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LC–ELISA as a contribution to the assessment of matrix effects with environmental water samples in an immunoassay for estrone (E1)

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Abstract

Estrone (E1), a metabolite of the estrogenic hormones 17β-estradiol (β-E2) and 17α-estradiol (α-E2), is itself a potent estrogen which can have a significant impact on the hormonal balance. Due to its high potential for adverse effects on human health and aquatic life even at pg/L to ng/L levels, its appearance in water should be monitored. E1 has also been considered a marker substance for the presence of other estrogens. This study presents a newly developed direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantification of E1 in environmental water samples using new monoclonal antibodies. The quantification range of the ELISA is 0.15 µg/L to 8.7 µg/L E1, and the limit of detection is around 60 ng/L for not pre-concentrated water samples. A pre-concentration step after careful selection of suitable phases for SPE was developed, too. The influence of organic solvents and natural organic matter on the ELISA was assessed. The high selectivity of the monoclonal antibody was demonstrated by determining the cross-reactivity against 20 structurally related compounds. For the assessment of matrix effects, a concept (“LC–ELISA”) is thoroughly exploited, i.e., separating complex samples by HPLC into 0.3 min fractions and determination of the apparent E1 concentration. Furthermore, fractions with interferences for nontarget/suspected-target analysis can be assigned. A dilution approach was applied to distinguish between specific interferences (cross-reactants) and non-specific interferences (matrix effects). In the determination of 18 environmental samples, a good agreement of the E1 concentration in the respective fractions was obtained with mean recoveries of 103 % to 132 % comparing ELISA to LC–MS/MS.

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Acknowledgements

The first author would like to thank BAM for a grant from its Ph.D programme Menschen Ideen MI1-2013-92. Berliner Wasserbetriebe is acknowledged for wastewater sampling. The authors would like to acknowledge the useful and constructive suggestions of the anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany

    Holger Hoffmann, Christian Knizia, Maren Kuhne, Ulrich Panne & Rudolf J. Schneider

  2. Institut für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Holger Hoffmann & Ulrich Panne

  3. Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    Rudolf J. Schneider

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  1. Holger Hoffmann
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  2. Christian Knizia
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Correspondence to Rudolf J. Schneider.

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Hoffmann, H., Knizia, C., Kuhne, M. et al. LC–ELISA as a contribution to the assessment of matrix effects with environmental water samples in an immunoassay for estrone (E1). Accred Qual Assur 23, 349–364 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-018-1351-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-018-1351-7

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