Quantum Dot-Based Immunochromatographic Fluorescent Biosensor for Biomonitoring Trichloropyridinol, a Biomarker of Exposure to Chlorpyrifos

A novel and portable fluorescent sensor that integrates an immunochromatographic test strip assay (ITSA) with a quantum dot (QD) label and a test strip reader was described in this study for simple, rapid, and sensitive biomonitoring of an organophosphorus pesticide metabolite. The principle of this sensor is based on a competitive immunoreaction that was performed on an immunochromatographic test strip, where analytes compete with competitors (QD-conjugated analogs) to bind to antibodies on a test zone. Captured QDs serve as signal vehicles for fluorescent readout. In this work, 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol (TCP) is used as a model analyte to demonstrate the performance of the immunosensor. QD-TCP conjugates were synthesized and characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Some parameters (e.g., the amount of QD-modified TCP and immunoreaction time) that govern sensitivity and reproducibility of ITSA were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the sensor has a wide dynamic range and is capable of detecting a minimum 1.0 ng/mL TCP standard analyte in 15 min. The sensor has been successfully applied for detection of TCP spiked in rat plasma with average recovery of 102.0%. Results demonstrate that this sensor provides a rapid, clinically accurate, and quantitative tool for TCP detection and shows great promise for in-field and point-of-care (POC) quantitative testing and screening for metabolite biomarkers, e.g., TCP, for humans exposed to pesticides.