Comparison of monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for triazophos between the indirect and direct formats

Dual-functionalized gold nanoparticles probe based bio-barcode immuno-PCR for the detection of glyphosate

Glyphosate (GLYP) was the most widely used broad-spectrum herbicide in the world. Herein, a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) probe dual-functionalized with anti-GLYP antibody and double-stranded oligonucleotides was synthesized. An AuNP-based bio-barcode immuno-PCR (AuNP-BB-iPCR) based on the probe was developed for sensitive detection of GLYP in food samples without high-cost and time-consuming experiments. GLYP detection was accomplished with a linear range from 61.1 pg g-1 to 31.3 ng g-1 and a detection limit of 4.5 pg g-1 which was 7 orders of magnitude lower than that of conventional ELISA (70 μg g-1) developed using the same antibody. The recoveries of GLYP from soybean, cole and maize samples were 99.8%, 102.6% and 103.7%, respectively, and all relative standard deviation values were below 12.9%. The assay time (including food samples preparation) of AuNP-BB-iPCR was 4 h. The proposed AuNP-BB-iPCR exhibits potential for sensitive detection of GLYP in foodstuffs and environment.

Enhancing the Sensitivity of the Bio-barcode Immunoassay for Triazophos Detection Based on Nanoparticles and Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction

An ultrasensitive bio-barcode competitive immunoassay method based on droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) was developed for the determination of triazophos. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were coated with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and complementary double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which included bio-barcode DNA and thiol-capped DNA. Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) probes were constructed by modifying the MNPs with ovalbumin-hapten conjugates (OVA-hapten). The target pesticide and OVA-hapten on the surface of the MNP probes competed with the AuNP probes simultaneously, and then the bio-barcode DNA was released for quantification by ddPCR. The concentration of released DNA was inversely proportional to the concentration of pesticide to be tested. Under the optimum conditions, the competitive immunoassay exhibited a wide linear range of 0.01-20 ng/mL and a low detection limit of 0.002 ng/mL. Spike recovery tests were carried out using apple, rice, cabbage, and cucumber samples to verify the feasibility of the method. The recovery and relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the technique ranged from 76.9 to 94.4% and from 10.8 to 19.9%, respectively. To further validate the results, a linear correlation analysis was performed between the proposed method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Consequently, the bio-barcode immunoassay based on nanoparticles and ddPCR, an ultrasensitive method, showed great potential for the determination of target pesticides in real samples.

A non-competitive surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for rapid detection of triazophos residue in environmental and agricultural samples

The wide application of an organophosphate pesticide triazophos raises concern on the environmental pollution and the potential risk to human health. Thus, it is crucial to regularly monitor triazophos residue in the environment and agro-products. Herein we described a non-competitive immunoassay for trace detection of triazophos using a direct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. Two anti-triazophos monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were immobilized on the sensor chip and characterized by SPR-based kinetic analysis. The mAb with relatively slow dissociation rate was used for direct immunosensing of triazophos. The biosensor assay showed a high specificity and a low detection limit of 0.096ngmL^-1 to triazophos, with the linear detection range of 0.98-8.29ngmL^-1. Under the optimal condition, the sensor chip could be regenerated for 160cycles at least. Moreover, the sensitive method was applied to determine triazophos in the spiked environmental water and agricultural products, as well as in unknown real-life samples (including Chinese cabbage, cucumber, and apple). Desirable results demonstrated that the newly-developed immunosensor could be used as a rapid, convenient, and reliable tool to regularly monitor triazophos and meet the detection requirement of its maximum residue limits.

Evaluation of the effect of the new methoxy-stilbenes on expression of receptors and enzymes involved in estrogen synthesis in cancer breast cells

Our previous study showed that the new synthetic methoxy-stilbenes, 3,4,2'-trimethoxy-trans-stilbene (3MS), 3,4,2',4'-tetramethoxy-trans-stilbene (4MS), and 3,4,2',4',6'-pentamethoxy-trans-stilbene (5MS), modulate the constitutive expression of enzymes and receptors involved in estrogen metabolism in breast immortalized epithelial MCF10 cells. In this study, we evaluated the effect of 3MS, 4MS, and 5MS in comparison to resveratrol activity in MCF7 estrogen-dependent and MDA-MB-231 estrogen-independent breast cancer cell lines. 3MS similarly to resveratrol reduced the expression of estrogen receptor α in MCF7 cells. However, in these cells, 5MS reduced the most CYP19, the gene encoding aromatase, at mRNA transcript level. In contrast, in the MDA-MB-231 cells, the most efficient inhibitor of CYP19 expression was 3MS, reducing the level of its protein by ~ 25%. This stilbene also inhibited the aromatase activity in a recombinant protein system with IC₅₀ value ~ 85 µM. Treatment with the methoxy-stilbenes reduced the level of estradiol in culture medium. The most significant reduction was exerted by 3MS. None of the tested stilbenes including resveratrol changed significantly the expression of AhR, although CYP1A1 protein level was slightly reduced in MDA-MB-231 cells, while CYP1B1 expression was increased in these cells as a result of treatment with 3MS, but only at the transcript level. Overall, these results show weak or moderate effect of the new methoxy-stilbenes on the expression of key proteins involved in estrogens metabolism in cancer breast cells. However, the reduced CYP19 expression and activity upon 3MS treatment in metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells require the further studies.

A Competitive Bio-Barcode Amplification Immunoassay for Small Molecules Based on Nanoparticles

A novel detection method of small molecules, competitive bio-barcode amplification immunoassay, was developed and described in this report. Through the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) probe and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) probe we prepared, only one monoclonal antibody can be used to detect small molecules. The competitive bio-barcode amplification immunoassay overcomes the obstacle that the bio-barcode assay cannot be used in small molecular detection, as two antibodies are unable to combine to one small molecule due to its small molecular structure. The small molecular compounds, triazophos, were selected as targets for the competitive bio-barcode amplification immunoassay. The linear range of detection was from 0.04 ng mL^-1 to 10 ng mL^-1, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.02 ng mL^-1, which was 10-20 folds lower than ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay). A practical application of the proposed immunoassay was evaluated by detecting triazophos in real samples. The recovery rate ranged from 72.5% to 110.5%, and the RSD was less than 20%. These results were validated by GC-MS, which indicated that this convenient and sensitive method has great potential for small molecular in real samples.

A Competitive Bio-Barcode Amplification Immunoassay for Small Molecules Based on Nanoparticles

A novel detection method of small molecules, competitive bio-barcode amplification immunoassay, was developed and described in this report. Through the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) probe and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) probe we prepared, only one monoclonal antibody can be used to detect small molecules. The competitive bio-barcode amplification immunoassay overcomes the obstacle that the bio-barcode assay cannot be used in small molecular detection, as two antibodies are unable to combine to one small molecule due to its small molecular structure. The small molecular compounds, triazophos, were selected as targets for the competitive bio-barcode amplification immunoassay. The linear range of detection was from 0.04 ng mL⁻¹ to 10 ng mL⁻¹, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.02 ng mL⁻¹, which was 10–20 folds lower than ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay). A practical application of the proposed immunoassay was evaluated by detecting triazophos in real samples. The recovery rate ranged from 72.5% to 110.5%, and the RSD was less than 20%. These results were validated by GC-MS, which indicated that this convenient and sensitive method has great potential for small molecular in real samples.

Evaluation of a water-soluble adjuvant for the development of monoclonal antibodies against small-molecule compounds*

A water-soluble adjuvant named QuickAntibody (QA) was introduced into the procedure of mouse immunization for the development of hapten-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), using four kinds of pesticides as model compounds. Compared with conventional Freund’s adjuvants, QA treatments offered relatively low but acceptable antiserum titers after three inoculations, gave little adverse effects to the experimental animals, and were preferable in harvesting splenocytes during the steps of cell fusion. Afterwards, hybridomas from the QA group were prepared and screened by both non-competitive and competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The efficiency of gaining immune-positive hybridomas was satisfactory, and the resultant mAbs showed sensitivities (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50)) of 0.91, 2.46, 3.72, and 6.22 ng/ml to triazophos, parathion, chlorpyrifos, and fenpropathrin, respectively. Additionally, the performance of QA adjuvant was further confirmed by acquiring a high-affinity mAb against okadaic acid (IC50 of 0.36 ng/ml) after three immunizations. These newly developed mAbs showed similar or even better sensitivities compared with previously reported mAbs specific to the corresponding analytes. This study suggested that the easy-to-use adjuvant could be applicable to the efficient generation of highly sensitive mAbs against small compounds.

A rapid immunomagnetic-bead-based immunoassay for triazophos analysis

Schematic illustration of a direct competitive immunomagnetic-bead-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IMB-ELISA) to detect the triazophos pesticides.

Determination of chloramphenicol residues in milk by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: improvement by biotin-streptavidin-amplified system

A sensitive biotin-streptavidin amplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BA-ELISA) method was developed for the determination of chloramphenicol residues in milk. The biotin-streptavidin system was applied to enhance the sensitivity. After optimization, the detection limit of the method was found to be 0.042 +/- 0.006 ng mL(-1), which is 8-fold more sensitive than the traditional competitive ELISA using the same antibody and coating antigen. The amplification mechanism of the biotin-streptavidin system and the major factors affecting the sensitivity of detection are discussed. This method was successfully applied to determine the chloramphenicol residues in milk samples with a simple and rapid extraction procedure, and good recoveries (85.66-109.67%) were obtained. The result indicated that the biotin-streptavidin system may be a valuable tool to improve the specific detection of trace veterinary drug residues and could be widely used for routine monitoring of food samples.

Monoclonal antibody-based ELISA and colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic assay for streptomycin residue detection in milk and swine urine

A protein conjugate of streptomycin (streptomycin-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate) was prepared and used as immunogen to produce monoclonal antibodies (MAb). One hybridoma secreting anti-streptomycin MAb was obtained and then used to produce MAb. The MAb named 13H5 showed the 50% maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) value of 4.65 ng/ml and the IC(20) value of 0.21 ng/ml in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). At optimum conditions, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic assay (CGIA) were developed and applied to detect streptomycin residues in milk and swine urine samples. The developed ELISA showed that the minimum detection limit was 2.0 and 1.9 ng/ml for milk and swine urine samples, respectively, without obvious cross-reactivity to other tested antibiotics except dihydrostreptomycin which gave a 118.32% cross reaction value. Milk and swine urine samples spiked with streptomycin at 10, 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml were analyzed by the established ELISA. The mean recovery of streptomycin was from 81.9% to 105.5% and from 84.3% to 92.2% for milk and swine urine, respectively. The optimized CGIA showed that the minimum detection limit was 20.0 ng/ml for milk and swine urine samples. The results of spiked analysis and specific analysis demonstrate that the CGIA could be applicable for screening milk and swine urine samples for the presence of streptomycin residues on-site. The established ELISA and CGIA allow the rapid, low-cost, and sensitive determination of streptomycin residues in food samples.