Production of a specific monoclonal antibody and a sensitive immunoassay for the detection of diphacinone in biological samples.

Diphacinone (DPN) is an extensively used anticoagulant rodenticide that is also considered a hazardous chemical, which poses a threat to nontarget species. DPN poisoning cases in humans or other species frequently occur, while rapid and sensitive detection methods are rarely reported. Thus, it is meaningful to develop an immunoassay for DPN detection with high sensitivity and specificity. In this study, a hapten was synthesized and then conjugated with carrier proteins to prepare the immunogens with different conjugation ratios for the preparation of antibody. After evaluation of the antisera using an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) and statistical analysis, we found that the immunogen prepared using the N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) method with a conjugation ratio of 28.5 could elicit mice to generate antibodies with high performance. Using hybridoma technology, we obtained the specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) 4G5 with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.82 ng/mL in buffer solution. We initially explored the recognition mechanism of DPN/CLDPN and mAb from both conformational and electronic aspects. Then, mAb 4G5 was applied to develop icELISA for biological samples. The limits of detection (LODs) of icELISA were 0.28 µg/L, 0.32 µg/L, and 0.55 µg/kg for swine plasma, urine, and liver samples, respectively, and the recoveries ranged from 72.3 to 103.3% with a coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 12.3% in spiked samples. In summary, we developed a sensitive, specific, and accurate icELISA for the detection of DPN in biological samples, which showed potential in food safety analysis and clinical diagnosis. Graphical abstract.

[Simultaneous determination of 12 rodenticides in whole blood and urine samples by high performance liquid chromatography-tandemmass spectrometry].

Objective: To develop a method for Simultaneous and rapid determination of 12 rodenticides including pindone, vacor, coumatetralyl, warfarin, diphacinone, coumachlor, chlorphacinon, difenacoum, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone and flocoumafen in whole blood and urine samples by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass (LC-MS-MS) . Methods: The whole blood samples were precipitated with acetonitrile, purified by OstroTM 96-well plate, The urine samples were extracted by acetonitrile, and then separated on a ODS column, analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) . The external standard calibration were tested. Results: A good linearity was observed in their respective concentration ranges of 12 rodenticides. The related coefficients were 0.993 0~0.999 8. The limit of detections were 0.05 µg/L~1.4 µg/L. The rates of recovery were 92.5%~118.0%. The relative standard deviations were between 0.8%~17.3%. Conclusion: The method was simple, rapid, sensitive, accurate and suitable for simultaneous detection of the 12 rodenticides in whole blood and urine samples of intoxicated patients.

Simultaneous determination of nine anticoagulant rodenticides by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with ultrasound-assisted low-density solvent dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction.

A sensitive determination method is developed for nine anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) in urine samples by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with ultrasound-assisted low-density solvent dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UA-LDS-DLLME) pretreatment. The target analytes are brodifacoum, bromadiolone, warfarin, coumachlor, coumatetralyl, difenacoum, pindone, diphacinone and chlorophacinone. The parameters that influence the extraction recovery in the UA-LDS-DLLME were systematically investigated and optimized. With the optimized extraction parameters, recoveries ranging from 64.6%-124.2% were obtained for the target analytes. The linear range for all analytes was 0.1-100 ng/mL with correlation coefficients higher than 0.99. Very low LODs ranging in 0.003-0.03 ng/mL were obtained. LOQs were in the range of 0.01-0.1 ng/mL for the nine target analytes. The accuracy that was expressed as mean relative error was within ±5.8% while the precision expressed as relative standard error was less than 5.9%. The combination of UA-LDS-DLLME with UPLC-MS/MS is a feasible, sensitive and rapid analytical approach for the determination of ARs in urine matrix, which is particularly suitable for clinical and forensic purposes.

Novel revelation of warfarin resistant mechanism in roof rats (Rattus rattus) using pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis.

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) live mainly in human habitats. Heavy use of rodenticides, such as warfarin, has led to the development of drug resistance, making pest control difficult. There have been many reports regarding mutations of vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR), the target enzyme of warfarin, in resistant rats. However, it has been suggested there are other mechanisms of warfarin resistance. To confirm these possibilities, closed colonies of warfarin-susceptible roof rats (S) and resistant rats from Tokyo (R) were established, and the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of warfarin in rats from both colonies was investigated. R rats had low levels of warfarin in serum and high clearance activity. These rats can rapidly metabolize warfarin by hydroxylation. The levels of accumulation in the organs were lower than those of S rats. R rats administered warfarin showed high expression levels of CYP2B, 2C, and 3A, which play roles in warfarin hydroxylation, and may explain the high clearance ability of R rats. The mechanism of warfarin resistance in roof rats from Tokyo involved not only mutation of VKOR but also high clearance ability due to high levels of CYP2B, 2C and 3A expression possibly induced by warfarin.

Analysis of monofluoroacetic acid in urine by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry and preparation of the positive sample by the bioconversion from monofluoroacetamide to monofluoroacetic acid in vitro.

Whether as a rodenticide or as a natural product, monofluoroacetic acid (FAcOH) may cause poisoning to humans or animals for its high acute toxicity. Urine is one of the most typical specimens for forensic diagnosis when poisoning case about FAcOH happens. The positive sample containing FAcOH plays a key role for the development of an accurate and reliable analytical method. The bioconversion from monofluoroacetamide (FAcNH2) to FAcOH in urine in vitro was studied for the preparation of positive urine sample containing FAcOH without standard spiking or animal experiment. The average bioconversion rates were 0%, 18.6% and 41.3% when incubated the FAcNH2 spiked urine in vitro for 21days at -20°C, room temperature (RT) and 37°C, respectively. Afterwards, a fast and sensitive analytical method was developed for determination of FAcOH in urine. Samples were diluted with water containing formic acid and cleaned with polymeric anion exchange (PAX) cartridge. The acid eluate was neutralized with ammonium hydroxide and directly measured by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using basic mobile phase condition. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of FAcOH in urine were 2 and 5ngmL(-1), respectively. The linear range was 5-1000ngmL(-1) with a correlation coefficient of r=0.9993 in urine calibrated with internal standard. The recoveries at four spiking levels (5, 10, 50 and 500ngmL(-1) in urine) were 87.2%-107% with relative standard deviations ranged between 4.3%-8.8%.

[Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative determination of seven anticoagulant rodenticides in whole blood and urine samples using on-line solid phase extraction with liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry].

A new and sensitive analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of seven anticoagulant rodenticides in whole blood and urine samples by liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-LIT/MS) with on-line solid phase extraction (on-line SPE). The samples were treated with acetonitrile, followed by dilution, centrifugation, and filtration. The resulting solution was injected into the LC system directly and processed by on-line SPE column for enrichment and purification. Separation was performed on a C18 column with mixed mobile phases of methanol and 0.02 mol/L ammonium acetate aqueous solution for gradient elution. The analytes were detected by the mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization (ESI) in negative mode. MS2 full scan signals of the target parent ions within the locked retention time window were recorded. Self-built database searching was performed for qualitative confirmation, and MS2 fragment ions with high sensitivity and specificity were selected for quantification. Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analyses of the seven rodenticides were achieved in this way. Good linearities were obtained within the investigated mass concentration ranges of the seven rodenticides, with r2 ≥ 0.9958 in blood and r2 ≥ 0.9946 in urine. The LODs varied from 0.02 ng/mL to 1.00 ng/mL, and the LOQs varied from 0.10 ng/mL to 4.00 ng/mL. The recoveries at three spiked levels in blood and urine samples ranged from 81.0% to 113.9%, with RSDs of 0.1%-6.2% (n = 6). The developed method is simple, sensitive, and can be used for the rapid detection and accurate quantification of the seven anticoagulant rodenticides in whole blood and urine samples.

[Study on the enhancement diphacinone-europium fluorescence system and application for determination of the residue in urine].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an accurate, convenient and sensitive quantitative fluorescence method for the determination of diphacinone (DPN) in urine. METHODS: Diphacinone was complexed with europium ion (Eu3+) at the presence of DL-histidine, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and ammonia-ammonium chloride (NH3 -NH4 Cl) buffer solution to form a multiple complex of DPN-Eu(3+) -DL-histidine-NH3-PVP fluorescence system, and the fluorescence sensitivity was greatly enhanced by the rare earth element of yttrium ion (Y3+ ). The excitation and emission wavelengths were 330 nm and 612 nm, respectively. RESULTS: The optimum conditions were Eu3+ 10.0 mg/L,Y3+ 20.0 mg/L, DL-histidine 0.01%, PVP 0.05% at pH 9.0. Under the optimum conditions, fluorescence intensity of the system was a linear function of the concentration of diphacinone in the range of 0.2 - 10.0 mg/L, the limit of quantification was 0.2 mg/L. The spiked recoveries for DPN in urine were 87.0% - 97.3%, the intra-and inter-day RSDs were between 3.4% - 4.7% and 4.8% - 6.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The established method is simple, accurate and reliable, and it is satisfactory for the determination of DPN in urine and can be used for DPN poisoned patients for the rapid clinical diagnosis.

Quantification of monofluoroacetate and monochloroacetate in human urine by isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

The rodenticide monofluoroacetate (MFA) and monochloroacetate (MCA), a chemical intermediate from several chemical syntheses, have been identified as potential agents of chemical terrorism due to their high toxicity. In preparation for response to poisonings and mass exposures, we have developed a quantification method using isotopic dilution to determine MFA and MCA in urine from 50 to 5000 ng/mL. Both analytes were extracted from urine using solid-phase extraction; extraction recoveries were 62% (MFA) and 76% (MCA). The extracts were then separated with isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography and identified using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, with detection limits of 0.9 and 7.0 ng/mL for MFA and MCA, respectively. Selectivity was established for both analytes with unique chromatographic retention times which were correlated with isotopically labeled internal standards and the use of two mass spectral transitions for each compound. The intra-day variability was less than 5% for both analytes and the inter-day variability was 7% for MFA and 6% for MCA.

Simultaneous determination of two acute poisoning rodenticides tetramine and fluoroacetamide with a coupled column in poisoning cases.

A coupled column system was developed for the simultaneous determination of both rodenticides fluoroacetamide and tetramine in this paper by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A short length of strong polar column (1.5 m of Innowax) was coupled to the top of a 30 m of DB-5 ms with a quartz capillary column connector. Peak width at half height (W(h)) was used to evaluate the band broadening of the coupled column system. The length of the short couple column and oven temperature program were discussed according to W(h). The precisions of the coupled column were analyzed with peak area and retention time. Good linear correlations were found for both rodenticides. Typical samples were discussed for each rodenticide and some poisoning cases were presented.

[Study of diphacinone in biological samples by high performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector].

An analytical approach has been developed for high performance liquid chromatographic determination of diphacinone extracted from liver, blood, urine and kidney of rabbit by solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges (using SAX, CN or SILICA GEL) with coumarin as the internal standard. Diphacinone was separated by reversed-phase gradient chromatography with DAD detection at 286 nm. The Analytical column was Hypersil BDS C18(150 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microns) and the guard column was Phenomenex ODS(4 mm x 3.0 mm i.d.). The mobile phase was a gradient mixture of aqueous solution (A) and methanol solution (B) both containing 0.5% ion pair A. There was a good linear relationship between the concentration of diphacinone and the ratio of peak areas of diphacinone and coumarin (internal standard) (r = 0.9999). The linear range was 1 mg/L-100 mg/L, and the lower detection limit was 5 ng (S/N = 3). The average recoveries of diphacinone in urine, blood and liver were 88.4% (n = 3, RSD = 1.25%, SPE by CN column), 82.2% (n = 3, RSD = 1.67%, SPE by SAX column), 91.0% (n = 3, RSD = 2.77%, SPE by SILICA GEL column), respectively.

The multi-residue determination of coumarin-based anticoagulant rodenticides in animal materials by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The rodenticides brodifacoum, difenacoum, coumatetralyl and warfarin are determined in animal relicta by high-performance exclusion chromatography on porous silica. The first three compounds are not separated, but are subsequently differentiated by adsorption or reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of the appropriate eluate fraction collected from the exclusion column. The method is rapid, and clean-up (on Sep-Pak silica cartridges) is simple. Mean recoveries from spiked substrates were generally above 80% at levels of 0.1-1.0 mg/kg. Routine limits of determination are about 0.05-0.1 mg/kg for warfarin and about 0.02 mg/kg for the other compounds. If analysis for warfarin is not required, the latter limit can be lowered to about 1 microgram/kg by a slight modification to the clean-up step.

Determination of the rodenticide difenacoum in biological materials by high-pressure liquid chromatography with confirmation of identity by mass spectrometry.

A method for determining difenacoum in liver, plasma, urine and feedingstuffs by high-pressure liquid chromatography is described. Samples are cleaned up by molecular exclusion chromatography on porous glass. In some cases this also serves for determination; if not, the separated difenacoum is determined on an adsorption column. Identity is confirmed by chemical ionisation mass spectrometry. Recoveries at levels of 0.025-5 ppm from plasma were 101-113% by exclusion chromatography alone and 93-101% after adsorption chromatography. Recoveries from liver after both chromatographic steps were 62-86%. Reasons for the lower recoveries from liver are suggested.