods employed to assay the biological samples. Factors that affect the integrity of the bioanalytical data should therefore be controlled in analysis of biological samples for pharmacokinetics studies. The biological samples for drug concentration determination should be collected as specified in the study protocol with respect to the time and site of sampling. These samples should be processed to avoid extraneous interactions between the analytes and sampling devices or additives resulting in the redistribution of the analytes between components of the biological samples, such as displacement of drug binding and changes in the distribution of the analytes between plasma and red blood cells. The stability of the drugs and other analytes in the samples should also be evaluated to establish the conditions suitable for the transportation and storage of the samples to avoid chemical, photochemical and enzymatic degradation of the analytes. Various technologies have been utilized to assay biological samples for pharmacokinetic studies. The most frequently used are chromatography (high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and thin-layer chromatography), immunoassays and mass spectrometry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Immunological-chromatographic analysis of lysozyme variants

Immunological-chromatographic analysis (ICA) was used to evaluate the cross-reactivities of eight lysozyme variants with five different immobilized monoclonal anti-hen-egg-white lysozyme antibodies. ICA is a dual-column high-performance liquid chromatography-based method in which an immunoaffinity and a conventional analytical column are coupled with a switching valve. Antigens are first captured on the affinity column and then desorbed and concentrated on the second column, where they are separated further. This arrangement permits antigen-antibody interactions occurring on the affinity column to be monitored on-line with the second column. The ICA system was used to perform direct and competitive inhibition binding immunoassays with unlabeled antigens. Seven of the eight lysozymes tested bound to all five immobilized monoclonal antibodies. Competitive inhibition of binding of hen egg white lysozyme to the monoclonal antibody, HyHel-5, was measured by using the variants Japanese quail and bobwhite quail lysozymes as inhibitors. The ratio of the amount of bobwhite quail to Japanese quail lysozyme required to give 50% inhibition of binding of hen egg white determined by ICA compares well with the results obtained by other investigators who used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plate binding assay.

Chromatographic resolution of lysozyme variants

There are seven avian lysozyme variants of nearly identical three-dimensional structure which have amino acid substitutions broadly distributed on their surface. By using these protein variants, it was possible to study the relationship between protein structure and chromatographic retention. It was determined that according to the mode of separation various regions of the proteins surface determine chromatographic retention. At one extreme, immunosorbents targeted a very small region on the protein surface. Hydrophobic interaction chromatography was an intermediate case in which one surface domain of the lysozymes controlled chromatographic behavior. At the opposite extreme, cation-exchange columns probed most of the protein surface. It was concluded that identification of random variations in protein structure will be most successfully detected by a separation mode that broadly targets the surface of a protein.