Multiplexed immunoassays with quantum dots as fluorescent reporters for biomonitoring of exposure to agrochemicals

AGRO 155

Mikaela Nichkova, mnichkova@ucdavis.edu1, Dosi Dosev, dkdosev@ucdavis.edu2, Alex Davies, adavies@antibodiesinc.com3, Shirley Gee, sjgee@ucdavis.edu1, Bruce D. Hammock, bdhammock@ucdavis.edu1, and Ian M. Kennedy, imkennedy@ucdavis.edu2. (1) Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, (2) Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, (3) Antibodies Inc, P.O. Box 1560, Davis, CA 95617-1560
Immunoassays are used as screening tools for human exposure assessment to a variety of agrochemicals. Recently, efforts to improve immunosensing by miniaturization and introducing novel fluorescent nanostructures have gained attention. Quantum dots (QDs) are a relatively new class of fluorophores with high quantum yield, excellent photostability, and narrow photoluminescence emission. Here we present the application of QDs as labels in immunoassay microarrays for the multiplex detection of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (PBA) and atrazine-mercapturate (AM). PBA is a biomarker of exposure to the highly potent pyrethroid insecticides and AM is a biomarker for exposure to the herbicide atrazine. Microarrays were fabricated by microcontact printing of the coating antigens in line patterns onto glass substrates. Competitive immunoassays were successfully performed using quantum dots (QD560 and QD620) as reporters. The multiplexed immunoassays were characterized by fluorescence microscopy and SEM. The application of QD fluorophores facilitates multiplex assays and therefore can contribute to enhanced throughput in biomonitoring.
 

Recent Advances in Immunochemistry and their Applications to Agrochemicals Poster Session
1:00 PM-5:00 PM, Tuesday, 12 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Agrochemicals

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006