Providing both first responders and scientists with a facile and rapid tool that can detect carcinogenic toxicants in complex environments can be very beneficial to both monitor and detect exposure. Gamma-cyclodextrin, an eight-member cyclic oligosaccharide, can simultaneously bind a fluorophore and carcinogen through ternary complex formation. In this system, ?-cyclodextrin facilitates proximity-induced energy transfer. Energy transfer to and emission from the fluorophore (energy acceptor) occurs upon excitation of the analyte (energy donor) to produce an emission peak unique to each fluorophore-carcinogen combination. These unique signals can lead to the array-based detection of the analytes. Analytes of interest, including environmentally-persistent PAHs (ex: anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, and pyrene) and their metabolites were tested with three fluorophores in breast milk, plasma, and urine. The method requires minimal sample preparation; however specific components such as lipids and proteins were systematically removed using commercially available agents to determine if and how they participate in energy transfer. In addition, an array was developed in urine and thoroughly investigated using both parent PAHs and their metabolites. The detection of different PAH metabolites can be used to determine how long a patient may have been exposed to the toxicants. The results of these experiments will provide a new tool for the rapid detection of toxicants in biological fluids, to accurately quantify individuals' level of toxicant exposure, and to study, predict, and treat individuals who are at risk of developing diseases from such exposure.

Toxicant detection in complex biological environments

248th National Meeting (2014)

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