Liposome-based flow injection enzyme immunoassay for theophylline

Preliminary results are presented on the development of a sensitive, quantitative immunoassay based on a regenerable, flow injection analysis system incorporating a double-amplification approach. The double amplification is achieved by means of liposome-encapsulated peroxidase enzyme molecules which are released subsequent to a competitive immunological reaction with analyte molecules for immobilized antibodies. The released peroxidase enzymatically cleaves, from an organofluorine substrate, fluoride ions which are then potentiometrically measured. The entire process is carried out in a flow injection analysis system. The competition between the analyte molecules (theophylline) and theophylline-derivatized liposomes for immobilized antibody sites in flow-through immunoreactor column results in unbound liposomes being carried downstream where they are ruptured in the presence of hydrogen peroxide andp-fluorophenol. The peroxidase molecules released react enzymatically to produce fluoride ions which are measured with an ion-selective electrode. The immunoreactor column is then regenerated with a chaotropic agent and the next sample or calibration solution is injected. By means of column regeneration and calibration, accurate quantitation can be achieved; a feature missing from conventional batch-type immunoassays. By means of this liposome/enzyme double-amplification approach, theophylline was determined over a range of concentrations from 0.2 to 4000 ng/ml. The detection limit of 200 pg/ml corresponds to about 100 femtomole of theophylline measured in the 100 μl sample injected.