Synthesis and characteristics of a novel artificial hapten using the copper mercaptide of penicillenic acid from penicillin G for immunoassay of heavy metal ions

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the synthesis of a novel copper ion hapten using the copper mercaptide of penicillenic acid (CMPA) derived from penicillin. Results from tests with immune rabbits indicate that: (i) A new antigen synthesized with CMPA has good stability and is safe for immunizing animals with no toxic phenomena being found in animal experiments; (ii) the immunogenic antigen (CMPA-BSA) can stimulate the immune system to produce specific antibodies with high titrations, up to 150000; and (iii) antibodies in antisera showed higher affinity to OVA-GSH-CuCl than OVA-GSH, which indicates that the antibodies have specific affinity towards copper ions. These results confirm that the novel hapten and relevant antigen for copper ion have been successfully synthesized, giving progress towards an immunoassay for copper ions in environmental and food samples. © The Author(s) 2011.