In the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the use of differential sensing for molecular recognition. Inspired by the mammalian olfactory system, differential sensing employs an array of non-selective receptors, which through cross-reactive interactions, create a distinct pattern for each analyte tested. The unique fingerprints obtained for each analyte with differential sensing are studied with statistical analysis techniques, such as principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis. It was postulated that serum albumin proteins would be applicable to differential sensing schemes due to significant differences in sequence identity between different serum albumin species, and due to the wide range of hydrophobic molecules which are known to bind to these proteins. Consequently, cross-reactive serum albumin arrays were developed, utilizing hydrophobic fluorescent indicators to detect hydrophobic molecules. As such, serum albumin cross-reactive arrays were employed to discriminate subtly different hydrophobic analytes, and mixtures of these analytes, in the form of terpenes and perfumes, plasticizers and plastic explosive mixtures, and glycerides and adipocyte extracts. In this doctoral work, a detailed review of the field of differential sensing, and a thorough study of principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis in various differential sensing scenarios, are given. These introductory chapters aid in better understanding the methods and techniques applied in later experimental chapters. In chapter 3, serum albumins, a PRODAN indicator, and an additive are shown to discriminate five terpene analytes and terpene doped perfumes. Chapter 4 describes an array with serum albumins, two dansyl fluorophores, and an additive which successfully differentiate the plasticizers found within the plastic explosives C4 and Semtex and simulated C4 and Semtex mixtures. Discrimination of these simulated mixtures was also achieved with this array in the presence of soil contaminants, demonstrating the potential real-world applicability of this sensing ensemble. Finally, chapter 5 details an array consisting of serum albumins, several fluorescent indicators, and a Grubb's olefin metathesis reaction, to differentiate saturated and unsaturated triglycerides, diglycerides, and monoglycerides. Mixtures of glycerides in adipocyte extracts taken from rats with different health states were then successfully discriminated, showing promise for clinical applications in differentiating adipoctyes from pre-diabetic, type 2 diabetic, and non-diabetic individuals. / text

Der Sprengstoff PETN ist äußerst schwer zu detektieren. Ein verbesserter anti-PETN-Antikörper wurde durch Anwendung des Bioisosterie-Konzepts entwickelt. Diese polyklonalen IgGs sind sehr selektiv und sensitiv. Die Nachweisgrenze des ELISAs beträgt 0,15 µg/L. Der Messbereich des Immunoassays liegt zwischen 1 und 1000 µg/L. Die Antikörper sind recht pH-stabil als auch robust gegen Lösungsmittelzusätze. Für die Umweltanalytik von TNT wurde eine HPLC-kompatible Affinitätssäule mit porösem Glas als Trägermaterial hergestellt. Um die anti-TNT-Antikörper selektiv aus den TNT-Seren zu isolieren, wurde eine Trennung an einer Dinitrophenyl-Affinitätssäule durchgeführt. Zur Optimierung der Kopplungsmethode wurden orangefarbene Dabsyl-Proteine synthetisiert und auf der Oberfläche gebunden. Die Färbung wurde als Indikator für die Ligandendichte verwendet. Wegen der hohen Affinitätskonstanten der anti-TNT-IgGs lässt sich TNT nicht reversibel von der TNT-Affinitätssäule eluieren. Daher wurde eine neuartige Elutionsmethode entwickelt, die thermische Online-Elution. Die maximale Kapazität einer TNT- Affinitätssäule betrug 650 ng TNT bzw. 10 µg/mL Säulenvolumen. Um die Ligandendichte der TNT-Affinitätssäulen zu bestimmen, wurde ein neues Verfahren entwickelt, da die spektroskopischen Proteinbestimmungsmethoden nicht geeignet waren. Zur Proteinbestimmung wurde eine HPLC-Trennung der Aminosäuren Tyr und Phe ohne vorherige Derivatisierung entwickelt. Die Proteinhydrolysezeit wurde durch Einsatz einer Mikrowelle von 22 h auf 30 min verkürzt. Zur internen Kalibrierung wurden HTyr und FPhe verwendet. Die Nachweisgrenze bei 215 nm ist sowohl für Tyr als auch für Phe 0,05 µM (~ 10 µg/L). Dieses neue Verfahren, das als Aromatische Aminosäureanalyse (AAAA) bezeichnet werden kann, wurde zur Proteinbestimmung von homogenen Proben mit NIST-BSA validiert, wobei die Nachweisgrenze für Proteine 16 mg/L (~ 300 ng BSA) ist. Die relative Standardabweichung incl. der Hydrolysestufe beträgt 5%. / The explosive Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is extremely difficult to detect. An improved antibody against PETN was developed by using the bioisosteric concept. These polyclonal antibodies are highly selective and sensitive. The limit of detection (LOD) of the ELISA was determined to be 0.15 µg/L. The dynamic range of the assay was found to be between 1 and 1000 µg/L. The antibodies are sufficiently pH-stable and resistant to solvent additives. An HPLC-compatible TNT-affinity column with porous glass as support material was prepared for the environmental analysis. In order to isolate the anti-TNT antibodies of the TNT sera a separation was carried out on a dinitrophenyl-affinity column. To optimize the immobilization method, orange-coloured dabsyl proteins were synthesized and bound to the surface. The colour intensity was found to be an indicator for the immobilization rate. In consequence of the high affinity constants of the anti-TNT antibodies, TNT can''t elute by a typical acidic elution step. Therefore, a novel separation approach, the thermal online-elution was developed. The maximum capacity of an affinity column was 650 ng TNT or 10 µg/mL of column volume. To quantify the immobilization rate of proteins, a new method has been developed, because the usual protein determination methods were unsuitable. Therefore an HPLC separation method of Tyr and Phe was developed without prior derivatization. Two internal standard compounds, HTyr and FPhe, were used for calibration. The LOD was estimated to be 0.05 µM (~ 10 µg/L) for Tyr and Phe at 215 nm. The protein hydrolysis time was reduced from 22 h to 30 min using microwave technique. This procedure, that was termed aromatic amino acid analysis (AAAA), has been validated for protein determination of homogeneous samples with NIST-BSA. The LOD for proteins was calculated to be below 16 mg/L (~ 300 ng BSA absolute). The relative standard deviation, including the hydrolysis step, is 5%.