Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Detection of Hormone Mimics in Water using a Miniturised SPR Sensor

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The ubiquitous presence of chemicals, both natural andsynthetic, in the environment with the potential to mimichormones that may in turn interfere with the endocrinesystem in both wildlife and humans has in the last decadebecome a major international concern. Hormone mimics orendocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are especiallyprevalent in surface and waste-waters and therefore, thereis a need for an at-source or at-line analytical device forthe monitoring of EDC levels.We have incorporated a miniature integrated surface plasmonresonance (SPR) liquid sensor from Texas Instruments into afield analyser and developed a competition/inhibition assayfor a model estrogenic compound in aqueous samples. Theanalyser has the potential for in situ and semi-continuous analysis of EDCs. A novel regeneration schemeemploying the use of a domestic laundry detergent has beenused to remove immobilised assay components between eachassay cycle. The resultant re-usable sensor has beendemonstrated using estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G) as a modelEDC and an anti-E3G antibody producing a current detectionrange of 10 to 150 ng mL-1.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnold, S. F. and McLachlan, J. A.: 1996, ‘Synergistic signals in the environment’, Environ. Health Perspect. 104, 1020–1023.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elkind, J. L., Stimpson, D. I., Strong, A. A., Bartholomew, D. U. and Melendez, J. L.: 1999, ‘Integrated analytical sensors: the use of the TISPR-1 as a biosensor’, Sens. Actuators B54, 182–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kukanskis, K., Elkind, J., Melendez, J., Murphy, T., Miller, G. and Garner, H.: 1999, ‘Detection of DNA hybridization using the TISPR-1 surface plasmon resonance biosensor’, Anal. Biochem. 274, 7–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: 1997, ‘Special report on environmental endocrine disruption: An effects assessment and analysis’, EPA Report EPA/630/R-96/012, 11–17.

  • Seifert, M., Haindl, S. and Hock, B.: 1999, ‘Development of an enzyme linked receptor assay (ELRA) for estrogens and xenoestrogens’, Anal. Chim. Acta 386, 191–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodbury, R. G., Wendin, C., Clendenning, J., Melendez, J., Elkind, J., Bartholomew, D., Brown, S. and Furlong, C. E.: 1998, ‘Construction of biosensors using a gold-binding polypeptide and a miniature integrated surface plasmon resonance sensor’, Biosens. Bioelectron. 13, 1117–1126.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cranfield Biotechnology Centre, Institute of BioScience and Technology, Cranfield University at Silsoe, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, U.K.

    Adama M. Sesay

  2. Cranfield Biotechnology Centre, Institute of BioScience and Technology, Cranfield, University at Silsoe, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, U.K.

    David C. Cullen

Authors
  1. Adama M. Sesay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David C. Cullen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David C. Cullen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sesay, A.M., Cullen, D.C. Detection of Hormone Mimics in Water using a Miniturised SPR Sensor. Environ Monit Assess 70, 83–92 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010673030313

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010673030313

Search

Navigation