Development of highly sensitive and selective antibodies for the detection of the explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) by bioisosteric replacement. Issue 2 (14th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hesse, Almut; Biyikal, Mustafa; Rurack, Knut; Weller, Michael G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of molecular recognition. Volume 29:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 88
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2015-10-14
• Subjects: immunoassay -- antibody -- explosives -- hapten -- ELISA -- Semtex -- security -- terrorism -- bioisosteric replacement; Molecular recognition -- Periodicals; Models, Molecular -- Periodicals; Molecular Conformation -- Periodicals; Molecular Sequence Data -- Periodicals; Molecular Structure -- Periodicals; Carrier Proteins -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-3499

Abstract

Abstract : An improved antibody against the explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) was developed. The immunogen was designed by the concept of bioisosteric replacement, which led to an excellent polyclonal antibody with extreme selectivity and immunoassays of very good sensitivity. Compounds such as nitroglycerine, 2, 4, 6‐trinitrotoluene, 1, 3, 5‐trinitrobenzene, hexogen (RDX), 2, 4, 6‐trinitroaniline, 1, 3‐dinitrobenzene, octogen (HMX), triacetone triperoxide, ammonium nitrate, 2, 4, 6‐trinitrophenol and nitrobenzene were tested for potential cross‐reactivity. The detection limit of a competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was determined to be around 0.5 µg/l. The dynamic range of the assay was found to be between 1 and 1000 µg/l, covering a concentration range of three decades. This work shows the successful application of the bioisosteric concept in immunochemistry by exchange of a nitroester to a carbonate diester. The antiserum might be used for the development of quick tests, biosensors, microtitration plate immunoassays, microarrays and other analytical methods for the highly sensitive detection of PETN, an explosive frequently used by terrorists, exploiting the extreme difficulty of its detection. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Abstract : Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), an explosive frequently used by terrorists, is extremely difficult to detect. An improved antibody against PETN was developed by application of the concept of bioisosteric replacement. This approach led to an excellent polyclonal antibody with extreme selectivity and immunoassays of very good sensitivity. The detection limit of an ELISA was determined to be 0.5 µg/l. The antiserum might be also used for quick tests, biosensors, microarrays and other analytical methods.