DR CALUX®
dioxins
mode/action
bioassay
procedure
properties
ER CALUX®
estrogens
mode/action
bioassay
procedure
properties
BDS’ DR CALUX® assay is the perfect screening tool for the detection of dioxin and
dioxin-like compounds in a wide variety of matrices. The advantages of the newly developed DR CALUX® bioassay as compared to traditional analysis of dioxins by HRGCMS are:
> Extremely sensitive
BDS' DR CALUX® assay is capable of detecting femtograms (10-15 grams or quadrillionths of a gram) of dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQs).
> Rapid
Using 96-well test systems allows the rapid analysis of large numbers of samples simultaneously.
> Easy sample clean-up / work-up
Compared to dioxin analysis using HRGCMS, extracted samples do not have to be as clean for this bioassay. Hence, sample clean-up and work-up is relatively straightforward.
> Small sample size
The extreme sensitivity of the DR CALUX® assay allows small sample sizes: only grams of sample are required.
> Much reduced cost compared to instrumental methods
Because BDS’ DR CALUX® assay is straightforward to perform, uses small sample, gives rapid results and doesn’t need expensive apparatus, extensive dioxin analysis is cost effective.
> Applicable to a wide variety of matrices
BDS’ DR CALUX® assay has succesfully been used to determine dioxin content in the following matrices:
» Food and Feed samples (Animal Feedstuffs, Plant and vegetable matter,Animal fat, Oils, Milk, Egg, Cheese)» Environmental samples (Soils / clays, Stack samples, Air samples, Sediments)» Water samples (Surface water, Groundwater, Drinking water, Wastewater,Process aqueous effluents, Sewage and sewage sludge)» Tissue samples (Animal tissues, Human tissues, Blood)» Other (Pure chemicals (pharmaceuticals, Agrochemicals, fine chemicals etc),Research materials)> Biologically relevant
Being cell based, BDS' DR CALUX® assay is more biologically relevant than instrumental techniques. The DR CALUX® assay operates through measuring the biological response elicited following binding at the AhR receptor in a living cell, the same receptor that is preserved in man, mammals, fish, birds etc. In the DR CALUX® cells, respiration and metabolisation are taking place as are the mechanisms of receptor binding. The net result is that the DR CALUX® assay, to a significant extent, mimics the biological process that is thought to be a significant part of the mechanism of dioxin toxicity. This mechanism of ligand-AhR binding, opens the way for using the DR CALUX® assay for pharmaceutical research. Materials which may be agonists or antagonists at the AhR receptor can be investigated in high rate screening.
> Analysis of total toxic equivalence of PHAH and PAH mixtures in samples
BDS' DR CALUX® assay is the perfect screening tool for assessing complex mixtures of dioxin-like chemicals in a wide variety of matrices. Instead of determining the number of individual congeners in a complex mixture, BDS' DR CALUX® assay analyses the total toxic equivalence of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon (PHAH) and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mixtures in samples under investigation. Once a contaminated sample has been identified, congener specific identification of PHAHs and PAHs can be carried out using high resolution HRGCMS analysis. BDS is able to offer HRGCMS through its collaboration with RIKILT.
> Distinguish between stable and non-stable PHAHs or PAHs
BDS' DR CALUX® assay can be used to distinguish between stable and non-stable PHAHs or PAHs by variation of the time of exposure. The genetically modified H4IIE rat hepatoma cells are capable of metabolising non-stable PHAHs or PAHs since they contain the relevant biotransformation pathways. The metabolised PHAHs or PAHs do not bind to the Ah-receptor and therefore induction of luciferase will be absent. For example, exposing DR CALUX® cells for 6 hrs will result in expression of luciferase induced by both stable and non-stable PHAHs or PAHs. Exposure period of 24 hrs results in expression of luciferase induced by practically only stable compounds. In addition, adjusting the extraction and clean-up procedures is another tool to distinguish between different classes of PHAHs.
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