Development of a manual self-assembled colloidal gold nanoparticle-immunochromatographic strip for rapid determination of human interferon-γ.

Interferons (IFNs) play a role in inhibition of tumor growth and participate in immunoreactions. Among IFNs, interferon-γ (IFNγ) is one of the most important therapeutic proteins and its immunodulation ability is better than that of other types. The objective of this study is to develop a manual self-assembled colloidal gold nanoparticle-immunochromatographic strip for human IFNγ using anti-human IFNγ polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Colloidal gold with a 25 nm diameter was made from chloroauric acid (HAuCl4), and labeled on anti-IFNγ mAbs as a chrominance reagent. A good linear relationship existed between the pixel intensity and the human IFNγ concentrations from 10-1000 ng mL(-1) in mouse serum and buffer, respectively, the regression equation was Y = 0.159logX + 0.0648, R(2) = 0.992 in mouse serum; Y = 0.294logX + 0.091, R(2) = 0.9969 in phosphate buffer by this proposed strip. Moreover, in the determination for mouse serum samples no cross-reaction occurred and the detection time was approximately 10 minutes. The shelf life of the strip was above 28 days at room temperature. The major advantages of the manual operation model were no expensive instruments and less reagents required. This proposed strip was highly specific, economic, convenient, and no machine was needed in clinical diagnosis.

Production and purification of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against cholera toxin.

The aim of this study was to produce monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against cholera toxin (CT). Hyperimmune ICR mice produced polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) after injection with 0.5 mL of pristane and were injected with NS-1 myeloma cells 2 weeks later. Hyperimmune Balb/c mice were used for the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). After these mice were immunized four times and given a final boost, their spleen cells were collected and fused with NS-1 myeloma cells under the presence of PEG 1500. The fused cells were then selected in the hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine (HAT)-RPMIX medium. Anti-CT antibody-secreting hybridoma cell lines with high titer were cloned by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then subcloned by limiting dilution in 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS) HT-RPMIX medium. Eleven murine hybridoma producing anti-CT MAbs were obtained and designated CT-A2, CT-B4, CT-B11, CT-C7, CT-D7, CT-E8, CT-F4, CT-F2, CT-F8, CT-E3, CT-E6. Isotypes of MAbs were identified as IgM heavy chain and all were lambda light chain. Hitrap rProtein A and Hitrap IgM purification columns were used for the purification of PAbs and MAbs, respectively.

Production of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against prostate-specific antigen, a prostate cancer serum marker.

The aim of this study was to produce monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a prostate cancer serum marker. Hyperimmune ICR mice produced polyclonal antibodies (PoAbs) after injection with 0.5 mL of pristane, and were injected with NS-1 myeloma cells 2 weeks later. Hyperimmune Balb/c mice were used for the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Mice were immunized four times and given a final boost, and their spleen cells were collected and fused with NS-1 myeloma cells under the presence of PEG 1500. The fused cells were then selected in the HAT-RPMIX medium. Anti-PSA antibody-secreting hybridoma cell lines with high titer were cloned by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then subcloned by limiting dilution in 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS) HT-RPMIX medium. Twelve murine hybridoma producing anti-PSA MAbs were obtained and designated C3m1G11, B3m1E5, C3m1E8, C3m1C5, C3m2F4, C3m1F8, C3m2B3, C3m2E6, B3m2B11, B3m2F2, C3m2C7, and C3m2D9. Isotypes of these MAbs were identified as IgG2a heavy chain and kappa light chain. Hitrap Protein A column was used for the purification of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. The purity analysis of MAb was performed by capillary electrophoresis.

Development of an immunosensor for human ferritin, a nonspecific tumor marker, based on surface plasmon resonance.

A direct human ferritin immunosensor was developed using anti-human ferritin monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) immobilized on the gold surface of a self-assembled surface plasmon resonance (SPR) apparatus. A kind of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) prepared by cystamine-glutaraldehyde method was applied to immobilize the MAbs. The reusability of the sensor chip adopting the SAM was found to be better than the other immobilization methods including adsorption, protein A, concanavalin A method. Ten cycles of measurements could be performed on the same chip regenerated with a 0.1M HCl solution. A linear relationship existed between the angle shifts (millidegrees) and the log values of ferritin concentrations in the range from 0.2 to 200 ng/ml in buffer and human serum. When used for 15 days, the angle shifts were all >95% of those on the response at the first day. A 10 M NaOH solution was used for clearing nonspecific binding in human serum. Correlation coefficient was 0.991 between this SPR method and chemiluminescent immunoassay for determination of ferritin in clinical human serum samples. The SPR sensor offers advantages of simplicity of immobilization, high sensitivity, high specificity, low sample requirement, high reusability, no label and no pretreatment etc.

Production of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against human alphafetoprotein, a hepatocellular tumor marker.

The objective of this study is to produce and purify monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) against human alphafetoprotein (AFP). Hyperimmune ICR mice produced PAbs after injection with 0.5 mL pristane, and were injected with NS-1 myeloma cells 2 weeks later. Hyperimmune Balb/c mice were used for the production of MAbs. Mice were immunized four times, given a final boost, and their spleen cells were collected and fused with NS-1 myeloma cells under the presence of PEG 1500. The fused cells were then selected in the hypoxanthine, aminopterine, and thymidine (HAT)-RPMIX medium. Anti-AFP antibody-secreting hybridoma cell lines with high titer were cloned by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then subcloned by limiting dilution in 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS), hypoxanthine, thymidine (HT)-RPMIX medium. Twelve murine hybridoma producing anti-AFP MAbs were obtained and designated as A73F3, A73E8, B73C5, A73G3, A73F8, 67B3, B73C2, B73E1, A73G2, B73G7, B73D7, and B73F4. Isotypes of these MAbs were identified as IgG(1) heavy chain and kappa light chain. The MAbs with high purity were obtained by affinity chromatography. The purity analysis of AFP and the MAbs was performed by capillary electrophoresis.

Determination of alpha-fetoprotein in human serum by a quartz crystal microbalance-based immunosensor.

BACKGROUND: Increased alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in adult plasma is considered an early indication of hepatocellular carcinoma and teratoblastoma. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid method to measure AFP in human serum by use of a direct immunosensor based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). METHODS: A self-assembled monolayer prepared by the cystamine method was applied to immobilize anti-AFP monoclonal antibodies on the gold surface of a quartz crystal. The frequency shifts of the QCM were measured and related to AFP concentrations. The piazoimmunosensor used no labeled reagent and no pretreatment of samples. RESULTS: Ten cycles of measurements could be performed on the gold surface of the same crystal regenerated with a solution of glycine-HCl. A linear relationship existed between the frequency shifts (Hz) and the log values of AFP concentrations from 0.1 to 100 microg/L in buffer and human serum. When used for 15 days, the frequency shifts were all >95% of those on the response at the first day. The regression equation was y = 1.03x - 0.06 (S(y/x) = 3.92; r = 0.9987) for this QCM method and RIA in 29 clinical human serum samples. CONCLUSIONS: The QCM sensor can measure AFP in buffer and human serum and offers advantages of high specificity, reusability, low detection limit, no label or sample pretreatment, and low sample requirement. The assay format of the immunosensor was more rapid and simpler than conventional methods.