On the isolation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans from serum samples using immunoaffinity chromatography prior to high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Development of an immunoassay and a sol-gel-based immunoaffinity cleanup method for coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls from soil and sediment samples

Two polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed using goat PCB purified immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies (Abs). The IgGs exhibited the highest affinity toward PCB-77 (24 ng mL(-1)) with sensitivities in the range of 6-11 ng mL(-1). The Abs cross-reacted with PCB-126 and the heptachlorodibenzofuran 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF but not with PCB-169, PCB-118, Aroclor 1232, 1248, 1260 or the hexachlorodibenzofuran 2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF. The IgGs were also used to develop a sol-gel-based immunoaffinity purification (IAP) method for cleanup of PCB-126. Recovery efficiencies depended on the sol-gel formats; a 1:12 format resulted in the highest binding capacity. Net binding capacity ranged from 112 to 257 ng, and 90% of the analyte could be eluted with only 2 mL of ethanol. The method was also very efficient in purifying PCB-126 from spiked soil and sediment samples from contaminated sites; and eliminating matrix interferences to a degree that enabled analysis of the purified samples by ELISA. The approaches developed in the course of the study form a basis for the development of additional IAP methods for other PCBs, and their implementation in high-throughput screening programs for PCB in food, soil, and other environmental and biological samples.

Quantitative analysis of biomarkers, drugs and toxins in biological samples by immunoaffinity chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry or tandem mass spectrometry: A focused review of recent applications

Immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC), mass spectrometry and especially tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) represent the most efficient and reliable analytical techniques for specific isolation, unequivocal identification and accurate quantification of numerous natural and synthetic substances in biological samples. This review article focuses on the combined use of these outstanding methodologies in basic and clinical research and in life sciences for the quantitative analysis of low- and high-molecular mass biomarkers, drugs and toxins in urine, plasma or serum samples, in tissue and other biologicals systems published in the last decade. The analytes discussed in some detail include the biomarkers of oxidative stress 15(S)-8-iso-prostaglandin F(2alpha) {15(S)-8-iso-PGF(2alpha)} and 3-nitrotyrosine, the major urinary metabolite of the lipid mediators cysteinyl leukotrienes, i.e., the leukotriene E(4) (LTE(4)), melatonin, and the major collagen type II neoepitope peptide in human urine.

High-throughput biomonitoring of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls at the sub-picogram level in human serum

We report on the use of a state-of-the-art method for the measurement of selected polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in human serum specimens. The sample preparation procedure is based on manual small size solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by automated clean-up and fractionation using multi-sorbent liquid chromatography columns. SPE cartridges and all clean-up columns are disposable. Samples are processed in batches of 20 units, including one blank control (BC) sample and one quality control (QC) sample. The analytical measurement is performed using gas chromatography coupled to isotope dilution high-resolution mass spectrometry. The sample throughput corresponds to one series of 20 samples per day, from sample reception to data quality cross-check and reporting, once the procedure has been started and series of samples keep being produced. Four analysts are required to ensure proper performances of the procedure. The entire procedure has been validated under International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 criteria and further tested over more than 1500 unknown samples during various epidemiological studies. The method is further discussed in terms of reproducibility, efficiency and long-term stability regarding the 35 target analytes. Data related to quality control and limit of quantification (LOQ) calculations are also presented and discussed.

Improvement of the performance of an immunoaffinity extraction method via region-specific immobilization of IgG

Using papaverine as a model target, an immunoaffinity column of high selectivity and binding capacity was prepared by utilizing covalent linkage between the Fc portion of IgG and the surface of Sepharose 4B support. Compared with the commonly used random coupling method, the binding capacity of the region-specific immobilized antibodies was increased from 0.04 to 0.2 mol of antigens/mol of antibodies and a much larger concentration factor was thus achieved. The obtained immunoaffinity column has been successfully used in pretreatment of pericarpium papaveris samples. The method offers an improved approach to immunoaffinity extraction that should be useful for purification and concentration of other targeted compounds in highly complex mixture.

Development and application of a multi-target immunoaffinity column for the selective extraction of natural estrogens from pregnant women's urine samples by capillary electrophoresis

In this paper, a methodology for the determination of three naturally occurring estrogens (estradiol, estrone and estriol) in pregnant women's urine has been described. The procedure included immunoaffinity column (IAC) extraction of 4 mL of urine sample and subsequent analysis of the extraction by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). A multi-target polyclonal antibody that has high affinity to three estrogens was produced. Then the IAC was developed by coupling polyclonal antibody to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The IAC showed high affinity for these estrogens. Recoveries of three estrogens from human serum matrix were greater than 92% with R.S.D. less than 4.5%. The final elute of urine sample was diluted with running buffer and then quantitated with MEKC. The experimental results demonstrated that IAC was a useful technique for extraction and concentration of estrogens from biological samples. Three estrogens levels in six pregnant women's urine were measured by both the present method and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). The results of this method have been found to correlate well with those of ELISA.

Immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction for pharmaceutical and biomedical trace-analysis—coupling with HPLC and CE—perspectives

Immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique is based upon a molecular recognition mechanism. The high affinity and the high selectivity of the antigen-antibody interactions allow the specific extraction and the concentration of the analytes of interest in one step. In pharmaceutical and biological fields, where most often matrices are complex and analytes at trace-levels, this approach constitutes a unique tool for fast and solvent-free sample preparation. This review presents a general description of this extraction technique and gives numerous examples of its applications in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. It emphasizes the on-line coupling with chromatographic and electrophoretic separation techniques and introduces new developments. The future directions, especially with regards to the current development of analytical microsystems, are discussed.

Development and characterization of an immunoaffinity column for the selective extraction of bisphenol A from serum samples

An immunoaffinity column (IAC) was developed by covalently coupling polyclonal antibodies against estrogenic bisphenols to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The IAC showed high affinity for bisphenol A, while phenol was barely retained. Proteins in the sample matrix showed little nonspecific adsorption on the column. The best binding solvent for bisphenol A was found to be 0.01 mol l(-1) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and the optimal operating temperature was 4 degrees C. The bound bisphenol A could be quantitatively recovered by 1 ml of methanol-water (80:20) with an average recovery of 91.8% and a relative standard deviation of 7.1% (n=6). The immunoaffinity column has been successfully used for the isolation and purification of bisphenol A from serum samples.

Congener-specific determination of dioxins and related compounds by gas chromatography coupled to LRMS, HRMS, MS/MS and TOFMS

Their characteristics as persistent organic pollutant and their toxicity (2,3,7,8-TCDD is named as a known human carcinogen) make the dioxins and related compounds a focus of interest in environmental analytical chemistry. In view of the widespread distribution of dioxins in the environment, these compounds must be monitored in several matrices, such as air, effluents, soil, sludge and biological samples. The analytical methodologies are especially difficult owing to the complexity of the mixtures of congeners (210 PCDD/Fs and 209 PCBs) and to the low detection limits required (ppb to ppq). Moreover, time-consuming sample preparation steps are needed owing to the presence of a large number of interfering compounds. The different toxicity of each congener requires the development of congener specific methods. This review of trace dioxin determination by mass spectrometry (MS) includes sample preparation and chromatographic separation. In this Special Feature, the use of different MS techniques such as low-resolution MS (LRMS) and high-resolution MS (HRMS) is discussed in terms of selectivity and sensitivity. The performances of other MS techniques, such as tandem MS (MS/MS) and time-of-flight MS (ToFMS), are compared. Quantification techniques, especially the isotopic dilution method, are also discussed. Conclusions and future perspectives are outlined.