title: Analysis of aqueous 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) using a fluorescent displacement immunoassay.
abstract: We report a rapid, simple, and sensitive assay that is potentially amenable to high throughput screening for analysis of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) present in aqueous solutions. The assay is based on the change in fluorescence emission intensity of a fluorescently labeled TNT analogue pre-bound to an anti-TNT antibody that occurs upon its competitive displacement by TNT. The assay can be performed in both cuvette- and 96-well plate-based formats. TNT at a level of 0.5 micro g L(-1) (0.5 ppb) was detected in phosphate buffered saline; detection improved to 0.05 micro g L(-1) (0.05 ppb) for TNT dissolved in artificial seawater.
authors.affiliation: US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, DC 20375, Washington, USA. erg@cbmse.nrl.navy.mil
authors.forename: Ellen R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Nikolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lebedev
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lingerfelt
authors.forename: Phan T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: J Matthew
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mauro
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies; D002232:Carbocyanines; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007118:Immunoassay; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis; D017186:Titrimetry; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002232:Carbocyanines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014303:Trinitrotoluene