Improved strategies for selection and characterization of new monoclonal anti-carbamazepine antibodies during the screening process using feces and fluorescence polarization immunoassay

Abstract

Immunoassays are suitable tools for high-throughput screenings. The prerequisite for accurate determinations by these methods is the selection of an excellent antibody. The production and selection of monoclonal antibodies is usually a tedious process. In this study, new strategies for improving antibody production and characterization were applied. This includes the monitoring of the immunization progress in mice through antibodies extracted from feces, which allows a time-resolved and animal-friendly monitoring of the immune response. Additionally, fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) could be successfully applied for fast and easy examination of cell culture supernatants and the investigation of antibody/antigen interactions including kinetics and fluorescence properties. These methods simplify the selection of the optimal antibody. As a target analyte, carbamazepine was chosen. This is a widely used antiepileptic drug which also frequently occurs in the environment. The new antibody enables CBZ determination in the concentration range 0.66–110 μg L⁻¹ within 10 min using a high-throughput microtiter plate-based FPIA, and between 1.4 and 79 μg L⁻¹ within 5 min applying an automated cuvette-based FPIA instrument, and from 0.05–36 μg L⁻¹ using ELISA. The measurements were performed at a non-equilibrium state which improved the sensitivity and selectivity of the assays. Due to low cross-reactivity especially towards the main CBZ metabolite and other pharmaceuticals (<1%), this antibody gives the opportunity for application in medical and environmental analyses.