A competitive immunochromatographic assay based on a novel probe for the detection of mercury (II) ions in water samples.
Mercury ions (Hg(2+)) are one of the most dangerous pollutants. Even at low concentration, it causes serious environmental and health problems. Current methods for the detection of Hg(2+) in environmental samples are tedious and time consuming because they require sophisticated instrumentation and complicated sample pre-treatment processes. In this work, a novel probe with high selectivity towards Hg(2+) was synthesized and a one step competitive immunochromatographic assay based on the probe for the detection of Hg(2+) was developed and applied for water samples. The detection conjugate was immobilized on one end of the nitrocellulose membrane (detection line) and anti-BSA polyclonal antibody was immobilized on the other end of the membrane (control line). Hg(2+) in samples competed with the probe to bind with immobilized detection conjugate. The visual detection limit of Hg(2+) in spiked water samples was found to be about 1 ppb. The qualitative assay can be performed within 15 min. The advantages of the technique are rapidity, low cost and without the need of any equipment and complicated sample preparation.
Zhou
Yu
Y
Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, Xi-an Road 5333, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, PR China. zhouyu69@sina.com
Zhang
Yuanyuan
Y
Pan
Fengguang
F
Li
Yansong
Y
Lu
Shiying
S
Ren
Honglin
H
Shen
Qingfeng
Q
Li
Zhaohui
Z
Zhang
Junhui
J
Chen
Qijun
Q
Liu
Zengshan
Z
D002845:Chromatography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D008628:Mercury