Competitive immunoassay for imidaclothiz using upconversion nanoparticles and gold nanoparticles as labels

The authors describe a sensitive and rapid upconversion fluorescence based immunoassay for the neonicotinoid insecticide imidaclothiz (IMI). Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) consisting of hexagonal phase NaYF4:Yb,Er were functionalized with amino groups and coupled to antibody against IMI. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used to label the antigen (analyte). Competitive binding of IMI and AuNPs-labeled IMI to the UCNPs-labeled antibody results in a change in the fluorescence of the UCNPs at excitation/emission wavelengths of 980/544 nm. Under optimal conditions, the concentration of IMI producing a 50% saturation of the signal (SC50) is 18.9 ng mL(-1), and the limit of detection is 2.1 ng mL(-1). The method was applied to the determination of IMI in (spiked) paddy water, soil, pear, rice, apple, tomato, pakchoi and cabbage. Average recoveries range from 67.4% to 104.6%, and relative standard deviations from 1.9% to 10.3%. The results correlate well with those obtained by HPLC, the relative correlation coefficient (R-2) being 0.9811.