Fluorescent microsphere-based strip for sensitive and quantitative detection of etomidate and metomidate

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Immunotechnology

Background:

• Etomidate (ET) and metomidate (MT) are critical anesthetic agents.
• Accurate and rapid detection of ET and MT is essential for clinical monitoring and forensic analysis.
• Existing detection methods may lack the speed and on-site applicability required for certain scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive and rapid lateral-flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the detection of etomidate (ET) and metomidate (MT).
• To incorporate fluorescent microsphere sensors for enhanced detection capabilities.
• To validate the assay's performance in various matrices, including water, urine, and serum samples.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2C3 targeting ET and MT.
• Development of a lateral-flow immunoassay (LFIA) integrated with fluorescent microsphere sensors.
• Qualitative and quantitative analysis of ET and MT in water, urine, and serum samples within 10 minutes.

Main Results:

• The developed LFIA demonstrated visual colorimetric values for ET and MT in water, urine, and serum samples.
• Quantitative detection ranges for ET and MT were established across different sample types, with low limits of detection.
• Recovery tests confirmed the reliability of the LFIA method in clinical samples, showing consistency with LC-MS/MS results.

Conclusions:

• The novel LFIA incorporating fluorescent microsphere sensors provides a promising tool for rapid, on-site detection of ET and MT.
• This method enables both qualitative and quantitative analysis, offering a sensitive and reliable alternative for clinical and forensic applications.
• The assay's speed and versatility make it suitable for real-time monitoring and screening.