Development of a multicomponent immunochromatographic test system for the detection of fluoroquinolone and amphenicol antibiotics in dairy products.

BACKGROUND: Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and chloramphenicol (CAP) are relevant antibiotics of the fluoroquinolone (FQ) and amphenicol (AP) groups, respectively, widely used in veterinary practice and they contaminate agricultural products. In this study, a rapid and sensitive immunochromatographic assay (ICA) was developed for simultaneous detection of CIP and CAP in dairy products. The ICA was carried out in a direct competitive format using gold nanoparticles as a label. RESULTS: The ICA developed here allowed for the detection of CIP and CAP in Triton X-100-containing buffered saline (PBST) within 15 min with instrumental detection limits of 20 pg mL-1 and 0.5 ng mL-1 , respectively, and with a visual detection limit of 5 ng mL-1 for both antibiotics. The ICA showed cross-reactivity (69-160%) to 19 antibiotics in the FQ group and no cross-reactivity (<0.1%) to 2 antibiotics of the AP group. The ICA allowed detection of CIP and CAP in a panel of dairy products by employing a simple procedure of preliminary sample preparation. The detection limits for the two antibiotics were the same as in PBST. The analytical recoveries of CIP and CAP in dairy products ranged from 83% to 120%. CONCLUSION: The analytical characteristics of the test system allow its use for the detection of antibiotics in milk and dairy products during all steps of production. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mathematical Modeling of Bioassays.

The high affinity and specificity of biological receptors determine the demand for and the intensive development of analytical systems based on use of these receptors. Therefore, theoretical concepts of the mechanisms of these systems, quantitative parameters of their reactions, and relationships between their characteristics and ligand-receptor interactions have become extremely important. Many mathematical models describing different bioassay formats have been proposed. However, there is almost no information on the comparative characteristics of these models, their assumptions, and predictive insights. In this review we suggested a set of criteria to classify various bioassays and reviewed classical and contemporary publications on these bioassays with special emphasis on immunochemical analysis systems as the most common and in-demand techniques. The possibilities of analytical and numerical modeling are discussed, as well as estimations of the minimum concentrations that may be detected in bioassays and recommendations for the choice of assay conditions.

Detection of Gold Nanoparticles in Rat Organs by Transmission Electron Microscopy.

The effects of water-dispersed gold nanoparticles (8.0±0.9 nm in diameter) on the rat small intestinal mucosa and Peyer plaques, liver, and spleen were studied by electron microscopy. Water-dispersed gold nanoparticles injected into isolated intestinal loop not only accumulated in the small intestinal mucosa and Peyer plaques, but also penetrated into other organs, e.g. liver and spleen. Ultrastructural changes in the cells (hyperplasia of endoplasmic reticulum) were detected in the studied organs.

[Fluorescence polarization immunoassay of ractopamine].

A technique was developed for fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) of ractopamine, a toxic low molecular weight nonsteroidal growth regulator belonging to the most controlled contaminants of food products of animal origin. The assay is based on the competition between a sample containing ractopamine and ractopamine­fluorophore conjugate for binding to antibodies. The competition is monitored via changes in the degree of fluorescence polarization for plane-polarized excitation light, which differs for the free and antibody-bound forms of the conjugate. The optimal assay conditions were established, ensuring a high accuracy and minimal detection limit. The developed assay demonstrated a detection limit of 1 ng/mL and a range of detectable concentrations of 2.3­50 ng/mL, which met the requirements of sanitary control. The duration of the analysis was 10 min. The possible application of the developed FPIA was demonstrated with testing of turkey meat. The speed and simplicity of the proposed assay define its efficiency as a screening tool for safety of foods.

Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay, for Express Control of Antibiotic Levels: Design and Characteristics for Chloramphenicol, as an Example.

Characteristics of the fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) as a mean for express control of antibiotic levels in various specimens and its advantages vs. other analytical tests are described. The developmental stages of the analytical procedure and its parameters are considered for chlorampnenicol as an example. The analysis is based on competitive interaction of anti-chloramphenicol antibodies with the chloramphenicol-fluorophore conjugate and the potential free chloramphenicol in the specimen. The experimental results of the comparison of the chloramphenicol FPIA with the use of two conjugates differing in the length of the bridge length between the antibiotic functional groups and fluorophore (fluorescein) are presented. The requirements to the choice of the antibody and conjugate concentrations providing highly sensitive detection are characterized. The detection limit of chloramphenicol in the FPIA was 10 ng/ml and the determination of the concentrations ranged from 20 ng/mI to 10 mcg/ml. The time of the assay was 10 min.

[THE DEVICE REGISTRATION OF IMMUNE CHROMATOGRAPHIC EXPRESS-TESTS].

The development of sector of "fast-testing" i.e. test-systems permitting carrying out analysis during home visit of doctor or at primary examination of patient without any additional devices and reagents is predominant tendency in international practice. The immunochromatography is an effective technical solution in out-laboratory diagnostic, which nowadays is actively applied in controlling hundreds of diagnostically significant markers of infectious diseases, metabolic and functional disorders. However, common immunochromatography is focused on qualitative visual evaluation of results of study i.e. conclusion on presence or absence of coloration of particular zones of test-band. Therefore, the technical solutions retaining such merits of immunochromatography as expressness and technical simplicity and at the same time providing objectivity of diagnostic and increasing its informativeness are extremely in demand. The review considers main methodical solutions and tendencies of their practical implementation targeted at device documentation, processing and interpretation of results of immunochromatography analysis. The optical systems of registration in visible area of spectrum dominating in assortment of modern detectors are presented. The new solutions oriented on working with fluorescent, magnetic and electroconductive markers are presented too. The perspectives of further development of this direction are characterized including application as detectors of domestic communication devices and formation of cloud data bases for storage and processing of information concerning results of examinations.

Application of gold nanoparticles produced by laser ablation for immunochromatographic assay labeling.

Nanodispersed gold is widely used as a marker in different analytical systems. For such purposes, it is usually obtained by the reduction of salts. This work studied the potential analytical applications of nanodispersed gold obtained by laser ablation because gold produced with this method has no chemical coating. The nanoparticles produced were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and spectrophotometry. The average size of the particles was 24.5 nm. Concentration dependences of antibody immobilization on ablative gold were obtained. With the use of antibody-conjugated nanoparticles, an immunochromatographic system was constructed for the detection of zearalenone mycotoxin. This immunoassay was characterized by a detection limit of 0.1 ng/ml antigen with an assay duration of only 15 min, which is on par with current test systems comprising nanodispersed gold obtained by chemical reduction. The simplicity of ablative dispersing makes this a prospective method for the labeling of various antibodies for analytical use.

Detection of Intermolecular Interactions Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Registration.

Methods for registration of intermolecular interactions based on the phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) have become one of the most efficient tools to solve fundamental and applied problems of analytical biochemistry. Nevertheless, capabilities of these methods are often insufficient to detect low concentrations of analytes or to screen large numbers of objects. That is why considerable efforts are directed at enhancing the sensitivity and efficiency of SPR-based measurements. This review describes the basic principles of the detection of intermolecular interactions using this method, provides a comparison of various types of SPR detectors, and classifies modern approaches to enhance sensitivity and efficiency of measurements.

[Development of an Immunochromatographic Test System for the Detection of Helicobacter pylori Antigens].

A test system based on immunochromatography in the sandwich format and intended for express detection of Helicobacter pylori antigens has been developed. Contact of a sample with a test strip coated with immunochemical reagents triggers the movement of the liquid along the membrane components of the test strip, immunochemical interactions, and the formation of detection zones stained by gold nanoparticles. The concentration and kinetic dependences of the immunochemical interactions have been characterized. The reagent and membrane composition of the test system has been selected to provide a minimal detection limit. The detection of H. pylori cell wall antigens at concentrations as low as 0.3 µg/mL in aqueous solution and a suspension of a clinical sample of feces has been demonstrated; the assay duration was 10 minutes. Staining enhancement by the addition of silver salts allowed for a further reduction of the detection limit to 0.03 µg/mL. The developed test system can be used for field diagnostics.

[Immunochromatographic Test System for the Detection of T-2 Toxin].

An immunochromatographic test system was developed for the detection of T-2 toxin (T2T), which is one of priority contaminants of cereals. The detection is based on the competition between T2T in the sample and the T2T-protein conjugate immobilized on the test strip for the binding to the complexes of anti-T2T antibodies with gold nanoparticles serving as the marker. The results of the competition are recorded as the coloration in the test zone of the test strip produced by the marker. The optimum dilution of the sample for the reliable high-sensitivity analysis corresponds to the final methanol concentration equal to 20%. The deceleration of the movement of reactants along the test strip due to the use of additional membranes impregnated with 10% BSA resulted in the decrease in the detection limit of T2T. The test system was examined for the detection of T2T in water-methanol extracts of maize grains. The disappearance of the color in the test zone, which attests to the presence of mycotoxin, was observed for grain samples containing T2T at a concentration of 53 µg/kg or more (the final T2T concentration in the immunochromatorgaphic assay is 3 ng/mL). The video-digital detection limit of T2T is 16 µg/kg (0.9 ng/mL). The duration of the assay is 15 min. The results of the present study suggest that the developed test system is suitable for the control of the maximum allowable T2T content.

Identification of silver nanoparticles in the small intestinal mucosa, liver, and spleen of rats by transmission electron microscopy.

The effects of water-dispersed Ag nanoparticles on the small intestinal mucosa, liver, and spleen of rats were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Acute experiments demonstrated penetration of Ag nanoparticles injected into the isolated intestinal loop into the intestinal mucosa, liver, and splenic tissues. Ultrastructural changes (lobed nucleus, megamitochondria) were found in the studied organs. These data indicated that injection of water-dispersed Ag nanoparticles into the gastrointestinal tract was followed by their penetration through the epithelium of the small intestinal mucosa into other organs, e.g. into the liver and spleen. This fact is essential for evaluation of potential risks of the nanoparticle effects on human health and environment.

[Development of an immunochromatographic test system for the detection of human enidermal growth factor].

A method was developed for the rapid detection of human epidermal growth factor based on a sandwich-format immunochromatographic assay. The contact between the sample and the test strip with immobilized immunoreagents initiates the fluid flow movement across the membrane components of the test strip, immunochemical reactions, and the formation of colored lines. Requirements on the configuration of the test system in order to achieve the lowest limit of detection were defined in the course of the development of the assay. It was shown that this method enables the detection of human epidermal growth factor within 5 min at concentrations as low as 10 pg/mL in aqueous solutions, urine, and the blood serum and plasma. The developed test system can be used for point-of-care diagnostics.

[Development of immunochromatographic test system for the rapid detection of lipopolysaccharide antigen and cells of causative agent of bovine brucellosis].

A rapid method for detection of the surface lipopolysaccharide antigen and the cells of the causative agent of bovine brucellosis was developed. The method represents a sandwich format immunochromatographic assay. The contact between the sample and the test strip with immobilized immunoreagents initiates the fluid movement along the membrane components of the test strip, immunochemical reactions, and the formation of colored bands. The novel method requires 10 minutes to determine the lipopolysaccharide antigen of the cell wall of the brucellosis causative agent at concentrations down to 10 ng/mL and the Brucella abortus cells at concentrations down to 10(6) cells/mL (5 x 10(4) cells in the sample). The specificity of the immunodetection was confirmed. The designed test system can be used for the rapid field diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle.

[Methods of detection and identification of manufactured nanoparticles].

The actual methods of detection and identification of manufactured nanoparticles in both simple and complex multi-component matrix for assessing biological effects and safety of nanotechnology products have been reviewed. The detection of priority species of biologically active nanoparticles, which include fullerenes, single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles of silver, gold, titanium oxide, aluminum, cerium, zinc and silicon, has been given a special attention. The requirements for sample preparation have been discussed. The results of the successful application for the detection of manufactured nanoparticles in bioassays with methods of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, size exclusion chromatography, field-flow fractionation, electrophoretic, light scattering, spectrophotometry, fluorescent spectroscopy, X-ray and other spectrometry, mass spectrometry, "particle counters", immunochemistry have been reviewed. The possibilities and limitations of different techniques, and their complementarity have been analyzed.

[Immunochromatographic technique for express determination of ampicillin in milk and dairy products].

An immunochromatographic method for determination of beta-lactam antibiotic ampicillin has been developed. The method is based on the competitive interaction between antibiotic molecules contained in the sample and protein conjugate of penicillin immobilized on a membrane for binding with specific antibodies labeled with colloidal gold, which occurs during movement of the sample to be tested and reagents along the membrane. The completion of the test system ensures control of exceeding the maximum permissible content of the antibiotic in milk and dairy products (10 ng/ml). The possibility of testing milk, raw milk, and dairy products for 10 minutes at room temperature without sample preparation has been demonstrated.

Interaction of plum pox virus with specific colloidal gold-labeled antibodies and development of immunochromatographic assay of the virus.

Two monoclonal antibodies (mABs) raised against plum pox virus (PPV) were shown to recognize its D, M, and C strains. Conjugates of the antibodies with colloidal gold (CG) nanoparticles averaging 26 nm in diameter were synthesized. The binding constants of PPV with both the native and conjugated mABs were determined using a Biacore X device. The complexes between the CG-mAB conjugates and plum pox virions were examined by means of transmission electron and atomic force microscopy. Using the conjugates with optimal component ratio, an express immunochromatographic assay of PPV was developed with a detection limit of 3 ng/ml and duration of 10 min. The assay was tested for PPV detection in samples of stone fruit tree leaves and demonstrated a good compatibility with the data obtained by "sandwich"-ELISA. The developed assay can be used in the field and applied for monitoring viral infection and for quarantine purposes.

[Immunochemical methods of mycotoxin analysis (review)].

The review is devoted to comparative characterization of immunochemical methods of detection of mycotoxin, which belongs to one of the priority groups of the food contaminants. It has been shown that the high specificity and the possibility of mycotoxin detection in low concentrations combined with existent diverse equipment allow for considering the immunochemical methods of analysis to be the most promising for wide practical application. The analytical characteristics of the existent developments are presented; the merits and demerits of the different kinds of immunoanalytical systems are compared.

[Enzyme immunoassay for determination of sulfamethoxypyridazine in honey].

An enzyme immunoassay technique for the detection of sulfamethoxypyridazine in honey, developed using rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against N-sulfonyl-4-aminobutyric acid, which contains a structural group characteristic of sulfonamides, is proposed. Under the optimized conditions, the sulfamethoxypyridazine detection limit was 0.05 ng/ml, with the entire analysis procedure taking 2 h. In total, 24 honey samples were tested using the protocol based on tenfold dilutions of samples without their preliminary treatment.

[Immunochromatographic and latex-agglutination systems for diphtheria toxin detection].

The use of two monoclonal antibody types specific to different epitopes of diphtheria toxin systems have been developed to reveal diphtheria corynebacteria toxigenicity rapidly based on immunochromatographic and latex-agglutination detection of the diphtheria toxin. The methods have been tested on a sample of 36 clinical isolates. The possibility of significant detection of the toxigenic properties of the Corynebacterium strain, grown for 1 day, has been demonstrated. The developed methods allow for the detection of diphtheria toxin in concentrations of 3-4 ng/ml. The developed test systems are a perspective tool for diphtheria diagnostics because of significant time shortening as compared to traditional microbiological methods.

[Development of immunochromatographic test systems for express detection of plant viruses].

Express immunochromatographic test-strip assays were developed for detection of five plant viruses varying in shape and size of virions: spherical carnation mottle virus, bean mild mosaic virus, rod-shaped tobacco mosaic virus, and filamentous potato viruses X and Y. Multimembrane composites (test strips) with immobilized polyclonal antibodies against viruses and colloidal gold-conjugated antibodies were used for the analysis. The immunochromatographic test strips were shown to enable the detection of viruses both in purified preparations and in leaf extracts of infected plants with a sensitivity from 0.08 to 0.5 microg/ml for 10 min. The test strips may be used for express diagnostics of plant virus diseases in field conditions.