Development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of polybrominated diphenyl ether BDE-121

Our interests are in the development of immunoassay-based fast scanning methods for persistent organic pollutants. To develop the immunoassay method of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), a model compound of PBDE, 2,3′,4,5′,6-pentabromodiphenylether (BDE-121), has been chosen to develop its antibody and the competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is developed. The hapten of BDE-121 containing reactive carboxylic acid was synthesized and conjugated to carrier proteins (bovine serum albumin [BSA] and ovalbumin [OVA]). Anti-BDE-121 polyclonal antibody was then developed in rabbits as a result of immunization with the BDE-121–BSA conjugate. The optimal amount of coating antigen BDE-121–OVA conjugate and the dilution of antiserum needed in the ELISA were determined with the checkerboard method, and the effects of the properties of PBST (phosphate-buffered saline and Tween 20) buffer (pH and salt concentration) and chemical solvent (types and concentrations) on the ELISA were investigated to achieve a rapid robust assay with high sensitivity. Under the optimized conditions, the developed indirect ELISA shows a linear detection range from 1.74 to 84.1 ng/ml, with an IC₅₀ value of 8.07 ng/ml and a detection limit of 0.644 ng/ml. In total, 11 kinds of compounds were tested for calculating the cross-reactivity, which was less than 8% for nearly all of them. Real samples were analyzed by the proposed immunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).     

Selection of phage-displayed peptides for the detection of imidacloprid in water and soil

Imidacloprid is the most widely used neonicotinoid insecticide in the world and shows widespread environment and human exposures. A phage clone designated L7-1 that selectively binds to imidacloprid was selected from a commercial phage display library containing linear 7-mer randomized amino acid residues. Using the clone L7-1, a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for imidacloprid was developed. The half-maximum signal inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) and the limit of detection (LOD) of the phage ELISA for imidacloprid were 96 and 2.3 ng ml⁻¹, respectively. This phage ELISA showed relatively low cross-reactivity with all of the tested compounds structurally similar to imidacloprid, less than 2% with the exception of 6-chloronicotinic acid, a metabolite of imidacloprid that showed 11.5%. The average recoveries of the phage ELISA for imidacloprid in water and soil samples were in the ranges of 74.6 to 86.3% and 72.5 to 93.6%, respectively. The results of the competitive phage ELISA for imidacloprid in the fortified samples agreed well with those of a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The simple phage-displayed peptide technology has been proven to be a convenient and efficient method for the development of an alternative format of ELISA for small molecules.     

Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay determination of an abundant hemoglobin-derived anti-infective peptide in human placenta

A fragment of the human β-chain of hemoglobin (HEM), hHEMβ111-146, was shown to have broad antimicrobial properties. The 3.9-kDa peptide was postulated to occur in high concentrations in placenta tissue. We established a reliable method to quantify hHEMβ111-146 in placenta tissue. Our methodology consists of a tissue extraction step (step 1), a chromatographic enrichment step (step 2), and a final quantification step (step 3) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The specificity of the ELISA reaction was confirmed by parallel analysis of the samples via Western blot (step 4). The ELISA measured the absorbance of a tetramethylbenzidine substrate at 450 nm. It showed no cross-reactivity with the corresponding γ- and α-HEM regions and low cross-reactivity with the β-HEM region and full-length HEM. The sample preparation procedure enabled a prepurification of hHEMβ111-146, completely eliminating cross-reactive proteins and HEM peptides. The linear range of detection in step 3 was 20-200 ng/well (200-2000 μg/L) with a limit of quantification of 23 ng/well (230 μg/L) and a limit of detection of 7 ng/well (70 μg/L). The assay was characterized by good linearity (r² > 0.99), intraday precision (coefficient of variation [CV] = 2.2-8.3%), interday precision (CV = 1.8-9.1%), and accuracy (76-109%). The mean recovery of the ELISA was determined to be 97%, and the overall recovery during steps 1-3 was found to be 40.3 ± 2.5%. We measured concentrations from 0.28 to 0.74 mg/g placenta tissue of the hHEMβ111-146 in different placenta samples with an average concentration of 0.57 mg/g. This abundant concentration supports an important physiological role of hHEMβ111-146 in the placenta infective barrier.     

Development and validation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantification of trastuzumab in human serum and plasma

Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, is used for the treatment of breast cancer patients who overexpress the HER2 receptor. To optimize therapy, pharmacokinetic studies are necessary. The aim of this study was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for trastuzumab to support these pharmacokinetic studies. For this immunoassay, we raised anti-idiotype antibodies in rabbits. After purification of the rabbit material, the anti-idiotype antibodies are used as capturing antibodies on the ELISA plate. After trastuzumab has bound to the catcher antibody, a sandwich ELISA procedure is followed whereby biotinylated anti-idiotype antibodies can bind to trastuzumab. Detection is performed by streptavidin-polyHRP (poly-horseradish peroxidase) conjugate and (3,5,3′,5′)-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate. The reaction is stopped using sulfuric acid, and the absorbance is measured at 450 nm. The calibration range of the assay is 0.039 to 5 ng/ml in well. Because samples are analyzed in multiple dilutions, the validated range corresponds to 1.6 to 1600 ng/ml in undiluted serum. Samples above the upper limit of quantification (ULOQ) can be diluted before transfer to the assay plates. Validation results demonstrate that trastuzumab can be accurately and precisely quantified in human serum and plasma. The assay is now used to support pharmacokinetic studies with trastuzumab in human serum and plasma.     

Highly sensitive recombinant antibodies capable of reliably differentiating heart-type fatty acid binding protein from noncardiac isoforms

During recent times, heart-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) has gained increasing credence as a promising cardiac biomarker. This is largely due to its rapid myocardial release and subsequent clearance kinetics, which are superior to those of myoglobin and offer an earlier diagnostic window than the troponins. Realization of its full diagnostic and prognostic potential is dependent on accessibility to robust hFABP-specific assays. Here we describe a rational strategy for generation and screening of hFABP-specific avian-derived recombinant antibodies. These antibodies were confirmed to be exquisitely specific for hFABP, with no cross-reactivity observed in a representative panel of the most homologous non-heart-type FABP isoforms. All of the antibodies tested exhibited single-figure nanomolar affinities, and their analytical potential was demonstrated in a simple inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format that returned an impressive limit of quantitation (LOQ) value of 1.9 ng/ml. The cumulative results underline the potential value of these antibodies as enabling reagents for use in a variety of immunodiagnostic configurations.     

Group determination of 14-membered macrolide antibiotics and azithromycin using antibodies against common epitopes

Erythromycin (ERY), clarithromycin (CLA), roxithromycin (ROX), and azithromycin (AZI) are macrolide antibiotics widely used in livestock and human medicine. Therefore, they are frequently found as pollutants in environmental water. A method based on indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for group determination of these macrolides in foodstuffs, human biofluids, and water was developed. Carboxymethyloxime of clarithromycin (CMO–CLA) was synthesized and conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and gelatin to prepare immunogen and coating antigen with advantageous presentation of target epitopes, l-cladinose and d-desosamine, common for these analytes. Antibodies generated in rabbits were capable of recognizing ERY, CLA, and ROX as a group (100–150%), and AZI (12%) and did not cross-react with ERY degradants, which lack antibiotic activity. Assay displayed sensitivity of determination of 14-membered macrolides (IC₅₀ = 0.13–0.2 ng/ml) and low limit of detection (LOD) that was achieved at 0.02 to 0.03 ng/ml. It allowed performing analysis of milk, muscle, eggs, bovine serum, water, human serum and urine, and avoiding matrix effect without special pretreatment using simple dilution with assay buffer. For 15-membered macrolide AZI, the corresponding characteristics were IC₅₀ = 1.6 ng/ml and LOD = 0.14 ng/ml. The recoveries of veterinary and human medicine macrolides from corresponding matrices were validated and found to be satisfactory.     

Development of enantioselective chemiluminescence flow- and sequential-injection immunoassays for alpha-amino acids

The development of an enantioselective flow-through chemiluminescence immunosensor for amino acids is described. The approach is based on a competitive assay using enantioselective antibodies. Two different instrumental approaches, a flow-injection (FIA) and a sequential-injection system (SIA), are used. Compared to the flow-injection technique, the sequential injection-mode showed better repeatability. Both systems use an immunoreactor consisting of a flow cell packed with immobilized haptens. The haptens (4-amino-L- or D-phenylalanine) are immobilized onto a hydroxysuccinimide-activated polymer (Affi-prep 10) via a tyramine spacer. Stereoselective antibodies, raised against 4-amino-L- or D-phenylalanine, are labeled with an acridinium ester. Stereoselective inhibition of binding of the acridinum-labeled antibodies to the immobilized hapten by amino acids takes place. Chiral recognition was observed not only for the hapten molecule but also for a series of different amino acids. One assay cycle including regeneration takes 6:30 min in the FIA mode and 4:40 min in the SIA mode. Using D-phenylalanine as a sample, the detection limit was found to be 6.13 pmol/ml (1.01 ng/ml) for the flow-injection immunoassay (FIIA) and 1.76 pmol/ml (0.29 ng/ml ) for the sequential-injection immunoassay (SIIA) which can be lowered to 0.22 pmol/ml (0.036 ng/ml) or 0.064 pmol/ml (0.01 ng/ml) by using a stopped flow system. The intra-assay repeatability was found to be about 5% RSD and the inter-assay repeatability below 6% (within 3 days).     

Comparison of an indirect format ELISA on modified graphite and polystyrene surfaces against triazines

An indirect format enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) on graphite rods ( 0.8 mm x 20 mm) and, for comparison, on microtiter plates has been developed against terbuthylazine. For this purpose, a series of 2-aminoalkyl-4-chloro-6-terbuthyl-s-triazine-2,6-diamine ELISA haptens with alkyl spacer lengths of 2, 4, 6, and 8 CH2 groups has been synthesized. The graphite rods or the microtiter plates were covered by a polymerized glutaraldehyde network, and the ELISA haptens have been coupled by imino coupling to the free aldehyde groups of that network. epsilon-Aminocaproic acid has been used as an agent to block unspecific binding sites. The ELISA was run in a competitive mode, where the immobilized ELISA hapten and the solute terbuthylazine as a target analyte compete for the solute antibody.     

Sensitive detection of multiplex toxins using antibody microarray

Using a newly developed fluorescent nanoparticle (NP) that gives rise to a high-intensity and stable fluorescent light, a sensitive antibody (Ab) microarray assay system has been developed for specific detection of bioterrorism agents, as exemplified by ricin, cholera toxin (CT), and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). The Ab microarray uses a sandwich format that consists of capture Abs, analytes (toxins), biotinylated detection Abs, and avidin-conjugated NP. In all three cases, polyclonal Abs (pAbs) displayed superiority over monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in capturing toxins on microarray slides even when the pAbs and mAbs had similar affinity as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The detection system was successfully used to detect toxins spiked in milk, apple cider, and blood samples. We were able to detect ricin at 100 pg/ml in buffer and at 1 ng/ml in spiked apple cider or milk, whereas CT and SEB were detected at 10 pg/ml in buffer and 100 pg/ml in spiked apple cider or milk. High specificities were also demonstrated in the detection of mixed toxin samples with similar sensitivities. The matrix effect of blood samples on the detection of mixed toxins seems to be minimal when the toxin concentration is at or above 100 ng/ml. The current study highlights the significant role of pAb and NP in increasing selectivity and sensitivity of toxin detection in a microarray format.     

A monoclonal antibody-based sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of secreted α-defensin

Paneth cells at the base of small intestinal crypts secrete α-defensins, which contribute to innate immunity and shape composition of enteric microbiota. Efforts to establish a relationship between secreted α-defensins and disease have been hampered by a lack of sensitive assays to quantify luminal α-defensins. Here we report on a highly sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the mouse Paneth cell α-defensin cryptdin-4 (Crp4) in varied sources, including luminal contents rinsed from stomach to distal colon and fecal pellets. One pair of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), selected from 10 rat hybridomas secreting Crp4-specific mAbs, was optimized for Crp4 detection and specificity in the sandwich ELISA. In CD1 mice, luminal Crp4 levels increased gradually from 6.8 ± 5.2 ng/ml in proximal small intestine to 54.3 ± 10.3 ng/ml in distal small intestine, and the peptide was detected in colonic lumen and feces. Secreted Crp4 was reduced significantly in feces of IL10 null mice, a model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) when compared with wild-type controls. This Crp4 sandwich ELISA enables accurate determinations of luminal α-defensins as biomarkers of Paneth cell function and enteric integrity in diverse disease states such as IBD, infectious disease, graft versus host disease, and obesity in association with dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota.     

Technical note: Hapten synthesis,antibody production and development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of the natural steroidal alkaloid Dendrogenin A

We have recently discovered the existence of 5α-Hydroxy-6β-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethylamino]cholestan-3β-ol, called Dendrogenin A (DDA), as the first endogenous steroidal alkaloid ever described in mammals. We found that the DDA content of tumors and cancer cell lines was low or absent compared with normal cells showing that a deregulation in DDA biosynthesis was associated with cancer and therefore suggesting that DDA could represent a metabolomic cancer biomarker. This prompted us to produce antibodies that selectively recognize DDA. For this purpose, the hapten 5α-hydroxy-6β-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethylamino]cholestan-3β-o-hemisuccinate with a carboxylic spacer arm attached to the 3β-hydroxyl group of DDA was synthesized. The hapten was coupled to bovine serum albumin and keyhole limpet hemocyanin for antibody production to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein conjugates were injected into BALB/c mice to raise antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies that were secreted from the hybridoma cell lines established were assessed with indirect ELISA by competitive assays using dilutions of a DDA standard. The antibodies from the selected hybridomas had an IC₅₀ value ranging from 0.8 to 425 ng/ml. Three antibodies showed no cross-reactivity with structurally related compounds including histamine, cholesterol, ring B oxysterols and a regio-isomer of DDA. In this study, high-affinity and selective antibodies against DDA were produced for the first time, and a competitive indirect ELISA was developed.     

Development of surface plasmon resonance imaging biosensors for detection of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1

We have developed a new method for highly selective determination of the ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) concentration using a surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) technique and two different biosensors. UCH-L1 was captured from a solution by immobilized specific rabbit monoclonal antibody or specific LDN-57444 inhibitor due to formation of receptor–UCH-L1 complex on the biosensor surface. The analytically useful dynamic response range of both biosensors is between 0.1 and 2.5 ng/ml. The detection limit is 0.06 ng/ml for the biosensor with antibody and 0.08 ng/ml for the biosensor with inhibitor. Biosensors based on both antibody and inhibitor were found to be suitable for quantitative determination of the UCH-L1 and exhibit good tolerance to the potential interferents. Both biosensors gave comparable results in the range of 0 to 0.20 ng/ml for plasma samples and 0.30 to 0.49 ng/ml for cerebrospinal fluid samples. To validate the new methods, comparative determination of UCH-L1 by the commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was performed. In general, in terms of UCH-L1 concentration, a good correlation between SPRI and ELISA was found. The developed biosensors can be used successfully for the determination of UCH-L1 in body fluids.     

Fasciola gigantica: Immunodiagnosis of fasciolosis by detection of circulating 28.5 kDa tegumental antigen

A monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-based sandwich ELISA was developed for the detection of circulating 28.5 kDa tegumental antigen (28.5 kDa TA) in the sera from mice experimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica. The MoAb was immobilized on a microtiter plate, and the antigen in the serum was captured and detected with biotinylated polyclonal rabbit anti TA antibody. The test could detect 28.5 kDa in the extracts of tegument (TA), whole body (WB) and excretory-secretory (ES) fractions at the concentrations of these crude antigens as low as 600 pg/ml, 16 and 60 ng/ml, respectively. This sandwich ELISA assay could detect the infection from day 1 to 35 post infection and showed that circulating level of 28.5 kDa TA peaked at day 1 post infection. In contrast, the antibody detection by indirect ELISA could only demonstrate the antibody level from 35 days post infection. The reliability of the assay method was evaluated using sera from mice infected with F. gigantica or Schistosoma mansoni, and hamsters infected with Opisthorchis viverrini, as well as healthy mice and hamsters. The sandwich ELISA exhibited a sensitivity and specificity at 94.55% and 100%, respectively, and with a positive predictive value of 100%, a negative predictive value of 97.39%, false positive rate of 0%, false negative rate of 5.50% and an accuracy of 98.2%. Thus, this detection method exhibited high specificity and sensitivity as well as could be used for early diagnosis of fasciolosis by F. gigantica.     

Enzyme immunoassays of JH III and JH III diol using acetylcholinesterase as tracer: An alternative to radioimmunoassay

Immunogens were prepared by coupling JH III and JH III diol to human serum albumin. Specific and sensitive antibodies were obtained by immunizing rabbits. Pure acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) from electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) was covalently coupled to the acids from hydrolyzing JH III or JH III diol. The enzyme immunoassays (EIA) were performed in 96-well microtiter plates coated with second antibody (pig anti-rabbit).The JH III EIA performance was equivalent to or better than radioimmunoassay using an iodinated tracer: the sensitivity was 0.91 ng/ml at 50% B/B₀, the detection limit was 0.2 ng/ml; cross-reactivity was less than 1% for the diols of JH I, JH II and JH III, and 30% for JH III acid. For the JH III diol assay, the EIA sensitivity was 1.9 ng/ml at 50% B/B₀ and the detection limit was 0.2 ng/ml; cross-reactivity was less than 1% for JH III and JH III acid, and 14 and 10% for JH I diol and JH II diol. Finally, use of semi-automatic apparatus allowed rapid and easy EIA analyses in which the enzyme label is a long-lived reagent and handling of radioactive compounds is avoided.     

Detection of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase activity on a polyacrylamide gel

This study presents a method to detect active polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase on a polyacrylamide gel that combines the polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) polymerization reaction with Sudan Black B staining. After separation of the protein samples on a modified sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the slab gel was submerged in a buffer containing β-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A (3-HBCoA) as substrate and incubated at room temperature for in vitro PHB polymerization. The active PHA synthase catalyzed 3-HBCoA into the PHB polymer and was stained with Sudan Black B. The active PHA synthase appeared as a dark blue band. The activity staining was of high sensitivity, capable of detecting 3.9 ng (0.273 mU) of Cupriavidus necator H16 PHA synthase purified from recombinant Escherichia coli. The detection sensitivity of activity staining was comparable to that of Western blotting analysis. Furthermore, the high sensitivity of activity staining enabled specific detection of the active PHA synthase in the crude extract of wild-type strain C. necator H16. This study provides a rapid, sensitive, and highly specific method for detecting active PHA synthase in gel. The method could be applied to detecting PHA synthase from wild-type bacteria and to the process of enzyme purification.     

四种苏丹红染料对小鼠体内血液的影响

目的探讨苏丹红对小白鼠血液和组织器官的影响。方法取小鼠连续12 d腹腔注射不同剂量苏丹红Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ（0、40、80、160 mg/kg）,末次给药24 h后采集血样,用血细胞分析仪检测血常规指标,毛细血管法测定凝血时间,剖腹取主要器官称重,计算脏器系数。结果苏丹红Ⅰ和Ⅱ组血液红细胞数明显减少,而苏丹红Ⅲ和Ⅳ组不明显,苏丹红不同剂量之间比较,低剂量苏丹红Ⅰ和高剂量苏丹红Ⅱ组比苏丹红Ⅲ和Ⅳ组血液红细胞数变化明显;苏丹红Ⅰ和Ⅱ组血液血红蛋白含量明显降低,而苏丹红Ⅲ和Ⅳ组血红蛋白含量变化不明显。四种不同剂量苏丹红组小鼠血液中血小板数量减少,随着剂量增加小鼠血液凝固时间延长。随着苏丹红剂量增加,苏丹红I和II组小鼠血液白细胞数比对照组明显增加,苏丹红Ⅲ和Ⅳ组白细胞数有增加趋势但差异不显著。与对照组比较,苏丹红组小鼠血液白细胞数明显增加、而淋巴细胞和单核细胞显著减少。随着苏丹红注射剂量增加,肾脏和脾脏脏器系数较对照组明显增大,肝脏脏器系数变化不明显。结论苏丹红对小鼠血液细胞、血红蛋白、血小板和凝血时间以及组织器官都有不同程度影响。     

An immunoassay method for quantitative detection of proteins using single antibodies

A new immunoassay method called specific analyte labeling and recapture assay (SALRA) to quantitatively measure protein abundance was developed, and the assay conditions were optimized. The key features of this method include labeling the antigen bound to the capture antibody, eluting the labeled antigen, and recapturing it by the same capture antibody on the detection plate. The reporter molecules on the labeled antigen provide a convenient and reliable means for signal detection. We demonstrated that the dose-response curve of SALRA was comparable to that of sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and better than that of the antigen direct labeling method. In addition, multiple proteins can be measured simultaneously by SALRA. Using the SALRA method, the detection limit for most of the cytokines tested was approximately 0.01 ng/ml. Further SALRA tests on interleukin 6 (IL-6) showed the linear dose-response was 3.3 to 0.01 ng/ml, the accuracy of the test was 71 to 91%, the intraassay variation was 3.6 to 7.4%, and the interassay variation was 3.8 to 10.0%. The applications of SALRA include quantitatively measuring proteins for which there are no ELISA tools available and providing a new platform for protein microarrays.     

Measurement of phenol and p-cresol in urine and feces using vacuum microdistillation and high-performance liquid chromatography

In this article, we describe a simple, sensitive, accurate, and repeatable method for the measurement of phenol and p-cresol (4-methylphenol) in human urine and feces. We examined a number of parameters to identify an optimal extraction protocol. Purification of sample extracts was achieved by low-temperature vacuum microdistillation. Separation was achieved in approximately 15 min by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with quantification by fluorescence at 284/310 nm. Limits of detection for phenol were 2 ng/ml for urine and 20 ng/g for feces, and those for p-cresol were 10 ng/ml for urine and 100 ng/g for feces. For comparison, approximate mean values for urine are 3 μg/ml for phenol and 30 μg/ml for p-cresol, and those for feces are 1 μg/g for phenol and 50 μg/g for p-cresol. An experienced analyst can process 60 samples each day using this method.     

Development of a direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for parathion residue in food samples

A heterologous direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for parathion residue determination is described based on a monoclonal antibody and a new competitor. The effects of several physicochemical factors, such as methanol concentration, ionic strength, pH value, and sample matrix, on the performance of the ELISA were optimized for the sake of obtaining a satisfactory assay sensitivity. Results showed that when the assay medium was in the optimized condition (phosphate buffer solution [PBS] containing 10% [v/v] methanol and 0.2 mol/L NaCl at a pH value of 5.0), the sensitivity (estimated as the IC₅₀ value) and the limit of detection (LOD, estimated as the IC₁₀ value) were 1.19 and 0.08 ng/ml, respectively. The precision investigation indicated that the intraassay precision values all were below 10% and that the interassay precision values ranged from 4.89 to 19.12%. In addition, the developed ELISA showed a good linear correlation (r² = 0.9962) to gas chromatography within the analyte’s concentration range of 0.1 to 16 ng/ml. When applied to the fortified samples (parathion adding level: 5-15 μg/kg), the developed ELISA presented mean recoveries of 127.46, 122.52, 91.92, 124.01, 129.72, 99.37, and 87.17% for tomato, cucumber, banana, apple, orange, pear, and sugarcane, respectively. Results indicated that the established ELISA is a potential tool for parathion residue determination.     

Extension of dynamic range of sensitive nanoparticle-based immunoassays

Nanoparticles have successfully been employed in immunometric assays that require high sensitivity. Certain analytes, however, require dynamic ranges (DRs) around a predetermined cut-off value. Here, we have studied the effects that antibody orientation and addition of free solid-phase and detection antibodies have on assay sensitivity and DR in traditional sandwich-type immunoassays. D-dimer and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), both routinely used in critical care testing, were applied as model analytes. The assays were performed in microtitration wells with preimmobilized solid-phase antibody. Inherently fluorescent nanoparticles coated with second antibody were used to detect the analyte. The selection of antibody orientation and addition of free solid-phase or detection antibody, with nanoparticles and calibrator, desensitized the assays and extended the DR. With D-dimer the upper limit of the DR was improved from 50 to 10,000 ng/ml, and with cTnI from 25 to 1000 ng/ml. Regression analysis with the Stago STA Liatest D-dimer assay yielded a slope (95% confidence interval) of 0.09 (0.07–0.11) and a y-intercept of −7.79 (−17.87–2.29) ng/L (n = 65, r = 0.906). Thus it is concluded that Europium(III)-chelate-doped nanoparticles can also be employed in immunoassays that require wide DRs around a certain cut-off limit.