Monoclonal antibody based immunoassay: An alternative way for aquatic environmental selenium detection

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2023-02, Vol.858, p.159909, Article 159909
• Main Authors: Yang, Fanfan, Dias, Alberto C.P., Zhang, Xiaoying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Environmental concerns; Hapten; Indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Monoclonal antibody; Selenium
• ISSN: 0048-9697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159909

Environmental concerns about human health encouraged increasing methodological interest in selenium (Se), which is an essential non-metal trace element and varies within a narrow concentration range between essential and toxic. In this study, two types of long-armed Se haptens (Se-hapten-lc-NHS) were synthesized for the first time using active ester formalization. In producing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), the derivatization of haptenized Se at para- (meta-) and ortho-sites showed different properties. Finally, a mAb derived from hybridoma 5A52 was confirmed to be capable of establishing an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA). There was a successful quantitative determination of Se4+ with a detection range of 17 to 207 pmol mL−1 and a limit of detection of approximately 3.9 pmol mL−1. The mAb was found to be remarkably sensitive and specific, with no evidence of cross-reactivity with other ions. The assay was validated for four kinds of Se forms in water samples and showed satisfactory recoveries between 80 % and 108 %, with coefficients of variation of 2.1 %–11 %. The method proposed in our study offers a useful protocol for the rapid screening of Se and provides an alternative solution for the analysis of Se in aquatic environments. [Display omitted] •For the first time, hapten modification and bioconjugates for selenium were prepared.•The monoclonal antibody (mAb) and the ELISA based on it uses for the first time.•This specific assay exhibited no significant cross-reactivity with other ions.•The linear range was 17–207 pmol mL−1, with a detection limit of nearly 3.9 pmol mL−1.•In environmental water, good recoveries ranging from 80 % to 108 % were achieved, with CVs ranging from 2.1 % to 11 %.