Highly Stable Lyophilized Homogeneous Bead-Based Immunoassays for On-Site Detection of Bio Warfare Agents from Complex Matrices

Anal Chem. 2016 Jun 21;88(12):6283-91. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b00362. Epub 2016 Jun 10.

Abstract

This study shows the development of dry, highly stable immunoassays for the detection of bio warfare agents in complex matrices. Thermal stability was achieved by the lyophilization of the complete, homogeneous, bead-based immunoassay in a special stabilizing buffer, resulting in a ready-to-use, simple assay, which exhibited long shelf and high-temperature endurance (up to 1 week at 100 °C). The developed methodology was successfully implemented for the preservation of time-resolved fluorescence, Alexa-fluorophores, and horse radish peroxidase-based bead assays, enabling multiplexed detection. The multiplexed assay was successfully implemented for the detection of Bacillus anthracis, botulinum B, and tularemia in complex matrices.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Immobilized / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Immobilized / immunology
  • Bacillus anthracis / immunology
  • Bacillus anthracis / isolation & purification*
  • Biological Warfare Agents*
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / analysis*
  • Francisella tularensis / immunology
  • Francisella tularensis / isolation & purification*
  • Freeze Drying
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Limit of Detection
  • Point-of-Care Systems

Substances

  • Antibodies, Immobilized
  • Biological Warfare Agents
  • rimabotulinumtoxinB
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A