Grantee Research Project Results
Quantitation of Heavy Metals by Immunoassay
EPA Grant Number: R824029Title: Quantitation of Heavy Metals by Immunoassay
Investigators: Blake, Diane A.
Institution: Tufts University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through August 31, 1998
Project Amount: $381,920
RFA: Exploratory Research - Chemistry and Physics of Water (1995) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Land and Waste Management , Safer Chemicals
Description:
The purpose of this project is to develop immunoassay techniques for the measurement of heavy metal contamination in environmental samples. Immunoassays offer significant advantages over more traditional methods of metal ion analysis; they are quick, inexpensive, simple to perform, and sufficiently portable to be used at the site of contamination. At present, however, immunochemical-based detection of metals is limited by the very small number of antibodies that recognize specific metal ions. Studies during the project period will be directed towards isolation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies that recognize chelated forms of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc. These antibodies will subsequently be used to construct and optimize immunoassays for specific heavy metals in ambient water and soil samples.Bifunctional derivatives of metal ion chelators (EDTA, DTPA, DOTA) will be covalently conjugated to proteins and loaded with the desired metal ion. These conjugates will be used to prepare hybridoma cell lines which synthesize metal-specific monoclonal antibodies. The ability of these monoclonal antibodies to recognize specific metals in metal-chelate complexes will be assessed, and those antibodies with appropriate binding properties will be used to construct metal ion immunoassays. In previous EPA-supported studies, our laboratory developed a prototype immunoassay that reliably measured the heavy metal indium at concentrations from 0.005 ppb to 320 ppm (Anal. Biochem. (1994) 217:70-75); similar performance characteristics are expected from new metal ion immunoassays.
Sample analysis is one of the major expenses in the remediation of a contaminated site, and studies have shown that the use of immunoassays can reduce analysis costs by 50% or more, when compared to off-site analysis by more standard techniques. The availability of immunoassays for specific metal ions will lower analysis costs and provide a useful adjunct to more traditional methods of metal analysis.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 11 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 3 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Water, National Recommended Water Quality, Hydrology, Environmental Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Mercury, immunoassay, metal-chelate complexes, lead, metal contaminated sediment, ambient emissions, bifunctional derivatives, metal speciation, metal ions, monoclonal antibodies, remediation, soil contaminants, Zinc, immunochemical-based detection, copper, cadmiumProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.