Preparation and characteristics of rat anti-1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5- triazine (RDX) monoclonal antibody and detection of RDX using surface plasmon resonance immunosensor

In this paper, we develop a method of detecting 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3, 5-triazine [research department explosive (RDX)]. RDX is one of the main components of plastic explosives. Initially, we prepare an anti-RDX monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to RDX. The antibody is prepared from hybridoma cells that are prepared by the iliac lymph node method. The dissociation constant of the antibody against RDX is estimated to be 9.6 nM from the results of indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We fabricate a sensor chip on which RDX analogues are immobilized through a self-assembled monolayer with oligo(ethylene glycol) chains. High reliability and low false recognition rate are particularly required for sensors used for detecting explosives. Therefore, the nonspecific adsorption of the fabricated sensor chip is evaluated to confirm whether the sensor chip inhibits this nonspecific adsorption. The response characteristics of the prepared antibody against RDX are examined by indirect competitive assay. Under an incubation time of 0 min in the indirect competitive assay, a detection limit of 40 ppt is realized at a sample injection duration of 6 min.