412
A. Roda . P. Pasini . M. Guardigli
In conclusion, rapid and sensitive detection of the bio-chemiluminescence deriving from transformed cells, together with the selectivity and specificity of the gene
regulation, has allowed efficient bioanalytical methods to be developed for the detection of pollutants in environmental aquatic samples. Such methods are usually carried out in 96-well microtitre plates and can be adapted to a 384-well microtitre format and easily automated, thus allowing high throughput screening. Advantages inherent in biological detection systems lie in their ability to indicate bioavailability and
report effects on living organisms, thus providing preliminary information on the
sample toxicity. The relatively inexpensive and easy handling of recombinant cell-based
biosensors make their development and application even more attractive.
17.4
Conclusions and Future Perspectives
The reported bioanalytical methods could be very useful tools for the first -level monitoring of environmental and biological samples. Only positive samples will undergo
further investigations, using more accurate analytical techniques such as GC-MS and
HPLC-MS to detect and quantify the individual analytes. Since the percentage of negative samples is usually high, the availability of these rapid, sensitive first-level screening tests should allow considerable savings in terms of instrumentation, personnel and
reagents costs, and operator time. A possible application of these first-level screening
tests could be the systematic study of large and complex natural water systems (rivers, lakes, seas), which implies the analysis of numerous samples; several representative sampling points have to be selected in order to cover the whole aqueous system
and to monitor the known possible sources of pollutants; in addition, the sampling
has to be performed over a long period of time to evaluate the effects of meteorological variables.
Luminescent immunoassays and recombinant cell-based biosensors could also be
advantageously applied in epidemiologic studies involving the analysis of biological
samples to assess human exposure to contaminants and in food analysis to find out
possible contamination sources.
Finally, continuous advancements in immunoassay and biosensor technology will
lead to the development of miniaturized and biochip-based devices, which could further improve the analytical throughput and allow continuous environmental monitoring by carrying out on-site analysis.
References
Balaguer P, Fran<;ois F, Comunale F, Fenet H, Boussioux AM, Pons M, Nicolas JC, Casellas C (1999) Reporter cell lines to study the estrogenic effects of xenoestrogens. Sci Tot Environ 233:47-56
Belkin S, Smulski DR, Danon S, Vollmer AC, Dyk TK van, LaRossa RA (1997) A panel of stress-responsive luminous bacteria for the detection of selected classes of toxicants. Wat Res 31:3009-3016
De Zwart D, SloofW (1981) The Microtox as an alternative assay in the acute toxicity assessment of water pollutants. Aquat Toxicol 4:129-138
Dzgoev A, Mecklenburg M, Xie B, Miyabayashi A, Larsson PO, Danielsson B (1997) Optimization of a
charge coupled device imaging enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay and supports for the simultaneous determination of multiple 2,4-D samples. Anal Chim Acta 347:87-93
Emon JM Van(1987) Interim report on development and demonstration of immunoassay detection systems for rapid screening at superfund sites. EPAl600/X-87/414
A. Roda . P. Pasini . M. Guardigli
In conclusion, rapid and sensitive detection of the bio-chemiluminescence deriving from transformed cells, together with the selectivity and specificity of the gene
regulation, has allowed efficient bioanalytical methods to be developed for the detection of pollutants in environmental aquatic samples. Such methods are usually carried out in 96-well microtitre plates and can be adapted to a 384-well microtitre format and easily automated, thus allowing high throughput screening. Advantages inherent in biological detection systems lie in their ability to indicate bioavailability and
report effects on living organisms, thus providing preliminary information on the
sample toxicity. The relatively inexpensive and easy handling of recombinant cell-based
biosensors make their development and application even more attractive.
17.4
Conclusions and Future Perspectives
The reported bioanalytical methods could be very useful tools for the first -level monitoring of environmental and biological samples. Only positive samples will undergo
further investigations, using more accurate analytical techniques such as GC-MS and
HPLC-MS to detect and quantify the individual analytes. Since the percentage of negative samples is usually high, the availability of these rapid, sensitive first-level screening tests should allow considerable savings in terms of instrumentation, personnel and
reagents costs, and operator time. A possible application of these first-level screening
tests could be the systematic study of large and complex natural water systems (rivers, lakes, seas), which implies the analysis of numerous samples; several representative sampling points have to be selected in order to cover the whole aqueous system
and to monitor the known possible sources of pollutants; in addition, the sampling
has to be performed over a long period of time to evaluate the effects of meteorological variables.
Luminescent immunoassays and recombinant cell-based biosensors could also be
advantageously applied in epidemiologic studies involving the analysis of biological
samples to assess human exposure to contaminants and in food analysis to find out
possible contamination sources.
Finally, continuous advancements in immunoassay and biosensor technology will
lead to the development of miniaturized and biochip-based devices, which could further improve the analytical throughput and allow continuous environmental monitoring by carrying out on-site analysis.
References
Balaguer P, Fran<;ois F, Comunale F, Fenet H, Boussioux AM, Pons M, Nicolas JC, Casellas C (1999) Reporter cell lines to study the estrogenic effects of xenoestrogens. Sci Tot Environ 233:47-56
Belkin S, Smulski DR, Danon S, Vollmer AC, Dyk TK van, LaRossa RA (1997) A panel of stress-responsive luminous bacteria for the detection of selected classes of toxicants. Wat Res 31:3009-3016
De Zwart D, SloofW (1981) The Microtox as an alternative assay in the acute toxicity assessment of water pollutants. Aquat Toxicol 4:129-138
Dzgoev A, Mecklenburg M, Xie B, Miyabayashi A, Larsson PO, Danielsson B (1997) Optimization of a
charge coupled device imaging enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay and supports for the simultaneous determination of multiple 2,4-D samples. Anal Chim Acta 347:87-93
Emon JM Van(1987) Interim report on development and demonstration of immunoassay detection systems for rapid screening at superfund sites. EPAl600/X-87/414