Enzyme-Based Test Strips for Visual or Photographic Detection and Quantitation of Gaseous Sulfur Mustard.
Sulfur mustard is a chemical agent of high military and terroristic significance. No effective antidote exists, and sulfur mustard can be fairly easily produced in large quantity. Rapid field testing of sulfur mustard is highly desirable. Existing analytical devices for its detection are available but can suffer from low selectivity, laborious sample preparation, and/or the need for complex instrumentation. We describe a new kind of test strip for rapid detection of gaseous sulfur mustard that is based on its degradation by the enzyme haloalkane dehalogenase that is accompanied by a change of local pH. This change can be detected using pH indicators contained in the strips whose color changes from blue-green to yellow within 10 min. In addition to visual read-out, we also demonstrate quantitative reflectometric readout by using a conventional digital camera based on red-green-blue data acquisition. Organic haloalkanes, such as 1,2-dichloroethane, have a negligible interfering effect. The visual limit of detection is 20 μg/L, and the one for red-green-blue read-out is as low as 3 μg/L. The assays have good reproducibility ±6% and ±2% for interday assays and intraday assays, respectively. The strips can be stored for at least 6 months without loss of function. They are disposable and can be produced fairly rapidly and at low costs. Hence, they represent a promising tool for in-field detection of sulfur mustard.
Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Center for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University , Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.|International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital , Pekarska 53, 65691 Brno, Czech Republic.|Enantis, spol. s r.o., Kamenice 34, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
Sarka
S
Bidmanova
Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo- and Biosensors, University of Regensburg , 93040 Regensburg, Germany.
Mark-Steven
MS
Steiner
Military Research Institute, Veslarska 230, 63700 Brno, Czech Republic.
Martin
M
Stepan
Military Research Institute, Veslarska 230, 63700 Brno, Czech Republic.
Kamila
K
Vymazalova
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital , Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
Michael A
MA
Gruber
Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo- and Biosensors, University of Regensburg , 93040 Regensburg, Germany.
Axel
A
Duerkop
Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Center for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University , Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.|International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital , Pekarska 53, 65691 Brno, Czech Republic.|Enantis, spol. s r.o., Kamenice 34, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
Jiri
J
Damborsky
Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Center for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University , Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.|International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital , Pekarska 53, 65691 Brno, Czech Republic.|Enantis, spol. s r.o., Kamenice 34, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
Zbynek
Z
Prokop
Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo- and Biosensors, University of Regensburg , 93040 Regensburg, Germany.
Otto S
OS
Wolfbeis