The miniaturization of a homogeneous competitive immunoassay to a final assay volume of 70 nL is described. As the sample carrier, disposable plastic nanotiter plates (NTP) with dimensions of 2 x 2 cm2 containing 25 x 25 wells, corresponding to approximately 15,000 wells on a traditional 96-well microtiter plate footprint, were used. Sample handling was accomplished by a piezoelectrically actuated micropipet. To reduce evaporation while pipetting the assays, the NTP was handled in a closed humid chamber and cooled to the point of condensation. To avoid washing steps, a homogeneous assay was developed that was based on energy-transfer (ET). As a model system, an antibody-based assay for the detection of the environmentally relevant compound, simazine, in drinking water was chosen. Antibodies were labeled with the long-wavelength-excitable sulfoindocyanine dye Cy5 (donor), and a tracer was synthesized by labeling BSA with a triazine derivative and the acceptor dye Cy5.5. At low analyte concentrations, the tracer was preferably bound to the antibody binding sites. As a result of the close proximity of Cy5.5 and Cy5, an efficient quenching of the Cy5 fluorescence occurred. Higher analyte concentrations led to a progressive binding of the analyte to the antibody binding sites. The increased Cy5 fluorescence was determined by using a scanning laser-induced fluorescence detector. The limit of detection (LOD), using an antibody concentration of 20 nM, was 0.32 microg/L, or 1.11 x 10(-16) mol of simazine. In comparison, the LOD of the 96-well microtiter-plate-based ET immunoassay (micro-ETIA) was 0.15 microg/L, or 1.87 x 10(-13) mol. The LOD of the optimized micro-ETIA at 1 nM IgG, was 0.01 microg/L.
The determination of binding constants using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was introduced to optimise a competitive homogeneous fluorescence energy-transfer immunoassay (ETIA) before labelling. Steroids were chosen as model for the detection of three analytes estrone, estradiol and ethinylestradiol--by taking three polyclonal antibodies (anti estrone-, anti estradiol- and anti estrogen-antibodies) and the corresponding analyte derivatives used for the immunisation. The active concentration of the antibodies was determined before and after labelling. Inhibition curves were recorded using SPR for all possible combinations of analyte, antibody, and analyte derivatives. The experiments revealed that the active antibody concentration can be reduced to 30% whereas the antibody affinity is not affected by the labelling process. Limits of the use of SPR for determination of affinity constants in solution are discussed. All possible ETIA calibration for the quantification of estrone and estradiol was performed. The lower limits of detection for estrone (0.06 microg L(-1)) and estradiol (0.17 microg L(-1)) were reached with the anti-estrogen IgG and its derivative
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